1. COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course attempts improve the critical reasoning of students. We will reflect on the pressures that compel us to lie, exaggerate, bullshit, cherry-pick data, buy stuff we don’t need, participate in biased argument, go back on our promises, do dumb things, and, in general, cause us to turn off the critical parts of our brains. We reflect on the character of a critical reasoner and practice basic analysis and evaluation of arguments. There are four stages to achieve the course goal. The purpose of the first stage is to understand the evolutionary and cultural development of cognition and critical thinking. The purpose of the second is to develop skills of a critical reasoner. The purpose of the third is to learn of the most common and most important critical reasoning errors, and how to avoid them. The purpose of the fourth is to appreciate the value of critical thinking and hard work over intelligence, and to apply what we have learned to a problem in economics.
2. COURSE CONTENTS
|
No. |
Contents |
Time Allocation |
Contribution to CLO |
|||
|
Hour(s) on the class |
Essays, exercise, Assignments… (3) |
Self-study with teacher’s tutorials (4) |
||||
|
Lecture (1) |
Practice, Seminar… (2) |
|||||
|
1 |
The nature of critical thinking: Challenges Core concepts – Statements& Questions Diagnotistic test |
1 |
2 |
1.5 |
3 |
1 2 3 5 6 8 9 |
|
2 |
Homework 1 Due: 2.2A, #11, 13, 15, 17, 19 Lecture: Identifying Arguments |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4.5 |
2 3 4 5 8 9 10 |
|
3 |
Homework 2 Due: Homework 2: 3.1A 7, 9, 11, 13, 3.4A 4, 5 & 3.4B 3, 4, 5 Lecture: Identifying Arguments, contd. Lecture: Types of Arguments |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4.5 |
4 5 6 7 8 9 |
|
4 |
Homework 3 Due: 4.2A, # 11, 13, & 17; 4.4A #6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 Lecture: Pitfalls of Language |
2 |
1 |
2.5 |
5.5 |
2 4 6 7 8 11 12 |
|
5 |
Homework 4 Due: 4.5 #6-10; §5.1 6-10; §5.2A: 6-10 & Gilovich Ch. 2 questions Exam 1 First hour of class Lecture: Critical Thinking in the Wild–Randomness & Representativeness |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4.5 |
1 2 3 4 7 8 |
|
6 |
No Homework Due Lecture: Pitfalls of Language Lecture: Fallacies of Topical Relevance |
3 |
0 |
1.5 |
6 |
3 5 7 9 11 12 |
|
7 |
Homework 5 Due: §6.2 #9-13; §6.4B, #7-11; §6.6C #6, 9, 18, 19, 20 Lecture: Truth-functional Logic |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4.5 |
3 4 6 8 9 10 |
|
8 |
Homework 6 Due: §9.2 #9,11,13,15, 17; §9.3 #7,9,11,13, 15; §9.4A 5,7,9; §9.5B 3,5; §9.5C 5,7 Lecture: Truth-functional Logic, contd. Lecture: Observation, Memory & Testimony Lecture: Inductive Generalization |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4.5 |
4 6 7 8 |
|
9 |
Homework 7 Due: §11.1, #3, 5,7,9,10 §11.4A, 3, 5, 7,
11, 15; §11.4B: 3, 5, 7 & 9 Lecture: Inductive Generalization, contd. Lecture: Analogies |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5.5 |
2 3 4 7 8 |
|
10 |
Homework 8 Due: §12.2A: 3,4&5; §12.2B: 3&5; §12.2C: 1&3 §12.3: 7,9,11,13; §12.4: 5,7&9 Lecture: Analogies, contd. Lecture: Causal Inference |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5.5 |
1 2 5 6 9 |
|
11 |
Exam 2 Second hour of class Lecture: Social Influences on Critical Thinking |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5.5 |
10 11 12 |
|
12 |
No Homework Due Lecture: Explanation, Hypothesis & Prediction Lecture: Decision-making & Critical Thinking |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5.5 |
1 2 3 4 5 |
|
13 |
Homework 9 Due: §14.1A #1,3,5; §14.1B #1,3,5; §14.C 1,3,5 & Levitt & Dubner Questions Lecture: Decision-making, contd. Lecture: Self-Control |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5.5 |
7 8 9 10 11 12 |
|
14 |
Homework 10 Due: Lehrer & Gilovich Ch. 7 Questions Lecture: Cross-Cultural Differences in Logic Lecture: How cognitive styles effect life & business |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5.5 |
1 2 5 7 9 |
|
15 |
Homework 11 Due: Nisbett, Ch. 7 & 8 Questions Lecture: Regression to the Mean Lecture: Self-Deception |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5.5 |
1 4 6 7 10 11 12 |
|
Total (hour) |
30 |
15 |
22.5 |
82.5 |
||
3. COURSE ASSESSMENT
– Score ladder: 10
– Type of assessment
|
Form |
Content |
Criteria |
CLO |
Proportion |
|
|
Formative |
Attendance |
. Class participation |
The number of attendances and participation in lesson |
11 12 |
10% |
|
Quiz, midterm test |
. Mid-term assessment |
|
5,6,7,8, 9, 11, 12 |
30% |
|
|
Summative |
Final test |
. Final test |
|
5,6,7,8, 9, 11, 12 |
60% |
|
|
|
|
Total: |
100% |
|