PHIL 1565 - Critical Thinking
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 11, CRN 41716,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Arnold Smith
Email: aasmith@ysu.edu
Course Description
1565. Critical Thinking. An examination of the logical skills needed for critical thinking in practical situations. Topics include procedures and guidelines for identifying and evaluating arguments, recognizing and eliminating informal fallacies, and writing and critiquing argumentative essays. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | The Critical Thinking Toolkit | Foreman, Fost, and Watson | 9780470658697 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Introduction | ||
| Thu | 8/27 | Foresman, Chapter 1 Blackboard, Chapter 1 notes |
Basic Terms and Ideas | Chapter 1 homework assigned (Blackboard) |
| Tue | 9/1 | Foresman, Chapter 2 Blackboard, Chapter 2 Part I notes |
Working with Arguments I | Chapter 1 homework due before class Homework 2.1 assigned |
| Thu | 9/3 | Blackboard, Chapter 2 Part II notes | Working with Arguments II | Homework 2.1 due before class Homework 2.2 and 2.3 assigned |
| Tue | 9/8 | Blackboard, Chapter 2 Part III notes | Working with Arguments III | Homework 2.2 and 2.3 due before class Homework 2.4 assigned |
| Thu | 9/10 | Definitions Game | In-class activity | |
| Tue | 9/15 | Exam I Review | ||
| Thu | 9/17 | Exam I | ||
| Tue | 9/22 | Foresman, Chapter 3 Blackboard, Chapter 3 Part I notes |
Categorical Arguments I | Homework 3.2 assigned |
| Thu | 9/24 | Blackboard, Chapter 3 Part II notes | Categorical Arguments II | Homework 3.2 due before class Homework 3.3 assigned |
| Tue | 9/29 | Blackboard, Chapter 3 Part III notes | Categorical Arguments III | Homework 3.3 due before class Homework 3.4 and 3.5 assigned |
| Thu | 10/1 | Foresman, Chapter 4 Blackboard, Chapter 4 Part I notes |
Propositional Arguments I | Homework 3.4 and 3.5 due before class Homework 4.1 and 4.2 assigned |
| Tue | 10/6 | Blackboard, Chapter 4 Part II notes | Propositional Arguments II | Homework 4.1 and 4.2 due before class Homework 4.3 assigned |
| Thu | 10/8 | Blackboard, Chapter 4 Part III notes | Propositional Arguments III | Homework 4.3 due before class Homework 4.4 assigned |
| Tue | 10/13 | Group Work for Presentation A | Homework 4.4 due before class Presentation A assigned. Students must attend to get into groups |
|
| Thu | 10/15 | Group Work for Presentation A | Continue working in groups on Presentation A | |
| Tue | 10/20 | Presentation A | Groups will make their presentation to the class | |
| Thu | 10/22 | Exam II Review | ||
| Tue | 10/27 | Exam II | ||
| Thu | 10/29 | Foresman, Chapter 5 Blackboard, Chapter 5 Part I notes |
Informal Fallacies I | Homework 5.1 A and B assigned |
| Tue | 11/3 | Blackboard, Chapter 5 Part II notes | Informal Fallacies II | Homework 5.1 A and B due before class Homework 5.1 C assigned |
| Thu | 11/5 | Blackboard, Chapter 5 Part III notes | Informal Fallacies III | Homework 5.1 C due before class Homework 5.2 assigned |
| Tue | 11/10 | Blackboard, Chapter 5, Part IV notes | Informal Fallacies IV | Homework 5.2 due before class Homework 5.3 and 5.4 assigned |
| Thu | 11/12 | Foresman, Chapter 6 Blackboard, Chapter 6 notes |
Induction and Fallacies | Homework 5.3 and 5.4 due before class Homework 6 assigned |
| Tue | 11/17 | Group Work for Presentation B | Homework 6 due before class Presentation B assigned. Students must attend to get into groups. |
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| Thu | 11/19 | Group Work for Presentation B | Continue working in Groups on Presentation B | |
| Tue | 11/24 | Group Rehearsals | Finish Group work on Presentation B and rehearse performance | |
| Thu | 11/26 | Thanksgiving | NO CLASS | |
| Tue | 12/1 | Presentation B | Groups will perform Presentation B in class | |
| Thu | 12/3 | Exam III Review | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | Final Exam (Exam III) | 10:30=12:30 |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.