Instructor:  Paul Mazzocchi, pamazzoc@yorku.ca

Office Hours: TBA

Course Description:

This course introduces students to critical thinking and informal logic, with a focus on issues  related to morality and values.  The course is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on  developing technical skills and knowledge related to critical thinking and assessing arguments. It  addressing the following topics: the nature of critical thinking and the structure of arguments;  ways of evaluating particular types of arguments; common forms of faulty reasoning used in  arguments; conceptual analysis or the understanding of language, concepts and meaning; how to  apply these skills to read and analyze passages of text. The second part of the course focuses on  applying critical thinking to specific issues related to morality and values. We begin with an  introduction to ethical/moral theories (i.e. the types of theories used to evaluate specific moral  issues). We then move into assessing different debates around animal rights, distributive justice,  global justice, free speech and pornography, and civil disobedience. In addressing these issues,  the purpose of the course is not to teach a particular position on a topic; it is to help students  strengthen their own arguments.

Class Times and the Organization of the Course:

The official course times are Monday and Wednesday, 16:00-19:00 (Eastern Standard/Toronto  Time). The course will have both asynchronous (i.e. lectures will be posted online) and  synchronous (i.e. conducted via Zoom) components:

• Prior to reading week, all classes will be asynchronous except the classes on September
  9^th and October 7^th both of which will run synchronously via Zoom starting at 16:00.

• Following the reading week, lectures covering the Monday and Wednesday readings will
  be posted on Mondays and will be no longer than 4-hours. There will then be a
  synchronous component on Wednesdays starting at 16:00 and going no longer than 2-
  hours. These two components combined will not go longer than the allotted weekly class
  time of 6 hours.

Technical requirements for taking the course:

As portions of the course will be taught synchronously, students will need: 1) a computer or  other device with a camera; 2) to install Zoom on their device; 3) access to high-speed internet.

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:  Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

Course Texts:

Jean Saindon and Peter Krek, Critical Thinking: Argument and Argumentation. ISBN: 978- 0176661007. Available at the York Bookstore.

All other readings will be available as PDFs via Moodle.

Course Evaluation:

Homework Assignments:

There will be homework assignments (based on lectures and reading materials) due before the  start time (i.e. 16:00) for the following classes: Sept. 16 (2%), Sept. 21 (3%), Sept. 23 (3%),  Sept. 28 (3%), Sept. 30 (3%), Oct. 5 (3%) and Oct. 7 (3%).

Passage Analysis Assignment:

The assignment will be posted on Moode on October 7^th and will be due October 19^th.

Position Paper:

For the position paper, students will be required to write a paper defending a position on animal  rights or distributive justice. The paper is to be 5-6 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1- inch margins) and must draw on at least TWO of the readings on the topic students have chosen  as well as at least ONE of the readings from the ethical theories readings.

Take Home Final

The take home assignment will be based on the weeks covering global justice, free speech and  pornography and civil disobedience.

Class Times and the Organization of the Course:

The official course times are Monday and Wednesday, 16:00-19:00 (Eastern Standard/Toronto  Time). The course will have both asynchronous (i.e. lectures will be posted online) and  synchronous (i.e. conducted via Zoom) components:

• Prior to reading week, all classes will be asynchronous except the classes on September
  9^th and October 7^th both of which will run synchronously via Zoom starting at 16:00.

• Following the reading week, lectures covering the Monday and Wednesday readings will
  be posted on Mondays and will be no longer than 4-hours. There will then be a
  synchronous component on Wednesdays starting at 16:00 and going no longer than 2-
  hours. These two components combined will not go longer than the allotted weekly class
  time of 6 hours.

Course Learning Objectives:

This is a skills-based course. Consequently, the main focus is not on content but on the  development of critical thinking, argumentation, reading comprehension and essay writings  skills. After completing the course, students should be able to:

• Distinguish arguments and non-arguments;
• Put arguments into standard argument form;
• Understand how to assess/evaluate generalizations, causal arguments, arguments from

analogy, appeals to experts, and inference to the best explanation;

• Know, identify and neutralize logical fallacies;
• Understand how to assess the use of concepts;
• Be able to summarize arguments in their own words
• Understand how to apply these skills to critically analyse texts;
• Understand key ethical theories;
• Be able to evaluate and develop their own arguments in written and oral form in relation

to moral issues.

Course Policies:

Course Material: 1) course material (including lectures, assignments and any other material  posted on the Moodle page) is only to be used for educational purposes and as a means to  enhance accessibility; 2) students do not have permission to duplicate, copy and/or distribute  outside of class, all of which constitute potential violations of copyright and FIPPA; 3) none of  the synchronous classes will be recorded in any way.

Homework Assignments: Homework assignments are due before the start of the class for which  they are due. For example, a homework assignment due on September 21^st is due before 16:00.  Submit them early as possible as late homework assignments will not be accepted – there will  be ZERO exceptions to this policy.

Late Penalties: For the Passage Analysis, Position Paper and Take Home Final, the late penalty  is 5% per day, including weekends.  Extensions will only be granted if students have acceptable  reason for receiving an extension and can provide relevant documentation. Papers not submitted  within two weeks of the due date will receive a 0%.