Strayer PHIl210 full course (all discussions+ assignments + 3 quizzes)

WEEK 1

“Thinking About Thinking.” Please respond to the follow:

• Select a quote about “thinking” from Chapter 1 that best describes your own viewpoint and explain why this quote is meaningful to you.
• Identify which of the sources of enculturation has had the most impact on your own thinking and explain why you think this is the case.
• Identify one of the “5 Errors of Thinking” that you recently observed in another or even committed yourself and explain how this affected productive communication.

WEEK 2

“Memory and the Mind-Body Connection” Please respond to the following:

• Describe an example of an episodic memory, perceptual-motor memory, and semantic memory that you have personally experienced.
• Explain which of these memories you feel is most affected by one or more of the senses.

Week 3

Please respond to the follow:

Using and misusing figurative language may make it difficult for others to understand what you write and what you say.

• Choose one (1) of the ten (10) types of figurative language from the list below.
• Define the meaning of the term and provide an example.
• Describe an appropriate circumstance for using the example for the term or a circumstance when using the term might lead to misunderstanding.

TERMS:
1. idiom	6. amphiboly
2. analogy	7. “flame word”
3. metaphor	8. hyperbole
4. simile	9. euphemism
5. cliché	10. colloquialism

Week 4

“Generating Topic Ideas.” Please respond to the following:

1. Choose a topic from the list in Appendix A of the student course guide. NOTE: The topic you choose for this exercise will be the basis of your “Critical Thinking Paper” due in Week 10.

2. On a piece of paper or in a Word document on your computer, use the “brainstorming” technique, “starbursting technique,” and “Five Ws for Journalists” technique to generate ideas for your topic.

3. In the threaded discussion –

o State which topic you chose and the reasons why you chose the topic.

o Identify which of the three techniques was the most productive for you as a way of generating ideas. Explain why.

o State which of these techniques you think you might use for future writing projects. Explain why

Week 5

“Enthymemes in Everyday Life.” Please respond to the follow:

• Identify an example of an enthymeme you encountered this week in the media or in a conversation.
• Create a syllogism based on the enthymeme.
• Determine whether the syllogism is valid or invalid and explain why.
• If invalid, identify the reasoning error that is present in the syllogism.
• Analyze the syllogism of one (1) other student.

Week 6

“Identifying Deductive & Inductive Fallacies.” Please respond to the following:

Locate a piece of advertising that demonstrates one (or more) of the deductive or inductive fallacies listed below.

• Describe the advertisement example that you located.
• Identify the fallacy you observed in the advertisement and describe how this is an example of this type of fallacy.
• Explain whether or not you believe the fallacy is effective in persuading customers to purchase or use the product or service being promoted in the ad.

Informal ductive fallacies Fallacy of division Circular reasoning Either/or fallacy Reductio ad Absurdum

Informal inductive fallacies Hasty generalization Composition Pot hoc ergo propter hoc Extravagant hypothesis False analogy Slippery slope Genetic fallacy Appeal to authority Appeal to tradition Is/ought fallacy Bandwagon Appeal to ignorance

Week 7 Discussion

“Placebo Effect.” Please respond to the following:

Locate a recent example in the media of a scientific study involving the placebo effect.

• Identify and explain the placebo effect’s function in each step of the scientific method: observation, hypothesis, experimentation, verification.
• Describe how the placebo effect impacted the results of the study.
• State whether or not you were surprised by the results and why.

Week 9

“Problem Solving.” Please respond to the following:

Select one (1) of the scenarios below.

Identify the components in the problem.

Explain from how you would get more information to solve the problem.

Provide the best solution for solving the problem.

Explain the reasons why you believe your solution would solve the problem.

Week 10

“Quality Thinking.” Please respond to the following:

• Identify at least one (1) factor which is necessary for evaluating the quality of your thinking.
• Explain whether it is easier to evaluate other people’s thinking than it is to evaluate your own. Why or why not?

Week 11

“Make It Real.” Please respond to the following:

You’ve spent a whole quarter learning how to think more critically, and now it is time to reflect back over the course.

