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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
- 2 tests: Test 1 covers from chapter 2 to 8 and test 2 covers from chapter 9 to 13, (50 minutes per test)
5,6,7,8, 9, 11, 12
30%
Summative
Final test
. Final test
- Final exam: covers from chapter 14 to 19 (60 minutes)
5,6,7,8, 9, 11, 12
60%
Total:
100%