PHL 137

Critical Thinking 3 Credit points Unit Guide Semester 1, 2012 Department of Philosophy

Undergraduate Unit Guide

Department of Philosophy PHL 137: Critical Thinking, Credit Point Value: 3pts Semester 1, 2012
Students in this unit should read this unit guide carefully at the start of semester. It contains important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult one of the teaching staff in the unit.

TEACHING STAFF
Unit Convenor & Lecturer Name: Phone: Email: Office: Consultation hours: Lecturer Name: Phone: Email: Office: Consultation hours: Tutors Name: Name: Name:

Dr Albert Atkin 9850 6880 albert.atkin@mq.edu W6A 727 Tuesday 11-12 & Thursday 9-10

Dr Jennifer Duke-Yonge 9850 8826 Jennifer.duke-yonge@mq.edu.au W6A 722 TBA

Richard Heersmink Onni Hirvonen Neil McDonnell

Name: Name: Name:

Tereza Hendlova Bruce Long Tim Smartt

General enquiries (Departmental Administrator) Name: Phone: Email: Office:

Clara Wong 9850 8837 Clara.wong@mq.edu.au W6A 739

CLASSES
For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations. Lecture 1: Tuesday 12pm 1pm. W6D Lotus Theatre Lecture 2: Friday 12pm 1pm. W6D Lotus Theatre

Workshops: (Internal and Composite-Mode Students must attend one of the following) Workshop 1: Wednesday 12pm 1pm E7B T4 Workshop 2: Thursday 10am 11am E7B T3 Workshop 3: Friday 1pm 2pm E7B T2 On-Campus Sessions: (External Students must attend both of the following on-campus sessions) On-Campus 1: Saturday March 24th 10am 4pm (location to be confirmed) On-Campus 2: Saturday May 5th 10am 4pm (location to be confirmed)

Changes made to previous offerings of the unit (i) Changes to assessment (ii) Changes to the tutorial/workshop system

ABOUT THIS UNIT

This unit aims to teach the fundamentals of critical thinking and reasoning. Students learn how to construct, analyse and critically evaluate arguments; how to detect common fallacies in reasoning; and how to think logically and creatively. We teach these skills by developing practical techniques for the evaluation of reasoning, and applying them to arguments from business, law, science, politics, philosophy and the media. Critical thinking skills are invaluable across all disciplines, and will benefit students in academic contexts and in life beyond university.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
All academic programmes at Macquarie seek to develop graduate capabilities. These are: COGNITIVE CAPABILITIES 1. Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

2.

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

3.

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

4.

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

INTERPERSONAL OR SOCIAL CAPABILITIES 5. Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

6.

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nations historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

7.

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

PERSONAL CAPABILITIES 8. Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

9.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity, which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

Note: The numbers listed at the end of each Learning Outcome indicate how it is aligned with the Graduate Capabilities. The learning outcomes of this unit are: (Link to graduate capabilities in brackets):
A. To learn how to recognise the structure of arguments, and how to represent that structure in a clear, standardised form. (1, 2, 5) B. To learn about different types of reasoning, such as deductive and inductive reasoning and the methods of evaluation appropriate to each. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) C. To learn to apply your critical analysis skills to real arguments from a variety of contexts, and to recognise the generalisability of these skills, and their applicability to other disciplines. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ,9) D. To develop critical analysis skills. (1, 2, 3) E. To develop problem-solving skills. (1, 2, 3) F. To develop creative-thinking skills. (1, 2, 3, 4)

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

To complete this unit students must complete all assessments a detailed below. Part of the assessment is attendance and participations at either a weekly workshop (for internal and composite students) or two on-campus sessions (for external and Gifted and Talented students). Assessment tasks Assessment Summary: Internal Students
Task 1 2 3 4 5 6 Task Name On-Line Quiz One In-Class Test On-Line Quiz Two On-line Quiz Three Written Assignment Workshop Participation Total: % 10% 25% 10% 10% 30% 15% 100% Due Date Week 4 (week commencing 19/3) Lecture One of Week 6 (3/4) Week 9 (week commencing 7/5) Week 12 (week commencing 28/5) 4pm 12/6 Ongoing attendance at workshops

Task 1 On-line Quiz 1 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 19/3

Linked unit outcomes A,C

Linked graduate capabilities 1,2

Available 9am on Monday 19/3/12 to 9pm on Friday 23/3/12 (Week 4). The first quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 1 to 3, and provides early feedback on your progress.

Task 2 In-Class Test Description:

Weight 25%

Due date 3/4

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

A 50-minute written test, which will take place during the Tuesday Lecture of Week 6. The questions will concern material covered during Weeks 1-5 of the course.

