Phil 3: Critical Thinking

Summer 2008, Session A

Monday–Thursday, 11:00–12:05
Phelps Hall, 3523

Instructor: Luke Manning

Email: luke_manning@umail.ucsb.edu
Office: 5717 South Hall
Office hours: Tuesday 1:00–3:00 pm, and by appointment

TA: Huiyuhl Yi

Email: huiyuhl@gmail.com
Office: 5432 W South Hall
Office hours: Friday, 9:00–11:00 am, and by appointment
Sections: Monday, 12:30–1:50, HSSB 4201, and Friday, 11:00–12:20, HSSB 4201

Course Information

In this course we will study argumentative discourse, the practice of resolving differences of opinion by supporting one's views with argumentation. We will discuss the parts of this discourse, and learn some ways of idealizing it in order to make analysis easier. In the second half of the course, we will discuss different kinds of argumentative support, and how to evaluate argumentation. This class will be helpful to those looking to improve their skills at understanding and evaluating argumentation in any academic discipline, and in ordinary life.

Text

Argumentation: Analysis, Presentation, Evaluation, by van Eemeren, Grootendorst and Henkemans

Requirements

Homework assignments: 30%
Assigned on Thursdays, due on following Mondays, at lecture
(Homework handed in after lecture, but no later than Tuesday's lecture, gets half credit. Homework not handed in by then gets no credit.)
Midterm exam: 30%
In class, Wednesday, July 9
Final exam: 40%
In class, Thursday, July 31

Schedule:

Week Day Readings Assignments Lecture notes
1 6/23 Chapter 1 Chapter 1, exercises 1–2 (pp. 14–16)
Chapter 2, exercises 1–3 (pp. 31–36)
(due 6/30)
(see instructions in chapter 2 lecture notes)
Introduction and Chapter 1
6/24
6/25 Chapter 2 Chapter 2
6/26
2 6/30 Chapter 3 Chapter 3, exercise 1 (pp. 46–48)
Chapter 4, exercises 1–4 (pp. 60–62)
(due 7/07)
(see instructions in chapter 4 lecture notes)
Chapter 3
7/01 Chapter 4 Chapter 4
7/02
7/03
3 7/07 Chapter 5
7/08
7/09 (no reading) Midterm Exam (in class)
7/10 Chapter 6
4 7/14
7/15
7/16
7/17
5 7/21 Chapter 7
7/22
7/23
7/24 Chapter 8
6 7/28
7/29
7/30 Review (no reading)
7/31 (no reading) Final Exam (in class)