Joe Lau

PHIL1005 Critical thinking and logic

2008-9 Second semester. Friday 2-3:50pm Library extension #1.

Announcements (please check regularly for update)

  • [27 Apr] Suggested answers for past paper: 2004-05 final exam. Please note that the syllabi for previous years might be different. The exam will cover all and only all the topics discussed in the course, as presented in the required readings.
  • [25 Apr] Some past exam papers are not accessible online, e.g. 2007 & 2008. They will not be made available.
  • [6 Apr] Here are some questions about the assignment and my answers. I might add to this page later if there are more.
  • [25 Mar] Details about the short assignment for the portfolio have been posted below.
  • [21 Mar] Exercises set #4 is now online.
  • [14 Mar] The mean score for the mid-term is roughly 13.
  • [13 Mar] I have updated the powerpoint file slightly and added some notes below.
  • [12 Mar] The lecture on March 13 is canceled. An email will be sent to all students. The powerpoint file for the lecture will be updated over the weekend and you can write your portfolio entry based on the notes. Sorry for the late notice.
  • [11 Mar] The final exam is provisionally scheduled for 5 May 9:30am. The exams unit will confirm later.
  • [10 Mar] There was a mistake in the mid-term grading. See here
  • [7 Mar] Exercises set #3 is now online.
  • [27 Feb] A student left some belongings in LE1 after the test. Please see Loletta in the philosophy office to claim it.
  • [17 Feb] Powerpoint file for Friday has been posted. If we have any time left at the end of the lecture I can discuss any questions you might have about the topics in the mid-term.
  • [10 Feb] Exercises set #2 is now online.
  • [6 Feb] There is an error in the definition of "prime no" in powerpoint slide #3.
  • [3 Feb] Due date for portfolio : Wed 6 May 2009. See bottom of page for details.
  • [3 Feb] Asking questions - From now on, email your questions about course content to your own tutor, and questions about tutorial arrangements to Ms Fanny Ho. Email addresses: fanny.cp.ho ATSIGN gmail.com, alandau ATSIGN hkusuc.hku.hk, derekkam ATSIGN hkusua.hku.hk, "Alicia" izzy0213 ATSIGN yahoo.com.hk, "Chan Hau Man Christine" imacow ATSIGN hkusua.hku.hk, Sun Kelly kellyinglis ATSIGN yahoo.com, Catherine Carroll coffeecarrot ATSIGN gmail.com.
  • [2 Feb] Tutorial group #20 has now been rescheduled to Wed 1:00-1:50pm. If anyone would like to switch over please email Ms Fanny Ho (fanny.cp.ho ATSIGN gmail.com) Only a few places will be available.
  • [30 Jan] tutorial signup information
  • [29 Jan] We are having some troubles sorting out the tutorial timetable. Tutorial sign-up will be postponed to Sat 31 Jan. More details will be posted here in the afternoon of Friday 30 Jan. Don't worry if you are not able to find any sign-up form on WebCT yet.
  • [27 Jan] Set #1 of tutorial discussion questions has been posted to WebCT. Please bring the exercise questions to the tutorials.
  • [24 Jan] We are still sorting out the tutorial timetable. Signup will probably begin on Friday 30 Jan.
  • [20 Jan] Tutorials will begin after Chinese New Year. You need to sign-up over the holidays through WebCT. More details will be posted on this page later.

Course schedule

Note:

  1. [16 Jan] How to improve your thinking C01, C02, 10-yr rule, attitudes?
  2. [23 Jan] Thinking and writing clearly M01, M03, M05, M06
  3. [6 Feb] Tools for clarifying meaning M02, M04, [ "definitions" PDF file on WebCT ]
  4. [13 Feb] Truth and logic L02, L03, PDF file
  5. [20 Feb] Analyzing arguments A01 to A09
  6. [27 Feb] Mid-term quiz
  7. [13 Mar] Evaluating arguments A01 to A09 notes
  8. [20 Mar] Scientific reasoning S01, S02, online PDF
  9. [27 Mar] Thinking about causes and effects S04-S08
  10. [3 Apr] Legal and moral reasoning U01-U08
  11. [17 Apr] Fallacies & cognitive biases F01-F08
  12. [24 Apr] Last lecture: Making good decisions optional reading - week 9 to 12

Self-study topics

  1. Validity and soundness - Tutorials A01, A02, A03, A09
  2. Venn diagrams Tutorials V01 to V05, powerpoint file on WebCT

Tutorials

  • Students are required to attend tutorials. Each tutorial group will meet around 6 times. Signup will be done online through WebCT at the end of Jan, and tutorials will start after Chinese New Year. More details later.

Assessment

  • Coursework (60%): Tutorial participation and attendance (10%) Mid-term quiz (15%) + portfolio (35%).
  • Final exam (40%). Around 1 hr. Short questions. All compulsory. Details to be announced.
  • The mid-term quiz will be short questions and will cover only the two self-study topics. If you fail to attend the quiz for non-medical reasons you will get zero marks for the quiz. If you cannot attend the quiz for medical reasons you need to get a medical certificate from the HKU Health Clinic.
  • The portfolio assignment has two parts: (a) [25 marks] Exactly five entries about the contents of the lectures. Each entry includes two parts: (i) A short summary of the lecture, with brief comments and personal reflections. Each summary should NOT be longer than one page of A4. (use 1 to 1.5 line spacing) (ii) A discussion illustrating how some aspects of the lecture can be applied to an actual example in the news - at most 2 pages of A4, preferably 1 page only. You can write on any five lectures, except the first one. (b) [10 marks] A short problem set assignment to be announced later in the term. See this page.
    • You MUST submit your portfolio BEFORE THE DEADLINE to http://turnitin.com to check for plagiarism. Class ID = 2550255. The password for registration to PHIL1005 is "1005pw". (HKU library help page) DO NOT copy your assignments or allow them to be copied. You might receive zero marks or get expelled from HKU as a result.
    • Due date: Wed 6 May 2009. Print out your portfolio and hand it in to Ms Loletta Li at the Philosophy Dept Main Office before 5pm.
    • Make sure your submission includes your name, tutorial group no, and your student ID no.
    • Staple all sheets together securely and do not use a cover sheet or a folder.
    • NO late submission will be accepted.