SEMESTER 1 2016/2017

FCE3204 THINKING SKILLS

WEDNESDAY 8-10 AM
BILIK TAYANGAN
Course Instructor
Dr. Maizura Yasin
Email: y_maizura@upm.edu.my
Office Location: F02, Block JPPL
Walk-in office hours for this course: FRIDAY 9-10AM
Course description and objectives
This is a 2+0 course, requiring two-hour face-to-face in-class meetings each week
with the instructor and an overall total of 80 hours of independent learning by the
student. The overall goal of this course is to help students develop a specific set of
intellectual skills, independent of subject content, reflecting the need voiced by
universities and employers for more mature and sophisticated ways of thinking. This
course also enables students to approach their other subjects with an improved
ability to understand, analyze and resolve problems.
Course Requirements
Assessments are as follow:
Continuous Assessment
Individual Assignment
Group Assignment
Midterm Test
Final Exam

: 15%
: 10%
: 20%
: 15%
: 40%
100%

Continuous Assessment: This course will be conducted on Blended mode i.e. I

will blend online and face-to-face delivery. As such, you will be engaged in both
online and in-class activities and be graded continuously throughout the entire
semester. You are expected to participate proactively and turn in assigned work in a
timely manner as they will all make up 25% of your grade for the course.
Individual Assignment: See appendix on Individual Assignment.
Group Assignment: See appendix on Group Assignment.
Exams: The midterm test and final exam are not cumulative and will consist of
multiple choice and short essay questions. Questions will only cover course content
from lecture notes. Both exams will be close-book format, to take place in class,
during a separate time slot than regular class time.
Required Readings i.e. lecture notes and in-class activity materials will be
provided as the semester progresses.

Required textbook: There are no required textbook for this course. However, a
free PDF copy of the following two books are available for you on FCE3204s
PutraBlast page.
Moore, B. N. & Parker, R. (2009). Critical Thinking 9th Edition. New York,
NY: McGraw-Hill.
Browne, M. N. & Keeley, S. M. (2007). Asking the right questions 8th
Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Grading: As will start at 75%, Bs at 60% Cs at 47% and Ds at 40%
Web Resources: Putra Blast will be our primary course website and course
materials will be uploaded in here. Announcements and supplementary materials
(for example, the syllabus, addendums to lecture notes, and online activities) will all
be posted in here. It is your responsibility to ensure that you receive all shared
course materials and complete web-based assignments in a timely manner.
Policies
Attendance: Students with total attendance of less than 80% for the entire course
will be barred from taking the final exam.
Missed exams: If you miss an exam, you will receive a score of 0, unless there is
documented reason for the absence. Valid excuses (such as sickness, family
emergencies) must be accompanied by appropriate documentation (e.g doctors
note). You will not be excused to attend family/other vacations, etc.
Per Universiti Putra Malaysia policy, students caught cheating or engaging in any
other form of academic dishonesty may receive an F for the class.
Any student requiring special accommodations should notify me as soon as
possible.