In this course, students will develop skills in the use of informal logic, argument evaluation, and language analysis for addressing problems found online, in the workplace, and in other everyday environments. Students will address topics related to human diversity, media literacy, and philosophy of science.
Course Effective Dates: 8/27/07 – Present
Outline of Major Content Areas
Barriers
Basic logical concepts
Critical thinking for the media
Evaluating arguments and truth claims
Finding, evaluating, and using sources
Logical fallacies
Science and pseudoscience
Standards
Learning Outcomes
Describe, analyze, and solve problems through knowledge of standards, fallacies, and barriers.
Summarize and evaluate arguments.
Demonstrate competency in basic logic.
Recognize and analyze problems found in the media.
Describe and analyze problems found in pseudoscience.
Use the writing process
Write a well organized critical essay.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal Area(s) and Competencies Goal 02 — Critical Thinking
Imagine and seek out a variety of possible goals, assumptions, interpretations, or perspectives which can give alternative meanings or solutions to given situations or problems.
Analyze the logical connections among the facts, goals, and implicit assumptions relevant to a problem or claim; generate and evaluate implications that follow from them.
Recognize and articulate the value assumptions which underlie and affect decisions, interpretations, analyses, and evaluations made by ourselves and others.
Goal 7A — Human Diversity
Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society.
Analyze their own attitudes, behaviors, concepts and beliefs regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry.
Demonstrate communication skills necessary for living and working effectively in a society with great population diversity.
