Philosophy 361:               
Syllabus
 Spock





Syllabus: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
PHIL 361 - SPRING 2014 - DR. KEITH A. KORCZ


How To Contact Professor Korcz:
My office is in H. L. Griffin Hall, rm. 563. My office hours are MWF 12:00 - 1:00, MW 2:15 - 4:15, and Th 12:00 – 3:00. We can also meet at other times by arrangement - just ask. My office phone number is 482-6806. You can also contact me (or ask questions) by e-mail at keithk@louisiana.edu.


Required Text:
Paul Herrick, Introduction to Logic (Oxford University Press, 2013).
 



Assignments:
Exams:
There will be two exams, each worth 20% of your course grade, and a cumulative final exam worth 30% of your course grade. The in-class exams will consist primarily of short answer and multiple-choice questions. However, all make-up exams will be primarily long-essay. The exams will cover both lectures and assigned readings (material in lectures and assigned readings will not always overlap). All exams are closed book/closed note.

Quizzes:
30% of your course grade will consist of a combination of take-home quizzes and in-class pop quizzes worth varying amounts of points. The take-home quizzes will typically involve completing exercises such as those in our textbook. The in-class pop quizzes will typically involve similar exercises, and usually be preceded by an  in-class practice session of similar problems. These points add up very quickly, and combined are worth three letter grades in the course, so you are encouraged to devote sufficient time to do well on them.

Extra-Credit:
Each of the exams will include a few extra-credit questions, and a limited number of quizzes will also be counted for extra-credit. The maximum amount of extra-credit points for the quizzes altogether will be 100 points for the course.


Grading:
The course grades will initially be determined according to the standard scale, i.e., 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, 59% and below = F, and then may be modified as follows:  Course grades might be curved, but, if so, the curve would not be such that any student's grade is lowered. Such factors as improvement over the length of the course, class participation, attendance, etc., may be taken into consideration, especially where doing so may improve a borderline grade. You must complete all three exams to receive a passing grade (i.e., a grade other than F, NC or U).


Internet Resources:
The course home page (http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/361Home.html) contains links to useful sites regarding the subject matter of the course, study aids, the on-line syllabus, and other resources. A Moodle page will also be created for this course.
You are also encouraged to visit my home page, which contains a link to the home page for this class as well as hundreds of organized links to research and philosophy oriented web sites and a section on how to survive your first philosophy course, among other things, that you may find interesting and useful. The address for my home page is http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409.


Class Policies:
If you miss class, for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to get class notes from another student. Missed exams or other assignments can be made up only if an appropriate excuse, e.g., illness requiring medical attention, participation in certain official university events, etc., is provided. If you know in advance that you will miss an exam or due date for an assignment, let me know beforehand. An unexcused late assignment will be dropped 2/3 of a letter grade per day it is late. Excused late assignments can only be made up if the instructor is notified within one week of either the due date of the assignment or the cessation of a medically documented persistent vegetative state. Late quizzes will not be accepted once the answers have been given in class. You may hand them in early or, as a last resort, submit them by e-mail.
If you have a disability and require assistance with fulfilling class assignments, don't hesitate to notify the instructor and the Office for Services to Students with Disabilities at 482-5252.
Finally, be sure you are familiar with all university policies described in the UL Undergraduate Bulletin. All assignments for this class must be completed individually, and any instance of academic dishonesty on any assignment will be sufficient to fail the course.


Emergency Evacuation Procedures:
A map of this floor is posted near the elevator marking the evacuation route and the Designated Rescue Area. This is an area where emergency service personnel will go first to look for individuals who need assistance in exiting the building. Students who may need assistance should identify themselves to the teaching faculty.
COURSE CALENDAR & PLANNED READING ASSIGNMENTS

NOTE 1: Topics, readings and assignments are tentative and may be changed.
NOTE 2: All chapter and page references are to the Herrick text.


January 20 - Martin Luther King Day - No Classes.

1. The Fundamental Concepts of Logic (Jan. 15 – Jan. 29)

a. Logic and Argument (Chapters 1 and 2; OPTIONAL BACKGROUND READING: p. 451-466)
b. Two Types of Argument (Chapters 3, 4 and 5)
c. Logical Relations (Chapter 6)


2. The Components of Truth-Functional Logic (Feb. 3 – Feb. Feb. 12)

a. The Operators (Chapter 10)
b. Wffs and TL (Chapter 12)
c. Translation from English to TL (Chapter 13)


EXAM #1: WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12.

3. Truth –Tables (Feb. 17 – Feb. 26)

a. Truth Tables for The Operators (Chapter 14)
b. Testing for Logical Status (Chapters 15 and 17)
c. Testing for Validity (Chapter 16)


Monday, March 3 through Wednesday, March 5 - Mardi Gras Holiday - No Classes.

Monday, March 17 - Advising for FA14 begins.

4. Natural Deduction in TL (March 10 – March 26)

a. The Simple Rules of Inference (Chapters 18 and 19; p. 401-402)
b. Two Complex Rules of Inference (Chapter 21)
c. Theorems and Replacement Rules (p. 446-451; Chapter 20)


EXAM #2: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26.

5. Varieties of Logic (March 31 – April 2)

a. A Brief History of Logic
b. Extensions of and Deviations From Classical Logic


Friday, April 18 through Friday April 25 – Spring Break - No Classes.

6. Predicate Logic (April 7 – May 2)

a. Variables, Constants and Quantifiers (Chapter 23)
b. Relational Predicates (Chapter 24)
c. Natural Deduction in Predicate Logic (Chapters 26 and 28)
d. Semantics and Predicate Logic (Chapter 27)


LAST DAY OF CLASSES: FRIDAY, MAY 2.

FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY, MAY 8, FROM 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, IN REGULAR CLASSROOM.

Some Helpful Tips:
1. On class evaluations, students often state that they would tell friends planning to take this class that good class attendance and good class notes are essential to doing well on the exams.
2. Keep up with the readings - they further explain and help you to remember test material.
3. If you're having trouble understanding course material, do not hesitate to discuss it with the instructor!


361 Home page

Dr. Korcz's Home Page