• Identify two (2) or three (3) key concepts or skills you have learned from this course that you think will be helpful to you in your current or future positions.
• Explain why you believe these concepts or skills will be beneficial to you.

Assignment 1: Sensory Perceptions
Due Week 3 and worth 100 points

Can you really trust your senses and the interpretation of sensory data to give you an accurate view of the world? Describe and discuss the accuracy and the weaknesses of the human senses as they pertain to thinking in general and to your own thinking in particular.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:
1. Provide at least three (3) reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information.
2. Identify and describe at least three (3) factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory data.
3. Discuss the role of memory with regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data.
4. Use at least two (2) quality resources in this assignment. Your textbook may count as one (1) source. At least one (1) of your sources must be obtained from the collection of databases accessible from the Learning Resources Center Web page.

Assignment 2: Critical Thinking Paper
Due Week 10 and worth 200 points

Your paper should present a reasoned, convincing argument for a position on a selected topic.

Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:
1. Follow the five (5) steps of persuasion: establishing credibility, acknowledging the audience’s position, constructing a rationale, transplanting root elements, and asking for a response.
2. Clearly define your position and supporting evidence.
3. Include all the necessary “evidence” for the reader to reach the expected conclusion in each argument in the paper (whether the overriding argument or one contained in an individual paragraph)
4. Ensure that each argument in the paper (whether the overriding argument or one contained in an individual paragraph) is valid and free from both formal and informal fallacies.
5. Include at least four (4) references (sources). At least one (1) of your sources must be obtained from the collection of databases accessible from the Learning Resources Center Web page.

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and effectively organized writing:
• The paper is well-organized, and every explanation is both complete and easy to understand.
• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph for the paper.
• Main ideas should be addressed in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
• The paper should be checked for spelling and grammatical errors.

Week 6 quiz 1

Question 1

All dillybobbers are thingamajigs.

No whatchamacallit is a dillybobber.

Therefore, no whatchamacallits are thingamajigs.

This syllogism is an example of _______________.Answer

the four-terms fallacy.

a syllogism with an undistributed middle term.

illicit process.

a valid syllogism.

5 points

Question 2

To form a valid syllogism, which premise is missing in the following argument?

[missing premise]

Sam is a politician.

Therefore, Sam is a dishonest person.Answer

Some politicians are dishonest persons.

All politicians are dishonest persons.

Honest people are not politicians.

Almost no politicians are honest.

5 points

Question 3

Which of the following disjunctive syllogisms is invalid?

Answer

Either Rich or Phil will win the marathon race

Phil did not win the marathon race

Therefore, Rich won the marathon race

Either the US government will make progress on reducing the national debt or it will face bankruptcy

The US government will not face bankruptcy

Therefore, the US government will make progress on reducing the national debt

Either the Pittsburgh Penguins will win the Stanley Cup or their coach will be fired

The Pittsburgh Penguins fired their coach

Therefore the Pittsburgh Penguins did not win the Stanley Cup

Either you will pass this exam or you will not pass this exam

You passed this exam

Therefore, you possibly did not fail the exam

5 points

Question 4

Which one of the following hypothetical syllogisms isinvalid? Use the section on "hypothetical syllogisms" in the textbook to analyze these syllogisms.

Answer

If P, then Q.

P.

Therefore, Q.

If P, then Q.

Not Q.

Therefore, not P.

If and only if P, then Q.

Not P.

Therefore, not Q.

If P, then Q.

Not P.

Therefore, not Q.

5 points

Question 5

In the following syllogism, the major term is _______________.

All human beings are mortal.

Ann is a human being.

Ann is mortal.Answer

human beings

Ann

mortal

none of the above

5 points

Question 6

Which rule is being violated in the following syllogism?

Only man (not the plants or animals) is that which has been called by God to avoid sin and reap the rewards of heaven.

Martha is not a man.

Therefore, Martha is not that which has been called by God to avoid sin and reap the rewards of heaven.Answer

undistributed middle

equivocation

illicit minor

illicit major

5 points

Question 7

Which of the following statements is aparticularproposition?Answer

Andrew is a monster.

All men are monsters.

Some men are monsters.

Only men are monsters.

