COG 250 INTRODUCTION TO COGNTIVE

SCIENCE
John Vervaeke University College F 307 Tuesday 2-5
John.vervaeke@utoronto.ca
TEXTS:
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Artificial Intelligence: the very idea

TERM 1
Ist class:
Introduction to cognitive science and the naturalistic imperative.
2nd class through 5th class. Introduction to psychology: categorization and
concepts.
NO CLASS OCT 12TH THANKSGIVING.
Readings: Introduction to Cognitive Science Chapter 1.
6th class OCT. 19th TERM TEST. WORTH 10%
TERM 1 TEST Short essay answer test on all material since
beginning of term. You will be given a choice of 6 out of 10 questions.
For each question you will be given a term or short phrase. You will
have to describe and explain the phenomenon to which to term refers.
You will then have to explain to which issues/ theories/debates it is
relevant, and then also explain how and why it is relevant.
7th class Memory
NO CLASS NOV. 9TH FALL BREAK
8th class through 10th classes Problem Solving

Readings. Introduction to Cognitive Science, Chapter 8.

ESSAY DUE NOV. 24TH

2000 words. This is an argumentative essay in which you will establish
and defend a clear and challenging thesis from one of the assigned topic
( give out early Oct.). You will critically review the work of 6-10
scholarly sources, and then craft an argument that critically integrates
the material together to give your position as to what can best be
concluded about the topic under investigation. The essay must be in
APA format with and abstract. Running heads and section heads are not
required. The essay is worth 15%.

11th and 12th classes Insight Read The Dynamic of Insight: Mathematical
Discovery as a Phase Transition by Stephen, Boncoddo, Magnuson and
Dixon in Memory and Cognition 2009, 37 (8) 1132-1149

END OF TERM BREAK

TERM 2
1st class 2nd class Insight and attention. Read Dynamics of
Representational Change: Entropy, Action, and Cognition by Stephen,
Dixon, and Isenhower in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human
Perception and Performance, 2009, vol. 35, no. 6, 1811-1832
3rd class
TERM 2 TEST Jan 18th. On everything since Term 1 test.
Short essay answers and one long essay answer. The short answers are
as on the first term test but you will only have to do 4 out of 10. The
long essay is 1 out of questions. This essay is an argumentative essay
answer that traces and explains a theme and/or line of development that
went across several lectures. Worth 15%

4th and 5th classes Artificial Intelligence (GOFAI)

Readings: Artificial Intelligence: Chapters 1-5 inclusive.
6th Class Connectionism and the Symbolist Connectionist Debate
FEB 15TH NO CLASS.
7th Class Connectionism, Symbolism and dynamical systems.
8th and 9th Classes Simulation as Explanation.
10th Class Computational Functionalism and Beyond
11th through 12th Classes Relevance, consciousness and content.
2nd TERM ESSAY DUE WEEK 12, March 22nd. Worth 25%
3000 words. As for previous essay, but this time you will choose the topic
for which you will right the essay.
Final exam will have the same format as the second term test but will be
cumulative for the entire course.
EVALUATION
1st Test 10 %, 1st Essay 15 %, 2nd Test 15%, Second Essay 25%, and Final
exam 35%.
LATENESS PENALTY IS 10% PER DAY (NOT JUST SCHOOL DAY.)
EXTENSIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS WILL BE
GRANTED.