AP/MODR1730 6.0 H: Reasoning About Social Issues
Offered by: MODR
Session
Fall 2022
Term
Y
Format
LECT
Instructor
Calendar Description / Prerequisite / Co-Requisite
This is a skills-based course focusing on critical thinking, research-based writing, and qualitative and quantitative analysis. The particular focus will be on different positions taken within the social sciences on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, pornography, immigration etc. Typical examples are to be analyzed. Course credit exclusions: AP/MODR 1760 6.00, AP/MODR 1770 6.00.
Course Start Up
Course Websites hosted on York's "eClass" are accessible to students during the first week of the term. It takes two business days from the time of your enrolment to access your course website. Course materials begin to be released on the course website during the first week. To log in to your eClass course visit the York U eClass Portal and login with your Student Passport York Account. If you are creating and participating in Zoom meetings you may also go directly to the York U Zoom Portal.
For further course Start Up details, review the Getting Started webpage.
For IT support, students may contact University Information Technology Client Services via askit@yorku.ca or (416) 736-5800. Please also visit Students Getting Started UIT or the Getting Help - UIT webpages.
Course Instructor Contact: Shyam Ranganathan at shyamr@yorku.ca
“ Reasoning About Social Issues is the version of Modes of Reasoning that touches upon work in the social sciences (at least two) and addresses social issues, such as euthanasia, abortion, or pornography. This is a skills-based course focusing on critical thinking, persuasive writing, and strategic argumentation. A topic that will unite our exploration of these various themes is meditation as a model for critical thinking, and also the topic of social scientific investigation.”
Prerequisite / Co-requisite:
None. Course credit exclusions: AP/MODR 1760 6.00, AP/MODR 1770 6.00
Patañjali. Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra. Penguin 2008. (Available on Kindle)
Online Readings, linked via eClass
Participation: 40 %
Fall and Winter Exams: 15% each
Annotated Bibliography: 15 %
Essay: 15 %
With the exception of an in class commentary, all assignments are submitted via eClass.
Learn basic reasoning skills---informal and formal logic.
Understand the difference between reason and belief, between argument and pursuasion.
Think openly about projects of meditation and critical thinking.
- Academic Honesty
- Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Religious Observance
- Grading Scheme and Feedback
- 20% Rule
No examinations or tests collectively worth more than 20% of the final grade in a course will be given during the final 14 calendar days of classes in a term. The exceptions to the rule are classes which regularly meet Friday evenings or on Saturday and/or Sunday at any time, and courses offered in the compressed summer terms. - Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
