Here was my outline for classes yesterday:
-Start with the “Witch Village” scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
-Begin the powerpoint to introduce logical fallacies
-Talk about Occam’s Razor (show a clip from Eureka where one character explains this concept)
-Describe the various logical fallacies (focusing on the “big” ones like circular reasoning, false dilemma, post hoc ergo propter hoc, and slippery slope)
-Show the “Battle of Wits” scene from The Princess Bride and analyze it to name the logical fallacies present, especially the fallacy that killed him (it was false dilemma, if you wanted to know).
The students always enjoy that class, and frankly, so do I! The ability to use pop culture in Composition is one of my greatest assets, and I take full advantage of it!
As for the rest of the day, nothing terribly exciting. I should have 3 of 4 students finish Basic by Spring Break which is nice. I was supposed to meet with a student at 4:00, but her 3:00 class got canceled, so I got to leave earlier than I was expecting. Nice! The evening was very relaxing: reading, a light supper, watching TV, and bed.
Today I have a few things to accomplish. Eric is currently taking pictures of snow on trees out a window of our house, but he should be off to work in a few minutes. I’ll probably run a couple of errands and work on my grading. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Or not… 
Anyway, happy Thursday!
Any time you can use Monty Python it’s a good day. And yes, being able to use what’s current, vs. Shakespeare makes all that stuff seem more relevant, somehow.
We’re supposed to get ice this afternoon. Yuck. I’d MUCH rather have snow.
Oh, and the Basic course is a self-paced computer course. When they finish all the requirements, they’re done. If they finish at midterms, then they don’t have to come back. I’ve already had two girls finish this term (a couple of weeks ago).
^”missed.”
^Sounds like a fun class! Sorry I misssed it!
^They always whine about having classes when it snows, but I simply remind them that living on a residential campus means they can walk!^
So did all the students show up for the best class of the year, or was the snow a barrier?
Gabe took pics of the snow too. Fun!
You just ruined the Battle of Wits for everyone.
How is it that students finish Basic early?
Very nice getting home early! Get your errands run today – I hear it’s supposed to be yucky again outside by tomorrow! (Not that 4 degrees when I got to work this morning was nice, but still…)