DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT

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CRITICAL THINKING

Mark Anthony L. Dacela

Philosophy Department, WH 505 DLSU

madphilo@yahoo.com

Facebook group: Critical Thinking (DLSU_MAD)

Course Description:

This course introduces the main concepts, issues, and skills in the discipline of critical thinking. It acquaints the students with
the different techniques and appropriate guidelines for evaluating claims and arguments of various kinds such as those
encountered in ordinary life and in the other disciplines.

Course Outline:

Topics:

Sizing Up and Argument

1. STATEMENTS 2. EXPOSITION AND ARGUMENT 3. GETTING THE POINT 4. THE ANATOMY OF ARGUMENT 5. PUTTING YOUR
REASONS IN ORDER

Some Verbal Pitfalls

6. MEANING AND CONTEXT, 7. AMBIGUITY, 8. THE FALLACY OF EQUIVOCATION 9. VAGUENESS, 10. HOW TO PIN DOWN YOUR
MEANING

Levels of Meaning

11. DENOTATION AND DESIGNATION, 12. DESIGNATION AND CONNOTATION, 13.STATING AND SUGGESTING 14.SLANTING, 15.
PLAIN DISCOURSE,

Figurative Language

16. SIMILE AND METAPHOR, 17. INTERPRETING A METAPHOR, 18. ANALOGIES: THEIR USE AND MISUSE, 19. ANSWERING AN
ANALOGY, 20. MANAGING FIGURES OF SPEECH,

Emotive Language

21. WORDS AND FEELINGS, 22. EMOTIONAL APPEALS, 23. FEELING AND THINKING, 24. OVERSIMPLIFICATION AND DISTRACTION,
25. CONTROLLING EMOTIVE LANGUAGE,

Defining Your Terms

26. WHAT A DEFINITION DOES, 27. TESTING A DEFINITION, 28. IMPROMPTU DEFINITIONS, 29. DEFINING IN A CIRCLE, 30.
INFORMAL DEFINITIONS

Does it Follow?

31. THE IMPORTANCE OF LOGICAL FORM, 32. BASIC LOGICAL CONNECTIONS, 33. STATEMENTS INTO PREMISES, 34. TESTING A
SYLLOGISM, 35. THE USES OF DEDUCTION

What’s the Evidence

36. THE INDUCTIVE LEAP, * 37. APPRAISING A GENERALIZATION, 38. APPRAISING A HYPOTHESIS, 39.
CLASSIFICATION, 40. THE PROBLEM OF OUTLINING

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance◦

a. 5 absences = 0.0 (Final Grade)◦

2. Participation

Students are expected to come to class prepared to contribute to the discussion. Participation includes active speaking
as well as attentive listening. An atmosphere of respect, openness and patience is expected in the classroom. I have a
strict NO LAPTOP, NO CELLPHONE POLICY.

3. Creative Outputs(Format would be discussed in class)*

4. Bring the required readings in class. (Readings are uploaded on our Yahoo Group: File Section)

*Late requirements will not be accepted.

Cheating in any form = 0.0 (Final Grade)

◦Perfect attendance + Complete requirements = + .5

NO FINAL EXAM/FINAL REQUIREMENT = 0.0 FINAL GRADE

93-100 4.0
85-92 3.5
Assessment and Evaluation
77-84 3.0
Each requirement has an equivalent number of points. The 69-76 2.5
total number of points accumulated by the student will determine 60-68 2.0
his/her final grade. 100 points is equivalent to 4.0, 50 points is
equivalent to 1.0, and less than 50 points is equivalent to 0.0. 56-59 1.5
Grades are non-negotiable unless there are proofs of error
50-55 1.0
in computation. For this purpose, students are required to keep 0 – 49 0.0
all papers given back to them during the term until final grades
are given. Under no circumstance will extra work for additional
grade be given to those failing the course or those unsatisfied
with their grade at the end of the term.