Current Events Syllabus
- 1. Page 1 Current Events Syllabus Spring 2015 Instructor Information Instructor: Peggy Welker Email: welkerma@umsl.edu Office Hours: at 113 Lucas Hall Fridays 1:30-2:30pm General Course Information Course Description This course focuses on how to use critical thinking and debate skills to understand current-day relevant events from various viewpoints. Over 30 logic fallacies will be taught and incorporated into class discussions. A heavy emphasis will be placed on understanding the fallacies presented by answering quizzes at the end of each lesson. Students will be expected to find current events at reputable online news sources, summarize them and look for biases from the author. The overriding goal is personal development and self-awareness of what each student believes and why. Two field trips will be inserted into the curriculum as the semester unfolds. Expectations and Goals Each student will come to class on time, having read their article and ready to discuss current events and new material as it is presented. There is an expectation of curiosity and initiating class participation each class period. There is an expectation that work will be completed in a timely manner. There is a firm expectation that when the instructor e-mails any student that a reply e-mail will be sent to either acknowledge having received the e-mail or to answer the question in the e-mail. A lack of acknowledgment will be deducted from the next day’s class participation points. At the conclusion of this course, each student shall be able to: Initiate conversation with other UMSL students, friends and family related to current world and local events Respect the differences in others when it comes to viewpoints and life choices Approach new articles and current event conversations with a critical eye and understanding of common forms of bad reasoning while maintaining a respectful tone and manner of speaking Generalize the skills in this class to develop better speaking skills, quicker conversational interactions and a greater depth of topics in conversations Course Materials Required Materials: A notebook and pencil each class period for taking notes Optional Text How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey
- 2. Page 2 Methods of Evaluation Evaluation methods in this course will include class participation, reflection papers, quizzes, a final exam and one major “Hot Topic” paper or PowerPoint presentation. The percentage of each of these is below. Class Participation. There are 3 levels of class participation: active, moderate and passive. An active participant comes to class prepared and verbally contributes to the general learning of the class without being a nuisance. An Active Participant earns an “A” (3 points). A moderately active participant comes to class partially prepared having completed some of the readings, actively listens, verbally contributes at times and asks relevant questions when confused by course content. Moderately active participants earn a “B” (2 points). Mere attendance is not participation and is unacceptable for this class. Attendance only earns a “C” (1). All students are expected to be in their seats with necessary materials open and ready before them. Reflection Papers. Each week each student will find a “front page” article on a relevant current event. The student gets to choose the article from several reliable websites. The student is expected to email the URL link to the instructor by Friday night for the article they will use and print one copy to present to the instructor in class. A short paper will be written which will include: a summary of the current event as told in the article, the personal opinion of the topic by the student and the student’s opinion which “side” of the argument the reporter is presenting. This paper will be turned in each Monday and is expected to be 1 ½ to 2 pages long, double spaced, 10 or 12 font. Points will be assigned as follows: 1 point for emailing a link to the article by Friday 10pm, 1 point for bringing in a paper copy along with writing assignment, 2 points for having a summary of the article, 2 points for identifying the bias in the article, 2 points for giving your opinion on the topic. A bonus 2 points will be given if you can identify the logic error in the article. Quizzes. Each class period a logic fallacy will be taught. At the end of the lesson or the end of the class period, a short quiz will follow to demonstrate understanding. Major Paper: Hot Topic. A sign-up sheet will be passed around for each student to choose a topic and a date to present the topic. The instructor will put a teacher sample of the paper online. This paper is meant to create an opportunity for each student to bring a depth of research to the class for discussion. Sections of the paper will include: introduction, summary of the topic (including facts and figures), the “pro” side of the issue (3 “pro” points & who supports that position), the “con” side of the issue (3 “con” points & who supports that position), the students’ opinion/position on the topic and a summary paragraph. The student will hand in his/her paper at the time of the presentation or before. Final Exam. The final exam will be 32 questions. The student only has to answer 25 of them. Each question is worth 4 points. A sample question is: “Jed Clampet: Well, at a quiltin’ party, you quilt. At a barn-raisin’ party, you raise a barn. So I reckon that at a garden party, folk garden.” Name the fallacy used among the list given. A is 90 to 100 points B is 80-89 points C is 70-79 points Anything lower is failing Type Points Given Know Your Neighbor Paper 10 points Timeliness/Participation 10 points each week (see description above for details) Current Events Reflection paper Weekly: 8 points (see Matrix handout) Identify logic fallacies in discussions Bonus: 2 points Hot Topic major paper 25 points Each quiz Each question is worth 1 point, typically a 5 question quiz Final Exam 25 questions, 4 points each = 100 points Field Trip 25 points (see Matrix handout) per field trip
