Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

[Phil1009]
[Logic & Critical Thinking]

College of Social Sciences & Humanities

Department of Social Sciences

Course Outline
1st Semester 2023/2024

1|Page 1st Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023

Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

Table of Contents

General Information..........................................................................................3
Teaching Staff...................................................................................................3
Course Coordinator ..........................................................................................3
Course Instructor ..............................................................................................3
Course Overview .................. ............................................................................3
Course Learning Outcomes .................................. ............................................4
Course Content ..................................................................................................4
Course Calendar............................................ ....................................................5
Instructional Method ...........................................................................................6
Assessment ........................................................................................................6
Learning Resources ............................................................................................6
Textbook..............................................................................................................6
Additional References ........................................................................................6
Other Resources.................................................................................................6
Policies ...............................................................................................................7
Grading Policy ....................................................................................................7
Pass requirements...............................................................................................7
Academic Integrity ..............................................................................................7
Referencing style ...............................................................................................7
Other Requirements ...........................................................................................7

2|Page 1st Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023

Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

General Information

Course code/Name: Phil 1009/Logic and Critical Thinking

Section/Department: Department of Social Sciences
Year/Semester: Year 1, Semester I
Academic Year: 2023/2024
Pre-requisite (s): Nil
Co-requisite (s): Nil
Course schedule: Based on Class Schedule
Credit Hour / ECTS: 3/5

Teaching Staff

Course Coordinator

Name and Title: Biruk Shewadeg

E-mail: biruk.shewadeg@aastu.edu.et
Consultation hour: Wednesday 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Office (Block/Room): 80/211

Course Instructor

Name and Title: Amon Bekele

E-mail: amonphilo@gmail.com
Consultation hour: by appointment
Office (Block/Room): Block 80, Room

Course Overview

Logic and Critical Thinking is an inquiry that takes arguments as its basic objects of
investigation and it is an exercise, a habit, a manner of perception and reasoning
that has principles of rationality as its fulcrum, and dynamically involves various
reasoning skills that ought to be human approach to issues and events of life. Logic
and Critical Thinking enables to construct one’s own sound argument and to
evaluate the arguments of other’s and evaluate arguments’ validity, strengths and
weaknesses.

Course Learning Outcomes

Up on successful completion of this course, students should be Graduate

3|Page st
1 Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023
Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

able to: Attributes

Addressed

CLO1 Analyze the relationship between philosophy and logic PLO 3

CLO2 Describe basic logical concepts and arguments. PLO 2

CLO3 Applying proper language for correct reasoning PLO10

CLO4 Cultivate the habits of critical thinking. PLO 3

CLO5 Evaluate the nature and types of fallacies. PLO 6

Graduate Attributes

PLO Engineering Knowledge PLO7 Environment and

1 sustainability

PLO Problem Analysis PLO8 Ethics

PLO Design/development of PLO9 Individual and teamwork

3 solutions

PLO Investigation PLO10 Communication

PLO Modern tool usage PLO11 Project management and

5 finance

PLO The engineer and PLO12 Lifelong learning

6 society

4|Page 1st Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023

Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

Course Schedule and Instructional Method

Week Topic CLO Learning & Teaching Activity

1 Meaning and Definition of philosophy CLO3 Lecture
2 Core Branches of Philosophy CLO3 Lecture
3 Importance of Learning Logic and CLO3 Lecture
Philosophy
4 Basic Concepts of Logic CLO2 Lecture

5 Techniques of recognizing arguments CLO2 Lecture

6 Types of Arguments CLO2 Test 1
7 Evaluation of Arguments CLO2 Assignment 1
8 Language and Meaning CLO10 Lecture
9 Language and Definition CLO10 Lecture
10 Criteria for Lexical Definitions CLO10 Test 2
11 Basic Concepts of Critical Thinking CLO3 Group Assignment
12 Fallacy of Relevance CLO6 Lecture
13 Fallacy of Weak Induction CLO6 Lecture
14 Fallacy of Presumption CLO6 Lecture
15 Fallacy of Ambiguity CLO6 Lecture
16 Fallacy of Grammatical Analogy CLO6 Lecture

Instructional Method

The main teaching method will be based on lectures usually in active learning mode.
Assignments and group discussions will be used to reinforce the course material and to
discuss the issues raised by the directed reading. During assignment works and
discussion sessions, students are encouraged to attempt the assignment exercises
independently and provide insights in the discussions.

5|Page 1st Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023

Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

Assessment Tasks
Task Weightage Week Due CLO
Assessed
1 Continuous Assessment 50% 1,2,3,4,5
2 Final Exam 50% 1,2,3,4,5

Learning Resources

Textbook

 Logic and Critical Thinking. Course Module MoSHE (2020). Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
 Hurley, Patrick J. (2014) A Concise Introduction to Logic, 12th edition,

Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Additional References

1. Alec Fisher, (2011) An Introduction to Critical Thinking, Cambridge.

2. Harry J Gensler, (2017) Introduction to Logic, 3rd edition, Rutledge.

Other Resources

 Lecture notes will be posted on eLearning

Policies
Grading Policy

Grading of courses will be according to the university’s rules and regulation. An

important decision made by the university's senate during the regular meeting SEM
06/2015, held on September 8, 2023. The decision relates to the minimum passing
mark for courses. Following the meeting, the senate unanimously agreed to amend
Article 94 and introduce a new sub-article, 94.6. According to the amendment, it is
now mandatory for a student to attain a final exam result of 40% or higher in order to
be graded, irrespective of their overall score in the course. Failure to meet this
requirement will result in a recorded grade of "F," regardless of their total mark out of
100%. Examinations are graded and the letter grading system with corresponding
points shown below.

Marks Grade Grade Points

[90,100] A+ 4.00
[85,90) A 4.00
[80,85) A- 3.75
[75,80) B+ 3.50
[70,75) B 3.00

6|Page 1st Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023

Logic and Critical Thinking [Phil 1009] Course Outline

[65,70) B- 2.75
[60,65) C+ 2.50
[50,60) C 2.00
<50 F 0.00

Pass Requirements
To pass this course students shall:
 take all the assessments.
 achieve > 40% in the final exam.

Academic Integrity

AASTU values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the
meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences
under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures. Work submitted
may be subjected to a plagiarism detection process, which may include the use of
systems such as 'Turnitin'.
Referencing style

The College of Social Science and Humanities advises students to use the “APA
Referencing Style” for written work and oral presentations. However, students are
permitted to use other recognized styles that appear in the Social Science and
Humanities literature.

Other Requirements

Minimum 80% during lecture and 100% during assessment work sessions except for
some unprecedented mishaps is expected from all students. This course is one of
the highly applicable courses in real life situation. Students are expected to attend all
classes regularly and study from text books once the topic is discussed in classes.
Students are advised to prepare for classes by reading the available materials before
coming to classes and participate actively to enhance better understanding of the
course and attain the learning outcomes. There have been many reference books
proposed for each topic which will be discussed in class. Students are encouraged to
read and prepare based on the additional materials.

7|Page 1st Semester 2023/24 AY Last Modified - November /2023