ENTER YOUR NINE DIGIT ID NUMBER

*Either bring your laptop and CD to my lab so I can help you with the installation, or print out and carefully follow the instructions in the middle of the page at http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rfreeman/LRCD.html.

Grading

During the course of the semester there will be a total of five examinations and ten sets of graded exercises: The first exam will cover the material in Basic Concepts, Language and Logic, and Fallacies; the second exam will cover the material in Translation, Truth Tables, and Consistency Trees; the third exam will cover the material in Proofs: Main, and the fourth exam will cover the material in Inductive Logic, Syllogisms, and Venn Diagrams. Each of these exams will be taken on computer and will be worth 300 points, while each set of graded exercises associated with the relevant exam will be collectively worth 100 points. The fifth exam will be a comprehensive in-class final and will be worth 400 points.

If the discrepancy between the in-class final and the exams on disk is too great the student may be required to take/retake exams on disk in the instructor's lab.

Grading is based on the total number of points received, and grades are curved.

  Academic Honesty

The examinations are open book, open note. Collaboration between students on examinations, however, is NOT permitted. Any student who is caught cheating in ANY way and/or any student who is caught helping another student in any way to cheat will be penalized to the maximum extent permitted by university policy. Dishonesty has no place in an institution of higher education, and will NOT be tolerated.

Telephoning the Professor at Home

While I am more than willing to answer your questions over the phone, please use common courtesy in choosing the hour at which you call. Please call after 9 a.m. and before 11 p.m. during the work week, and between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekends. Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated.

Learning-Disabled Students

Approximately 2/3 of this course is concerned with symbolic logic. Those students with learning disabilities, particularly those with dyslexia, may find this course challenging. If you have special needs due to a learning disability, please avail yourself of the resources in the Student Disability Services (the new name) in now in Calpulli Center, room 3101 (594-6473). The CSU Office of the Chancellor defines a learning disability as . . . a generic term that refers to the heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities. These disorders occur in persons of average to very superior intelligence and are presumed to be due to central nervous system dysfunction. Even though a learning disability may exist concomitantly with other handicapping conditions (e.g., sensory impairments) or environmental influences (e.g., cultural/language difficulties), it is not the direct result of these conditions or influences. If you think something might prevent you from doing well in this course, you should discuss this with me so that proper arrangements may be made to accommodate your needs.

Religious Observances

The University Policy File includes the following statement on Absence for Religious Observances:

By the end of the second week of classes, students should notify the instructors of affected courses of planned absences for religious observances. Instructors shall reasonably accommodate students who notify them in advance of planned absences for religious observances.

California Education Code 89320 states:

The Trustees of the California State University shall require that each state university, in administering any test or examination, to permit any student who is eligible to undergo the test or examination to do so, without penalty, at a time when that activity would not violate the student's religious creed.

Please notify me if you plan to be absent for religious observance.

How to Fail this Class

1. Don't attend class regularly. Better yet, don't ever show up.

2. Wait until the night before the exam is due to start studying for it.

3. Convince yourself that you only need a passing grade in the class.

4. Phone the teacher at 3:00 a.m. on the day of the final and beg for an incomplete.

Course Objectives

This course falls within the Critical Reasoning category of General Education Basic Subjects, which covers those areas of study intended to develop skills essential in pursuing a university education.  Basic subjects provide content and methodology needed for more advanced work and for application of these subjects in various disciplines.

A course in the Critical Reasoning section is intended to promote understanding of the relationship between language and logic, which should lead to an ability to analyze, evaluate and advocate ideas through rational decision-making procedures.  The course is designed to cultivate an ability to think clearly and analytically in order to examine ideas and information systematically.

The above syllabus may be revised by the instructor at his discretion.