PHIL 1110 - Introduction to Logic
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHIL 1110 Course Introduction to Logic Coordinating Unit Philosophy Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible PHIL 1111OL Assessment Multiple-choice quizzes, three online tests Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Jonathan Opie
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
This course introduces the tools of modern symbolic logic. On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1 Represent the structure of statements and arguments in symbols. 2 Assess arguments for validity using truth tables and natural deduction. 3 Apply formal methods to help clarify and assess real-world arguments. 4 Display facility with the methods of symbolic logic under test conditions. 5 Defend their views about the logical structure of real-world arguments. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1-3 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
1-3 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
3 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
na Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
The course uses a free, locally-adapted, open source textbook:
PD Magnus, Tim Button, and Antony Eagle (2021) Forallx: Adelaide.
The updated 2022 version will be available via MyUni before the course begins. If enough students are interested, we may be able to produce a printed version for a nominal cost.âÂÂÂÂÂÂ
Recommended Resources
The following texts may also be useful places to start thinking about logic before the course begins, but are not compulsory:
Priest, G (2001) Logic: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
Restall, G (2006) Logic: An Introduction (Series: Fundamentals of Philosophy), Routledge.Many other free online and/or open access logic texts are also available: here is a useful list. However, a word of caution: Many cover more advanced material than we will be looking at in Introduction to Logic, and looking at too many alternative texts is unnecessary to succeed in this course, and may be confusing.
Online Learning
Lecture notes and the online quizzes will be made available on MyUni each week, as will a recording of the lecture. Practice tests will be posted during the semester. Supplementary exercises may also be provided. The course textbook is freely accessible online. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures. There are two lectures each week, which can be viewed on MyUni.
Tutorials. Tutorials are designed to help you understand the lecture material, but may touch on other topics as student interest dicates. Practice in basic logical skills is essential to do well in this course, and tutorials are your main opportunity to get feedback on your mastery of the techniques and knowledge involved. Tutorials will be structured around discussion of questions drawn from the text book, so please ensure you have completed these and bring your answers along to the tutorial.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
2 x 1-hour lectures (or equivalent) per week 24 hours per semester 1 x 1-hour tutorials (or equivalent) per week 12 hours per semester 4 hours assignment/exam preparation per week 48 hours per semester 3 hours tutorial preparation per week 36 hours per semester 3 hours reading per week 36 hours per semester TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester Learning Activities Summary
As the exact ordering of material in the text is , this summary of course learning activities is preliminary and subject to change.
Week Topics and activities 1 Arguments, Formal and Informal logic 2 Sentential, English to Sentential 3 Evaluating arguments: Validity and Soundness 4 Tests for Validity. First take-home test. 5 Quantifier 6 Semantics for Quantifier 7 Introduction to Deduction 8 Sentential Deduction. Second take-home test. 9 Quantifier Deduction 10 Quantifier Deduction, continued;Iidentity 11 Applications 12 Where Next in logic? Third take-home test. Specific Course Requirements
Tutorial participation is essential for success in this course.
We ask that you attend a minimum of seven out of the ten tutorials. You will incur a penalty of 2% of the course mark per tutorial for any further absences, up to a maximum of 6%, unless you provide a medical certificate or counsellor’s note justifying the absence.Unjustified tutorial absences Penalty 3 or fewer 0 4 2% 5 4% 6 or more 6% -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
ASSESSMENT TASK TASK TYPE WEIGHTING LEARNING OUTCOME(S) Tutorial Participation Formative - 1–5 Weekly online quizzes Formative 40% 1-5 Take-home Test 1 Summative 20% 1–4 Take-home Test 2 Summative 20% 1–4 Take-home Test 3 Summative 20% 1-4 Assessment Detail
Assessment in this course is based on weekly quizzes and take-home tests.
Weekly quizzes. There are ten weekly, online quizzes. The questions are multiple-choice. Each quiz will be available for about a week from the date of posting. Your two lowest scores will not be counted, so the 40% quiz mark is the sum of you eight best results.
Take-home tests. There are three take-home tests, which are equally spaced through the semester. Each test will focus on material form the preceding four weeks or so, although later tests will presuppose familiarity with material from earlier parts of the course.
This course has no final exam.
Submission
Weekly quizzes are done online. Tests are downloaded from MyUni and the answers submitted there. Further details will be provided on MyUni.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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