Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Critical Thinking (Face-to-Face)

PHIL 1250-01

Course: PHIL 1250-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: FLPH
CRN: 30705

Course Description

This course will introduce students to inductive and deductive logic. The course trains students to recognize, evaluate, and construct arguments. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Humanities

Required Texts

Hurley, Patrick and Lori Watson. A Concise Introduction to Logic, 13th Edition. Boston, Cengage Learning, 2018.

Learning Outcomes

·         Identify arguments, as well as the component parts of arguments.

·         Articulate the difference between different kinds of arguments (i.e. inductive and deductive) and identify different kinds of arguments when encountered.

·         Distinguish valid from invalid arguments forms, and construct valid argument forms.

·         Use truth tables to determine the truth conditions for statements and validity for arguments.

·         Use natural deduction to prove validity of arguments.

·         Apply principles of good and bad reasoning to everyday situations, thereby expanding critical thinking skills in all areas of life. 

Course Requirements

Attendance (10%)
Weekly Homework (10%)
Participation (10%)
Argument Identification and Analysis (10%)
Quizzes (30%)
Tests (30%)

Course Outline

Unit 1: Argument Basics (Hurley, Chapter 1)
Students will be introduced to basic concepts and elements of arguments. They will also learn to identify different types of arguments, including inductive and deductive arguments, and they will learn to evaluate arguments for validity, soundness, strength, and cogency. 

Unit 2: Propositional Logic (Hurley, Chapter 6)
Students will learn principles of propositional logic, including how to translate arguments from natural language into symbolic notation. They will also learn what the five core logical operators are and identify their truth tables. Finally, students will learn to use truth tables to check for validity and consistency. 

Unit 3: Natural Deduction (Hurley, Chapter 7)
Students will learn rules of implication and replacement and how to use those rules to derive conclusions within a system of natural deduction. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All assigned work will receive a 5 percent penalty for each 24 hour period the assignment is late without prearranging an exception, up to five days late. However, students who would like to turn in their homework Wednesday rather than Monday due to questions they wanted to ask in class or in office hours may do so, but they must inform me prior to class or at the end of class. Emailed requests for extensions after class ends will not be accepted unless you have excusing circumstances. Students who expect to be absent on a Monday (when homework is due) must let me know in advance and turn their homework in prior to their absence. If something comes up that you think may impact your ability to get your assignments in on time and/or will cause you to miss classes, let me know as soon as possible so we can make a plan to reduce the risk that you will fall behind. 

Attendance Policy

Students have two no-questions-asked unexcused absences. Any unexcused absence after the first two will result in a 25% reduction in their attendance grade. If a student has six or more unexcused absences, they will receive a 0 for your attendance grade. Students who are more than 10 minutes late for class will count as absent for that day. 

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.