- 3. Page 3 Additional Information and Resources General Format of the Class Mondays: Collect copy of current event article & reflection paper from each student Discuss agenda of the day which includes learning a logic fallacy Quiz after learning logic fallacy Questions from students Wednesdays: Discuss agenda of the day which includes learning a logic fallacy Quiz after learning logic fallacy Hear Student Presentation on Hot Topic (beginning week 4) or discuss impromptu news of the day Last 5 minutes of class go online to look for Current Event article for next Monday Fridays: each student will email the instructor the link to their article for the following Monday Instructor has office hours (see page 1) Other course policies Attendance: students are expected to be in their seats and ready for class, pencil and paper or laptop on their desk by 9:35am. Anything less than that will be deducted from their class participation grade. Integrity & Honesty: Each student is responsible to see UMSL’s student conduct expectations however no copying from another student will be accepted, submitting material that has not been properly identified which is considered plagiarism or bringing any materials to a quiz or exam that is not authorized by the instructor. This is a zero tolerance policy. Respect: Each student is to use respectful tone of voice and respectful words in class discussions. We are to honor and respect that there are different opinions on any subject and many ways to approach a topic. Any sassy words or tone will be deducted from the class participation grade for that day and will be reflected in your weekly points on Blackboard. Writing Style: all papers will have the course name, course instructor, student name and date in the top left corner (single spaced). The rest of the paper can be double spaced or 1.5 spacing with one inch margins. COURSE OUTLINE January 21, 2015 Wednesday (Week 1) 1. Introductions 2. Lesson 3. Group Introductions January 26, 2015 Monday (Week 2) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Red Herring Assignment due: Know Your Neighbor paper, Reflection Paper, copy of current event article
- 4. Page 4 January 28, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz INSTRUCTOR PRESENTS HOT TOPIC Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article February 2, 2015 Monday (Week 3) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Ad Hominem Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article February 4, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – Genetic Fallacy Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article February 9, 2015 Monday (Week 4) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Tu Quoque (you too) Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article February 11, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article February 16, 2015 Monday (Week 5) No class February 18, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – Faulty Appeal to Authority Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article February 23, 2015 Monday (Week 6) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Appeal to the People Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article February 25, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz
- 5. Page 5 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article March 2, 2015 Monday (Week 7) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Circular Reasoning Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article March 4, 2015 Wednesday Discussion POSSIBLE FIELD TRIP #1 Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article March 9, 2015 Monday (Week 8) Discussion Lesson & quiz - Equivocation Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article March 11, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – Loaded Question 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article March 16, 2015 Monday (Week 9) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Part-to-whole and Whole-to-part Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article March 18, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – either/or 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article March 23, 2015 & March 25, 2015 SPRING BREAK March 30, 2015 Monday (Week 10) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Hasty Generalization & Weak Analogy Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article April 1, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion
- 6. Page 6 Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article April 6, 2015 Monday (Week 11) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Proof or Lack of Evidence Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article April 8, 2015 Wednesday Discussion POSSIBLE FIELD TRIP #1 Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article April 13, 2015 Monday (Week 12) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Appeal to Fear and Bandwagon Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article April 15, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – Exigency & Repetition 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article April 20, 2015 Monday (Week 13) Discussion Lesson & quiz – Transfer & Snob Appeal Assignment due: Reflection Paper, copy of current event article April 22, 2015 Wednesday Discussion Lesson & Quiz – Appeal to Hi-Tech 1 Hot Topic Presentation Smaller group discussion Last 5 minutes: look for next current event article April 27, 2015 Monday (Week 14) Final Exam April 29, 2915 Wednesday LAST Hot Topic Presentation Wrap up class discussion May 4, 2015 Monday Snow day or make-up day Watch movie (maybe The Matrix or up to class) May 6, 2015 Wednesday Snow day or make-up day Watch movie (maybe The Matrix or up to class)