5 points

Question 8

When the premises are true and the syllogism is valid, we have a(n) _______ argument.Answer

illogical

perfect

sound

inductive

5 points

Question 9

Which one of the following statements is auniversalproposition?Answer

Karen is a woman.

All women are mortal.

Some women are caring persons.

Karen is a woman and knows many women herself.

5 points

Question 10

Complete the following syllogism: All X are Y; Some Z are X; Therefore, ______________.Answer

some Z are Y.

some X are Z.

all X are Z.

all Z are Y.

5 points

Question 11

Premisesin syllogisms can be ________________.Answer

true

false

valid

all of the above

a and b

5 points

Question 12

Which one of the following syllogisms isinvalid? Use the syllogistic rules to determine which argument does not pass all of them.

Answer

No X are Y.

Some Z are X.

Therefore, some Z are not Y.

Some X are Z.

All X are Y.

Therefore, some Y are Z.

Some X are Y.

Some Z are X.

Therefore, some Z are Y.

Some X are not Z.

All X are Y.

Therefore, some Y are not Z.

5 points

Question 13

A basic form of deductive argument is ________.Answer

inductive reasoning.

the proposition.

causation.

the syllogism.

5 points

Question 14

A syllogism in which one of the premises is missing is called a(n) _________________.Answer

soft deductive argument.

analogical argument.

sentential argument.

enthymeme.

5 points

Question 15

In a valid syllogism, if the first two premises are true, then ______________.Answer

the conclusion must be true.

the conclusion must be false.

the conclusion could be either true or false.

the conclusion must be valid.

5 points

Question 16

Which rule does the following syllogism violate?

All persons in the secretaries' union are persons who make a lot of money.

Ann is a secretary.

Therefore, Ann is a person who makes lots of money.Answer

equivocation

illicit minor

four-terms fallacy

invalid conversion

5 points

Question 17

Which one of the following is an example of ahypotheticalstatement?Answer

Either I will go to the store or I will go to the bank.

If Karen returns, then I will return also.

Robert is not a very nice man.

All of the above.

5 points

Question 18

The syllogism itself, not the premises, can be _____.Answer

valid.

true.

false.

all of the above.

5 points

Question 19

If one of the statements in a syllogism isparticular, the conclusion _____________.Answer

must be particular.

must be universal.

can be particular or universal.

must be singular.

5 points

Question 20

Which is true?

Answer

A deductive argument always ends with a conclusion that is a statement of probability, no matter how remote that probability.

A sound deductive argument is one that has valid form and true premises.

Premises of deductive arguments are never derived through induction.

None of the above are true

Question 1

Every member of the Delta Club is over 70 years old. Therefore, the Delta Club must be over 70 years old.Answer

Ignorance

Composition

Authority

Circular reasoning

5 points

Question 2

The idea that black people in this country live in poverty is ridiculous. Look at Bill Cosby. He's a millionaire. And so are Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey.Answer

Division

Hasty generalization

False Analogy

Composition

5 points

Question 3

No one has ever proved that the human fetus is not a person with rights. Therefore, abortion is morally wrong.Answer

Ignorance

Composition

Authority

Circular reasoning

5 points

Question 4

If someone rents a piece of land and plants crops on it, the landlord is never permitted to come and take those crops for himself when harvest time arrives. Similarly, if couples enlist the services of a surrogate mother to provide them with a baby, the mother should never be allowed to welch on the deal and keep the baby for herself once it is born.Answer

Division

False analogy

Equivocation

No fallacy

5 points

Question 5

The farmers of our state have asked that we introduce legislation to provide subsidies for soybeans. Unfortunately, we will have to turn down their request. If we give subsidies to the soybean farmers, then the corn and wheat growers will ask for the same thing. Then it will be the cotton growers, citrus growers, truck farmers, and cattle raisers. In the end, the cost will be astronomical.Answer

Authority

Circular reasoning

Genetic

Slippery slope

5 points

Question 6

Terrorists from the Middle East have crossed our borders and traveled through the country at will. Obviously the Immigration Service has not been doing its job.Answer

