Critical Thinking Discussion Group

Sections 02, 05, and 12

 

 

Jason Dane

Office: FAO 216

Office Hours: Wed 11-12 and Thurs 4-5 or by Appointment 

Office phone:            974-5915

Email: jdane1@earthlink.net or jdane@mail.usf.edu

 

 Link to Mr. Silver's Class Syllabus

 

Required Text: Thinking Critically by John Chaffee

                         Seventh edition ISBN# 0-618-21601-4

 

This class is the discussion group portion of the Critical Thinking class. In this discussion group students are expected to read and discuss Chaffee’s Thinking Critically. THIS IS NOT A LECTURE. Students are expected to participate in class discussion. Attendance is required.

 

Reading Schedule and assignments:

 

8/28 or 8/29 Introduction and explanation of the syllabus

Reading: Chapter 1

 

9/4 or 9/5 Quiz on Chapter 1

Discussion of Chapter 1

Reading: Chapter 2

 

9/11 or 9/12 Quiz on Chapter 2

Discussion of Chapter 2

Assignment: Thought experiment 1

 

9/18 or 9/19 Thought experiment 1 due

Discussion of Thought experiment 1

Reading: Chapter 3

 

9/25 or 9/26 Thought experiment 1 returned

Quiz on Chapter 3

Discussion of Chapter 3

Reading: Chapter 4

 

10/2 or 10/3 Quiz on Chapter 4

Discussion of Chapter 4

Assignment: Thought experiment 2

10/9 or 10/10 Thought experiment 2 due

Discussion of Thought experiment 2

Reading: Chapter 5

 

10/16 or 10/17 Thought experiment 2 returned

Quiz on Chapter 5

Discussion of Chapter 5

Reading: Chapter 9

 

10/23 or 10/24 Quiz on Chapter 9

Discussion of Chapter 9

Assignment: Thought experiment 3

 

10/30 or 10/31 Thought experiment 3 due

Discussion of Thought experiment 3

Reading: Chapter 10

 

11/6 or 11/7 Thought experiment 3 returned

Quiz on Chapter 10

Discussion of Chapter 10

Reading: Chapter 11

 

11/13 or 11/14 Quiz on Chapter 11

Discussion of Chapter 11

Assignment: Thought experiment 4

 

11/20 or 11/21 Thought experiment 4 due

Discussion of Thought experiment 4

 

11/26 study group for last test in lecture portion of Critical thinking

11/27 no class due to Thanksgiving

 

Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class on the date indicated. Quizzes and assignments are all worth 10 points each. Class grade is out of 100 points. This means there are 20 more points available than required for a perfect grade. Points may be deducted for lack of class participation. Due to the fact there are more points available than necessary, there will be no make up quizzes.

Thought experiments are one to two page papers on a hypothetical situation that will be given in class. The purpose of these experiments is to get the student to apply some of the critical thinking ideas presented in the previous two chapters. These assignments must be typed, double spaced, using twelve-point (12) font with one-inch margins. Your work must be your own as cheating and plagiarism will be dealt with according to the policies in the USF undergraduate handbook.

Students are required to be on time to class. Late students will not be admitted. Use of cell phones is not permitted during class. Students may lose points if cell phones go off in class.