Instructor: Dr. Daniel Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

This course is designed to assist students in developing reasoning skills that are applicable to issues and problems encountered in everyday life. To live effectively and productively, indeed Christianly, we all need to be able to discern which communications are grounded on sound reasoning, which are not, and how to apply these lessons to our own communications with others.

By the end of the semester, students should grasp the fundamentals of informal logical reasoning, know how to identify the presence or absence of reasoned discourse in snippets of everyday life (e.g. in consumer advertisements, opinion columnists, and textbook writers), and be able to craft rational discourse with the instructor and classmates in oral and written communications.

Required Text

Howard Kahane & Nancy Cavender, Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric 9th edition (2002)

Copies are available through the CBU Bookstore, and are also available through Internet shops. See Amazon.com; Barnes & Noble; and CampusBooks4Less.com.

Web pages will likewise be referenced throughout the term, contents of which you also will be responsible.
See e.g. Wadsworth Philosophy Shoppe for links to online course quizzes and additional student resources

Assessment & Grading Scale

Quizzes are worth 15% of your final grade. The Student Resources link on the Wadsworth website presents you with a link to our textbook and 12 quizzes, one quiz covering each of the 12 chapters of our text. You are to take all 12 quizzes online, and then email to me the quiz results. (Explanation of the Wadsworth website will be provided during the first week of class.) Each quiz should be completed per the syllabus calendar; late quizzes are not accepted and will receive a score of 0. I will use your 10 best quiz grades to compute your quiz score; that is, I will drop your 2 poorest results before computing your overall quiz grade.

There will be a midterm examination, as noted in the schedule, comprising 20% of your final course grade. The exam will cover all the topics from the beginning of the semester. The exam is closed book, open notes. Meaning of open notes: You are permitted to bring 1 (one) 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper with notes written on it for use during the exam. The notes may be in your own handwriting, or produced by a computer printer, of any size writing or font, front and back, without regard for margins.

There will be a final examination, as noted in the schedule. The exam constitutes 30% of your final grade for the course; and it is cumulative, though the primary focus of the questions will be on post-midterm materials. The exam is closed book, open notes. Meaning of open notes: You are permitted to bring 1 (one) 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper with notes written on it for use during the exam. The notes may be in your own handwriting, or produced by a computer printer, of any size writing or font, front and back, without regard for margins.

The essay is due no later than the beginning of class, Thursday, April 25, and constitutes 20% of your final grade for the course. No late essays will be accepted. No exceptions. (If you must be absent that day, send your completed review via fax or email by that same due date and time.)

Adopt the following approach to composing your essay:

1. Choose a topic in consultation with the instructor


2. Compose an essay in two parts:
   • part 1 - lay out the basic facts related to your topic
   • part 2a - argue for a particular position
   • part 2b - recognize reasonable objections but argue how they are actually weak and your position is stronger

Suggested length: the paper should run ~1500 words (= 5-6 pages of standard size print and margins), and should be typed or computer-generated. No handwritten work will be accepted. Longer papers are fine; shorter papers are likely too short satisfactorily to complete the requirements as outlined.

Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others' experiences and insights within the context our class discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our readings and your search for practical wisdom. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching "right" conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class. To give direct incentive to so engage, 15% of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your classroom and online discussion forum participation during the semester.

This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, assignments and discussions that will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the course. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.

Quizzes -- these are all online, and must be completed per the syllabus calendar. No make-ups. No exceptions.

Midterm Examination -- you must arrange a make-up with me before the examination is given, not after. No exceptions.

Final Examination -- no make-ups will be arranged for the final exam. No exceptions.

Persuasive Essay -- no late work will be accepted for marking. No exceptions.