Circular reasoning

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Authority

Slippery slope

5 points

Question 7

Motives and desires exert forces on people, causing them to choose one thing over another. But force is a physical quantity, governed by the laws of physics. Therefore, human choices are governed by the laws of physics.Answer

Division

False analogy

Equivocation

No fallacy

5 points

Question 8

When a car breaks down so often that repairs become pointless, the car is thrown on the junk heap. Similarly, when a person becomes old and diseased, he or she should be mercifully put to deathAnswer

Division

Hasty generalization

False Analogy

Composition

5 points

Question 9

All persons act in order that they might get pleasure.Even so-called altruistic persons who help others so much that they do almost nothing for themselves get pleasure out of giving.Otherwise, they wouldn't do it. Suppose a person hits himself over the head with a hammer.He must get pleasure from it, because why else would he do it if he didn't get pleasure from it?Answer

Circular reasoning

Composition

Either/Or Fallacy

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

5 points

Question 10

Televangelist Jerry Falwell said that God's anger with feminism led to the destruction of the World Trade Center. Given Falwell's closeness to God, we have no alternative than to blame the feminists for this atrocity.Answer

Ignorance

Composition

Authority

Circular reasoning

5 points

Question 11

Of course animals have rights. Just look at how powerless they are in comparison with modern humans.Answer

Ignorance

Composition

Authority

Circular reasoning

5 points

Question 12

White sheep eat more than black sheep (because there are more of them). Therefore, this white sheep eats more than that black sheep.Answer

Division

False analogy

Equivocation

No fallacy

5 points

Question 13

We know that induction will provide dependable results in the future because it has always worked in the past. Whatever has consistently worked in the past will continue to work in the future, and we know that is true because it has been established by induction.Answer

Circular reasoning

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Authority

Slippery slope

5 points

Question 14

Raising a child is like growing a tree. Sometimes violent things, such as cutting off branches, have to be done to force the tree to grow straight. Similarly, corporal punishment must sometimes be inflicted on children to force them to develop properly.Answer

False analogy

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Circular reasoning

Ignorance

5 points

Question 15

Either we have prayer in our public schools or the moral fabric of society will disintegrate. The choice should be obvious.Answer

Circular reasoning

Composition

Either/Or Fallacy

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

5 points

Question 16

Rhubarb pie is a dessert. Therefore, whoever eats rhubarb pie eats a dessert.Answer

Bandwagon

Either/Or fallacy

Division

No fallacy

5 points

Question 17

If you find yourself paralyzed in bed for a few moments and see little creatures by your bed, you might conclude that you had experienced some kind of UFO alien abduction.Answer

Hasty generalization

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Extravagant hypothesis

Ignorance

5 points

Question 18

A woman's place is in the home. That's the way it's always been, so that's the way it ought to be.Answer

Tradition

Composition

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Bandwagon

5 points

Question 19

Either the government imposes price controls on the cost of prescription drugs, or the pharmaceutical companies will continue to reap huge profits. Therefore, price controls must be imposed, because we cannot tolerate these huge profits any longer.Answer

Bandwagon

Either/Or fallacy

Division

No fallacy

5 points

Question 20

Karen has just moved in with her boyfriend. She claims that living together before marriage is ethical since everyone is doing it now.Answer

Bandwagon

Either/Or fallacy

Division

No fallacy

Week 9 quiz

Question 1

1. If students play video games, their school work will suffer, and they will not have the ability to succeed in life, ending up in lower paying jobs and needing government programs, which will increase our taxes. So video games will increase our taxes.Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Slippery Slope
		Red herring
		Tu quoque

5 points

Question 2

1. Reporter: Congressman, What do you have to say about the reports on your campaign's questionable fund raising activities?
   Congressman: I am very humbled and grateful to the generosity of my supporters, and I will continue to do my utmost to represent our district's interests and concerns in Washington.Answer

		Red herring
		Ad hominem
		Appeal to pride
		Ignoring the question

5 points

Question 3

1. If you are opposed to the North American Free Trade Agreement, you are obviously opposed to free trade.Answer

		Appeal to pity
		Composition
		Straw man
		Ad hominem

5 points

Question 4

1. John has really worked hard on his term project, and he will really be depressed if he does not make an A. For these reasons, you just have to give him an A on his project.Answer