Task 3 On-line Quiz 2 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 7/5

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Available 9am on Monday 07/5/12 to 9pm on Friday 11/5/12 (Week 9). The second quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 7 and 8.

Task 4 On-line Quiz 3 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 28/5

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Available 9am on Monday 28/5/12 to 9pm on Friday 1/6/12 (Week 12). The third quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 9 to 11.

Task 5 Final Written Assignment Description:

Weight 30%

Due date 4pm 12/6

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

The written assignment requires you evaluate a piece of written text, using all the skills you have been developing in the unit. It will require a broad standardisation and 1200-1500 words of evaluation. The assignment will be made available through the unit website in week 10.

Task 6 Workshop Participation Description:

Weight 15%

Due date Weeks 2-12

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Workshop participation will be assessed in this unit. Your mark will be based on both attendance and engagement in your workshops.

Assessment Summary: Composite Students

Task 1 2 3 4 5 6

Task Name On-Line Quiz One On-Line Test On-Line Quiz Two On-line Quiz Three Written Assignment Workshop Participation Total:

% 10% 25% 10% 10% 30% 15% 100%

Due Date Week 4 (week commencing 19/3) Week 6 (commencing 2/4) Week 9 (week commencing 7/5) Week 12 (week commencing 28/5) 4pm 12/6 Ongoing attendance at workshops

Task 1 On-line Quiz 1 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 19/3

Linked unit outcomes A,C

Linked graduate capabilities 1,2

Available 9am on Monday 19/3/12 to 9pm on Friday 23/3/12 (Week 4). The first quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 1 to 3, and provides early feedback on your progress.

Task 2 On-Line Test Description:

Weight 25%

Due date W/C 2/4

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

A 50-minute timed online test, covering weeks 1-5, requiring short answers and argument standardisations. It is not multiple-choice and is similar in structure to the in-class test. It is available from 9am Monday 2/4/12 to 9pm Friday 6/4/12 (week 6), but can only be attempted once.

Task 3 On-line Quiz 2 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 7/5

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Available 9am on Monday 07/5/12 to 9pm on Friday 11/5/12 (Week 9). The second quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 7 and 8.

Task 4 On-line Quiz 3 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 28/5

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Available 9am on Monday 28/5/12 to 9pm on Friday 1/6/12 (Week 12). The third quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 9 to 11.

Task 5 Final Written Assignment Description:

Weight 30%

Due date 4pm 12/6

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

The written assignment requires you evaluate a piece of written text, using all the skills you have been developing in the unit. It will require a broad standardisation and 1200-1500 words of evaluation. The assignment will be made available through the unit website in week 10.

Task 6 Workshop Participation Description:

Weight 15%

Due date Weeks 2-12

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Workshop participation will be assessed in this unit. Your mark will be based on both attendance and engagement in your workshops.

Assessment Summary: External Students (including Gifted and Talented Students)

Task 1 2 3 4 5 6 Task Name On-Line Quiz One On-Line Test On-Line Quiz Two On-line Quiz Three Written Assignment On-Campus Participation Total: % 10% 25% 10% 10% 30% 15% 100% Due Date Week 4 (week commencing 19/3) Week 6 (week commencing 2/4) Week 9 (week commencing 7/5) Week 12 (week commencing 28/5) 4pm 12/6 Attendance at on-campus sessions on 24/3 and 5/5

Task 1 On-line Quiz 1 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 19/3

Linked unit outcomes A,C

Linked graduate capabilities 1,2

Available 9am on Monday 19/3/12 to 9pm on Friday 23/3/12 (Week 4). The first quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 1 to 3, and provides early feedback on your progress. Task 2 On-line Test Weight 25% Due date w/c 2/4 Linked unit outcomes A-F Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Description: A 50-minute timed online test, covering weeks 1-5, requiring short answers and argument standardisations. It is not multiple-choice and is similar in structure to the in-class test. It is available from 9am Monday 2/4/12 to 9pm Friday 6/4/12 (week 6), but can only be attempted once. Task 3 On-line Quiz 2 Description: Available 9am on Monday 07/5/12 to 9pm on Friday 11/5/12 (Week 9). The second quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 7 and 8. Weight 10% Due date w/c 7/5 Linked unit outcomes A-F Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

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Task 4 On-line Quiz 3 Description:

Weight 10%

Due date w/c 28/5

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

Available 9am on Monday 28/5/12 to 9pm on Friday 1/6/12 (Week 12). The third quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in weeks 9 to 11.

