Language & Reasoning

Cognitive Science 101C, Spring 2008


Important News:
Final Grades have been Posted! Check WebCT for your grades!

COGS 101C is now being podcast! First lecture podcast: Wed (4/16)
Check out our class forum Feel free to post questions, ideas, etc!


Instructor:
Dr. Coulson (coulsonREMOVETHIS@cogsci.ucsd.edu)
Office: CSB 161                    Office hours: Mon/Fri 11:30am-12:30pm
 
Teaching assistants:
Ben Cipollini (bcipolliREMOVETHIS@cogsci.ucsd.edu)
Office: CSB 235           Office hours: Mon 3-4pm, Th 2pm-3pm, Fri noon-1pm
Jennifer Collins (jbcollinREMOVETHIS@cogsci.ucsd.edu)
Office:  CSB 114         Office hours:  Wed 11:30-12:30pm
Kensy Cooperrider (kcooperrREMOVETHIS@cogsci.ucsd.edu)
Office: CSB 114          Office hours: Wed 11am-noon
 
Important dates:
Midterm #1: May 5, 2008
Midterm #2: June 6, 2008
Final paper due: Monday June 9, 2008 at 10am (place in Coulson's mailbox in the Cognitive Science Building)
Last day to DROP classes without a 'W': April 25, 2008
Last day DROP without penalty of 'F' grade: May 30, 2008
 
Grading:
5 Problem Sets (10 each)=50%
2 Midterm Exams (20 each)=40%
Final Paper=10%
Required to pass class: 2 hours of Experimetrix participation: 
(short paper as alternative; click here for articles)
You may also do up to 2 additional hours of Experimetrix experiments (or write 2 additional article summaries) for extra credit.
 
Sections:
Section ID / Number Day / Time Location TA
618999 / A01 T / 1000-1050 217A / CENTR Kensy
619000 / A02 T / 1100-1150 217B / CENTR Kensy
619003 / A05 W / 1500-1550 218 / CENTR Ben
619001 / A03 R / 1300-1350 218 / CENTR Jenny
619002 / A04 F / 1100-1150 220 / CENTR Ben



Required materials:
Medin, D. L., Ross, B. R., Markman, A. B. (2005). Cognitive Psychology (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Calendar
 
  
Slides
Topic
Reading
Section Topic
Due Dates
Week 1
March 31
April 2
April 4
Frames, Scripts and
Schemas
Medin, et al. pp. 209-227
No Sections in Week 1!

Study Questions Week 1

Week 2
April 7
April 9
April 11
Frame Semantics and Presupposition

Problem Set 1

Week 3
April 14
April 16
April 18
Deductive Reasoning

Medin, et al., pp. 353-365 Problem Set 2
Turn in Problem Set 1 on April 14 at the beginning of class
Week 4
April 21
April 23
April 25
Statistical Reasoning and
Decision Making
Medin et al., pp. 450-475 Problem Set 3
Turn in Problem Set 2 on April 21 at the beginning of class
Week 5
April 28
April 30
May 2
Induction and Analogy
Metaphor and Blending
Medin, et al., pp. 366-388 Review for Midterm
Study Questions Installment 2
Turn in Problem Set 3 on April 28 at the beginning of class
Review Session: April 30, 4-6pm, CENTR 105
Week 6
May 5
May 7
May 9
Language Overview
Medin et al., pp. 283-316
No Section (TAs will hold office hours during their section times)
(Midterm on May 5)
Examples of good & bad essays
Midterm 1 results
Week 7
May 12
May 14
May 16
Language Formalisms

Problem Set 4

Week 8
May 19
May 21
May 23
Language Production

Problem Set 5
Turn in Problem Set 4 on May 19 at the beginning of class
Week 9
May 26 (Memorial Day)
May 28 (see slides from May 23)
May 30
Language Comprehension

Problem Set 5
Tips for writing Final Paper
Language Study Questions


Week 10
June 2
June 4
Review Session
June 6
Language and Reasoning

Review for Midterm
Optional Problem Set
Tips for writing Final Paper
Language Study Questions

Turn in Problem Set 5 on June 2 at the beginning of class
Turn in Optional Problem Set at the beginning of class on June 6
Review Session: June 4, 4-6pm, CENTR 105
Midterm2 on June 6
Turn in Final Paper on Monday June 9 (put in box outside Coulson's office: CSB 161)