Professor Carmela Circelli

carmela.c@rogers.com

Reasoning about Social Issues is a skill based, critical thinking course, which also introduces students to research based writing and qualitative and quantitative analysis. The course will teach students the basic reasoning skills, principles and concepts needed to develop a critical sensibility, as well as introduce them to the different types of research used in the social sciences. While the course is wide ranging in its approach, using different kinds of texts and topics and also different media, particular focus will be placed on the various positions taken in the social sciences, on topics such as abortion, euthanasia, pornography, immigration, for example. Students will learn to read, write and listen critically, to develop argumentative, reflective positions of their own, to verbalize those ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, and to apply those skills, principles and concepts to a variety of contemporary social issues.

Technical requirements for taking the course: In addition to stable, high speed internet connection, students will require a computer or other device with a webcam and microphone as the course will involve some video conferencing where students will need to appear on video for tutorial discussions.

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

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.]

Times and locations: Please note that this is a course that depends on remote learning. There will be no in-person interactions or activities on campus. Though there will be some synchronous participation required during the official class time on Thursdays 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Virtual office hours: Virtual office hours will take place through Zoom on a weekly basis, on Thursdays, between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, by appointment only. Link will be provided at the time of appointment.

With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies by S. Morris Engel. Sixth edition.

And a course kit.

Books and course kits will be available through the Bookstore website, shipping free of charge.

Mid-term test on fallacies – 20%
Test on conceptual analysis – 10%
Essay 1 – 20%
Essay 2 – 20%
Final Essay – 20%
class participation - 10%

• This course will have both synchronous and asynchronous elements, that is, some parts of the course will be pre-recorded and course materials will be accessible on your own time, while other parts of the course will require live participation through Zoom video conferencing.

• For the first term, pre-recorded lectures will be made available on Moodle just before the course's scheduled time of Thursday, at 2:30 pm. At 4:00 pm, on Thursdays, there will be a live video conferencing session through Zoom where students need to appear on video for questions/exercises/applications of material covered in the lecture.
• Near the end of first term, during the teaching of techniques for conceptual analysis, for 3 classes only, there will be a live video session on Zoom at the scheduled class time of Thursdays, at 2:30. With intermittent breaks, this will last until approximately 4:00 pm. Between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm students will practice the techniques on their own and submit them for feedback at the end of the scheduled class time.

• In the second term, there will be 3 pre-recorded lectures, but mostly, the classes will involve applying the critical skills learned during the first term to a variety of social issues. This will take place in small groups of 6 or 7 students (depending on the class size) working together in Zoom breakout rooms

See expanded course description.

Course policies

There will only be 2 tests in the first term. Both tests will be open book and take place during scheduled class time, Thursday: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Class participation will be calculated based on attendance at live video conferencing sessions and participation in tutorial exercises which will take place in Zoom break out rooms during the second term.

Late essays or other assignments will not be accepted without prior approval from course instructor.

All assignments to be submitted to Turntin

All recordings should be used for educational purposes only and for enhancing accessibility. Students do not have permission to duplicate, copy and/or distribute the recordings outside the class. All recordings will be destroyed after the end of class.