I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Critical Thinking

2. Course Prefix & Number:
PHIL 1421

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This philosophy course helps students develop analytical and reasoning skills that will permit them to more effectively understand and discern the logical content of various types of persuasive communication, which will empower them to: 1) defend themselves from deceptive arguments and attempts to persuade, as well as 2) to more precisely clarify and evaluate their own thoughts, beliefs, values and goals. Students will learn about uses and misuses of language, common cognitive errors, recognition and formal analysis of good and bad arguments, and how to articulate and critically assess moral implications of claims.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Writing College Level CLC or Writing College Level or Writing Honors College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Lake Superior College, PHIL 1140 Critical Thinking, 3 credits
St. Cloud State University, PHIL 194 Critical Thinking, 3 credits

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 1 – Written and Oral Communication
• Goal 2 – Critical Thinking

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Demonstrate mastery by writing several analytical and argumentative papers.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Demonstrate understanding of content and major ideas conveyed in assigned readings and lecture.
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Contribute meaningful observations and arguments in class discussion projects and team debate projects.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Accurately apply logical concepts presented in readings, class lecture, and discussion to real and hypothetical issues in the context of short written exercises, class discussion and debate as well as group projects.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Gather factual information and apply it to a given problem in a manner that is relevant, clear, comprehensive, and conscious of possible bias in the information selected (MnTC Goal 2);
• Analyze the logical connections among the facts, goals, and implicit assumptions relevant to a problem or claim; generate and evaluate implications that follow from them (MnTC Goal 2);
• Recognize and articulate the value assumptions which underlie and affect decisions, interpretations, analyses, and evaluations made by ourselves and others (MnTC Goal 2);
• Imagine and seek out a variety of possible goals, assumptions, interpretations, or perspectives which can give alternative meanings or solutions to given situations or problems (MnTC Goal 2);
• Understand/Demonstrate the writing and speaking process through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing and and presentation (MnTC Goal 1),
• Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding (MnTC Goal 1);
• Locate, evaluate, and synthesize in a responsible manner material from diverse sources and points of view (MnTC Goal 1); and
• Construct logical and coherent arguments (MnTC Goal 1).

 

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Intro: What is Critical Thinking?
• Critical thinking history
• Critical Thinking and the individual
• Obstacles to critical thinking
• Moral aspects of critical thinking
2. Logic and Argument
• Basic logical terminology
• Two types of argument: deductive and inductive
• Basic Fallacious argument patterns
• Moral reasoning
• Relativism
3. How to write an argumentative essay
4. Reliability of information sources
• Science and pseudoscience
• Appeals to inappropriate authority
• Herd influences
• Education
• Media sources
• Advertising
5. Language
• Connotation and denotation
• Euphemism and dysphemism
• Types of definition
• Language and implied paradigms
• Fallacies of linguistic confusion
6. Fallacies in depth
• Unwarranted assumptions
• Question begging fallacies
• Fallacies of inadequate evidence
• Causal fallacies
• Irrelevant appeals
• Fallacies of diversion