PHIL512 Final Project

This is an overview of the "final project" for PHIL512 - Graduate Seminar in Logic.

Description

Earlier in this semester, you created a syllabus for a logic, critical thinking, or argumentation course. You built on this syllabus with a sample teaching item. Let's conclude the course with a final project. Your final project will consist of three components:

1. the proposal (10%)
2. the project itself (80%),
3. project presentation (10%).

Sample Projects

In this section, I offer some advice and examples of sample projects. Some of these projects are examples done by former graduate students who have completed this course. Other examples are by advanced undergraduate studies who completed independent studies with me. Other examples are hypothetical.

Research Paper

The most straightforward project is to write a traditional research paper that explores some topic considered in this course. In the past, I have had students write on modal logic, the logic of identity in modal logic, logics of vagueness, supervaluation semantics, three-valued logics, the sorites paradox, legal reasoning, and deontic logic. These papers have varied in length (technical papers tend to be shorter), but the minimum is 3000 words (conference paper) with a minimum of 8 academic sources.

Instructional Video

Create a polished video (or series of videos) that explains some part of logic. In the past, I had a student do a series of videos on modal logic. These videos were aimed at students with some background in logic but no knowledge of modal logic. Similarly, you could create a series of videos where you explain some concept or work through exercises. The video should include editing and graphics (not merely a screen recording). These videos could then be used in a course that you teach. In submitting a video, you'd want to submit a script and resources you used (.zip file).

If you don't have a ton of experience recording videos, I would recommend using one of Penn State's lightboards. I would try to reserve one of the fancier lightboards through the Filippelli Institute rather than a general purpose lightboard.

Video Game

Years ago, my daughter saw me creating a Murder Mystery Puzzle for my logic class. She told me I should take it and turn it into a video game. So, I made her a video game called "Renna's Adventure". The game was a day in her life where she was asked to solve very basic logic puzzles. To make the game, I used Ren'Py, which is a visual novel engine that uses its own scripting languge that is similar to Python.

The hardest part of creating the game was obtaining enough game assets (specifically the art) to create a game that had a consistent theme. One time I taught PHIL512, a group of students expanded on the murder mystery game and created their own. In it, you needed to solve logic puzzles, including truth tables.

1. Get Ren'Py. This is the engine that you will use to write the visual novel. You should read through the documentation and follow the tutorial: https://www.renpy.org/
2. Create a document and write out several things relating to logic that you want to teach through the game. Keep it simple at first but have some aspect of the game teach a complex concept that builds upon prior concepts. In one iteration of my game, I used had my daughter solve problems relating to reasonings with disjunction before she moved onto trying to solve a variation of the THOG puzzle.
3. On a piece of paper, create the basic game path. You are basically writing a "Choose Your Own Adventure" so get the basic pathing down.
4. Using RenPy, create the entire game in plaintext. Don't include any visuals.
5. Once the game is complete in plaintext, start adding the art (and audio if you think it is necessary). You can pay for game assets in various marketplaces (Unity, Unreal, Turbosquid), create them via AI, or use free assets from https://itch.io/game-assets (keep it PG)
6. Export the game.

Proposal

Submit a project proposal through CANVAS. The proposal should consist of the following:

1. A short (1 paragraph) overview of the project idea (this can be written in an informal way)
2. A short (1 paragraph or list) overview of the workflow (order of steps you plan on taking to complete your project)
3. a list of resources (e.g., 5 articles or books) or tools you plan on using
4. I will give you feedback and hopefully some help or resources on your project.

Project

You should submit your project via CANVAS or give it to me in person. Preferably:

1. If paper, submit as PDF in myawesomesproject_lastname.pdf
2. If video, then .mp4
3. If video game, then link to game, github, or zip source files.

If something else, then whatever makes sense.

Presentation

On the last day of class, you will be expected to present your work. This presentation should be 15-20 minutes with a Q&A afterward. The presentation may be informal and the Q&A is more an opportunity to congratulate you on your work (and offer constructive feedback) rather than to criticize some aspect of your project.

Suggestions

These suggestions are with the assumption that you are not going to become a logician:

1. Do something you care about or that interests you. At least for this class, it is better you do a so-so project that you care about than an excellent project that you'll do nothing with.
2. If not (1), then do something that you think makes sense given your academic or teaching profile.
3. If (1) and maybe not (2), then do something you think might transfer to something else that is important to you.
4. If none of the above, then do something simple and straightforward, and go focus on what is important to you.

Don't stress it. If you need help, email me.