Foreign Policy

Here's your group's thread for discussion. Click on the little pencil below to start posting!

Photo: 080924-N-3595W-158 GONAIVES, Haiti (Sept. 23, 2008) Haitians help Sailors from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2 offload disaster relief supplies from a landing craft, utility. Service members from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard embarked aboard Kearsarge, along with medical personnel from the USPHS, Canadian Army and Air Force, Brazil, Project Hope and International Aid are working together to conduct hurricane relief operations in Haiti. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina Wollman/Released)

Legalize Marijuana?

Here's your group thread; click on the little pencil below to start your discussion!

Term Paper Part 1: Research

Here's a link to your first term paper assignment: Term Paper Part 1

Contact me right away with any questions, and don't forget to spend at least one hour researching outside of class for every hour we work on the project in class (that means you'll spend at least 4.5 hours of homework time on initial research).

Ask the librarians for help! They can suggest databases or other sources where you're likely to find helpful information; alternative key words to try in your searches; specialized encyclopedias that will give you a beginning and introduce concepts to follow up with; or books that will give you a good foundation (the bibliography in a good book on your subject is a great way to find further sources).

If you're having trouble finding helpful information, don't give up! Get in touch with me for help right away.

PDF copies of the overheads from class

Empirical Claims

Normative Claims

Interpretive Claims

Example of a Normative Argument

Homework: Case 4

Assignment #1: Your sub-topic

Join the Yahoo group on your group topic. Discuss your sub-questions over the next few days, so that everyone is clear about what all the sub-topics are, and who will take which sub-topic for his/her term paper assignment.

Type up a short paragraph answering the following 3 questions:

1. What is your sub-topic?
2. What is the group topic?
3. How will your sub-topic help the group to answer it’s main question (topic)?

Assignment #2: Case 4

Read Case 4, linked below.

Case 4: BOZ Will be BOZ

Type your answers:

1. Identify all the major claims made in the case. Don’t confuse claims with sentences – just capture the major claims made about the argument that’s taking place.
2. For each claim, identify which kind of claim it is.

First Homework Assignment

Here's a link to the reading for your first homework, due Thursday January 27.

Case 2 Reading

Here's the new homework question for Case 2:

Read Case 2. Then,

Make a list of reasons why a rational person would think that the flag is NOT offensive; then

make a list of reasons why a rational person would think that the flag IS offensive.

The young women in the story give their own reasons - list those, and then add your own. Spend at least 20 minutes actively brainstorming reasons.

Let me know if you have any questions!

(c) Raul654 under Gnu Free Documentation License

Welcome!

Welcome to Philosophy 130: Intro to Critical Thinking. I hope it'll be a great semester.

Here are links to your syllabus and schedule for the course.

The school is trying to go paperless, so if you'd like a hard copy of the syllabus and schedule, please print them out from the PDF at the link. I'll have a limited number available on the first day for anyone without a printer or an internet connection.

The course readings will be posted to the blog. I'll provide some copies for those who don't have access to a printer or the internet.

I'm looking forward to meeting you next week!