		Appeal to pride
		Appeal to pity
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 5

1. Officer, How can you ticket me for speeding, when I see cops speeding all the time?Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Slippery Slope
		Red herring
		Tu quoque

5 points

Question 6

1. This administration is not anti-German, as it has been alleged. Germany is a great country. It has contributed immensely to the world's artistic treasury. Goethe and Schiller made magnificent contributions to literature, and Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, and Brahms did the same in music.Answer

		Red herring
		Ad hominem
		Appeal to pride
		Ignoring the question

5 points

Question 7

1. Since Sodium and Chloride are each toxic to humans, the combination of sodium and chloride would be harmful to people.Answer

		Appeal to pity
		Composition
		Straw man
		Ad hominem

5 points

Question 8

1. Humanitarian groups have argued in favor of housing for the poor. Apparently what they want is another high-density project. Unfortunately, these projects have been tried in the past and have failed. In no time they turn into ghettos with astronomical rates of crime and delinquency. Chicago's Cabrini-Green is a prime example. Clearly, these humanitarian arguments are not what they seem.Answer

		Appeal to pity
		Composition
		Straw man
		Ad hominem

5 points

Question 9

1. Gay and lesbian groups have argued in favor of legislation to prevent their people from being discriminated against. But we must remember that a genetic basis for homosexuality has yet to be discovered. Granted, some studies indicate that homosexuality has a biological origin, but these studies are too limited to be conclusive. Thus, the safest policy right now is to take no action at all on these questions.Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Slippery Slope
		Red herring
		Tu quoque

5 points

Question 10

1. It was his fault, Officer. You can tell by the kind of car I'm driving and by my clothes that I am a good citizen and would not lie. Look at the rattletrap he is driving, and look at how he is dressed. You can't believe anything that a dirty, longhaired hippie like that might tell you. Search his car; he probably has pot in it.Answer

		Red herring
		Ad hominem
		Appeal to pride
		Ignoring the question

5 points

Question 11

1. There is a good deal of talk these days about the need to eliminate pesticides from our fruits and vegetables. But many of these foods are essential to our health. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, broccoli is rich in iron, and oranges and grapefruits have lots of vitamin C.Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Tu quoque
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 12

1. Child to parent: Your argument that I should stop stealing candy from the corner store is no good. You told me yourself just a week ago that you, too, stole candy when you were a kid.Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Tu quoque
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 13

1. Why can't I use that swear word? I have heard you use it.Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Tu quoque
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 14

1. Environmentalists are continually harping about the dangers of nuclear power. Unfortunately, electricity is dangerous no matter where it comes from. Every year hundreds of people are electrocuted by accident. Since most of these accidents are caused by carelessness, they could be avoided if people would just exercise greater caution.Answer

		Appeal to pride
		Appeal to pity
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 15

1. You are all intelligent people, so you should be able to see the fallacy in his statement.Answer

		Appeal to pride
		Appeal to pity
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 16

1. Officer, please excuse my going over the speed limit, but my mother is ill and I'm being audited by the IRS, and I don't know how I can meet all my bills.Answer

		Appeal to pride
		Appeal to pity
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 17

1. Congress shouldn't bother to consult major universities about educational appropriations. As members of educational establishment, they will naturally want as much money for education as they think they can get.Answer

		Appeal to pride
		Appeal to pity
		Ad hominem
		Red herring

5 points

Question 18

1. Professor Andrews, surely I deserve a B in logic. I know that I have gotten F's on all the tests, but if you give me an F for my final grade, I will lose my scholarship. That will force me to drop out of school, and my poor, aged parents, who yearn to see me graduate, will be grief-stricken for the rest of their lives.Answer

		Appeal to pity
		Composition
		Straw man
		Ad hominem

5 points

Question 19

1. If we make an exception for you, then we'll have to make an exception for everyone.Answer

		Appeal to fear
		Slippery Slope
		Red herring
		Tu quoque

5 points

Question 20

1. Dr. Jones, this seminar was the best course I have had. I wondered if we could discuss my grades?Answer

		Appeal to pride
		Appeal to pity
		Ad hominem
		Red herring