Task 5 Final Written Assignment Description:

Weight 30%

Due date 4pm 12/6

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

The written assignment requires you evaluate a piece of written text, using all the skills you have been developing in the unit. It will require a broad standardisation and 1200-1500 words of evaluation. The assignment will be made available through the unit website in week 10.

Task 6 On-Campus Participation Description:

Weight 15%

Due date 24/3 & 5/5

Linked unit outcomes A-F

Linked graduate capabilities 1-9

On-Campus participation will be assessed in this unit. Your mark will be based on both attendance and engagement in these two on-campus sessions.

Assignment submission Hard Copy Submissions Written work must be submitted through the Arts Student Centre (via the appropriate assignment box) on Level 1, W6A (for internal students) or via COE (for external students). Internal students must print and attach a completed coversheet to all submitted work. A personalised assignment coversheet is generated from the student section of the Faculty of Arts website at:

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http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/ coversheet. Please provide your student details and click the Get my assignment coversheet button to generate your personalised assignment cover sheet. No other coversheets will be provided by the Faculty. Return of marked work Marked work will be returned to internal and composite students via workshops. Residuals will be available for collection from the Arts Student Centre (W6A Foyer). External and Composite students assignments will be returned through the COE. Examination There will be no examination for this unit. Extensions and special consideration All requests for extensions should be directed to the Unit Convenor, Albert Atkin, at albert.atkin@mq.edu.au. Requests for extensions should be made before the due date, and will normally only be granted in extreme cases of illness or misadventure. Other study and work commitments are not considered grounds for an extension. Students who miss an in-class or online test must contact the Unit Convenor as soon as possible. A medical certificate or other appropriate documentation will be required to support a request for a supplementary test, and without evidence, no supplementary test will be granted. Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html Applying for Special Consideration Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation. The online Special Consideration application is found at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/ special_consideration.

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UNIVERSITY POLICY ON GRADING

University Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html The grade a student receives will signify their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes of a unit of study. Grades will not be awarded by reference to the achievement of other students nor allocated to fit a predetermined distribution. In determining a grade, due weight will be given to the learning outcomes and level of a unit (ie 100, 200, 300, 800 etc). Graded units will use the following grades: HD D Cr P F High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Fail 85-100 75-84 65-74 50-64 0-49

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

The Course Notes available through the PHL 137 ilearn site constitute a text for the course. No other text is required. If you wish to have an additional text, the ones we recommend are Thinking Clearly by Jill LeBlanc and Understanding Arguments by Robert J Fogelin and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong. Both these books are on reserve in the Library, and available from the Co-op Bookshop.

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online units can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements.

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ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is an integral part of the core values and principles contained in the Macquarie University Ethics Statement: http://www.mq.edu.au/ethics/ethic-statement-final.html. Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:

All academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim. All academic collaborations are acknowledged. Academic work is not falsified in any way When the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately.

The link below has more details about the policy, procedure and schedule of penalties that will apply to breaches of the Academic Honesty Policy which can be viewed at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Macquarie University provides a range of Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://www.deanofstudents.mq.edu.au/ or http://www.campuslife.mq.edu.au/campuswellbeing Another useful support service is provided by the Learning Skills unit which you can find at: http://www.mq.edu.au/learningskills/. Arts Student Centre Phone: Email: Office: +61 2 9850 6783 artsenquiries@mq.edu.au W6A/Foyer

Centre staff are there to smooth the way into university life; answer questions; give informed advice; provide a sympathetic ear; de-mystify uni ways and procedures. The Faculty Assessment Coversheet and Arts online submissions for Special Approval, Special Consideration, Grade Review and Grade Appeal are located at: www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate.

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WEEKLY LECTURE SCHEDULE:

Week 1 28/2 & 2/3

Introduction; Arguments

Week 2 Standardisation of Arguments 6/3 & 9/3 Week 3 13/3 & 16/3 Week 4 20/3 & 23/3 Week 5 27/3 & 30/3 Week 6 3/4 Week 7 24/4 & 27/4

Counterarguments; Necessary and sufficient conditions Conditional arguments; Validity and Invalidity Inductive and Statistical Generalisation Test Week Inference to the best explanation and causal arguments

Week 8 Analogical arguments 1/5 & 4/5 Week 9 8/5 & 11/5

Clarifying arguments; Language

Week 10 15/5 & Broad Standardisation; Evaluating Inferences 18/5 Week 11 22/5 & Evaluating long arguments 25/5 Week 12 Using these skills in the construction of your own 29/5 & arguments 1/6

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