Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Albert Atkin
Contact via albert.atkin@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Tereza Hendl
Tutor
Wilson Cooper
Tutor
Mirko Farina
Tutor
Melanie Rosen
Tutor
Stef Savanah
Tutor
Douglas McConnell
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
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.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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On Line Quiz 1 | 10% | From 16/03/15 to 20/03/15 |
On Line Quiz 2 | 10% | From 27/04/15 to 01/05/15 |
On Line Quiz 3 | 10% | From 02/06/14 - 06/06/14 |
Mid Session Assessment | 25% | 03/04/2015 |
Participation 1 | 5% | 17/04/15 |
Participation 2 | 5% | 29/05/15 |
Final Assessment | 35% | 12/05/2015 |
Due: From 16/03/15 to 20/03/15
Weighting: 10%
Available from 9am on Monday 16/03/15, for one teaching week. It will close at 9pm on Friday 20/03/15.
The first quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. You can make one attempt only. It is a timed quiz which cannot be paused once you start.
It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in Topics 1 to 3. It will provide you with early feedback on your progress.
Due: From 27/04/15 to 01/05/15
Weighting: 10%
Available 9am on Monday 27/04/15 - I will leave this quiz open for one teaching week. It will close at 9pm on Friday 01/05/15.
The second quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. You can make one attempt only. It is a timed quiz which cannot be paused once you start.
It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in Topics 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Due: From 02/06/14 - 06/06/14
Weighting: 10%
Available 9am on Monday 25/05/15 - I shall leave the quiz open for one teaching week to 9pm on Friday 29/05/15.
The third quiz is a 30 minute multiple-choice quiz which you will take through the unit website. You can make one attempt only. It is a timed quiz which cannot be paused once you start.
It will test your understanding of important concepts introduced in Topics 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Due: 03/04/2015
Weighting: 25%
A mid session assessment that requires you to construct an argument of your own on a set topic. You must use what you have learned in the course to build a robust argument and provide a 500-750 word reflection/explanation of your argument. This paper will be peer reviewed and marked by tutors.
Topics/Questions will be released no later than Monday 9th March - you must submit, online, through the iLearn site, by Friday 3rd April.
Due: 17/04/15
Weighting: 5%
You will be required to assess by your peers - and your mark will make a contribution to the Mid-Session Assessment. You will be given a thorough marking system/rubric.
You will be awarded marks out of 5 based on how well your marks align with those of a convenor/tutor and other peer marks.
If you do not complete this assessment, your marks for the corresponding assessment (worth 25%) *may* be withheld. You will be given two weeks over the mid-semester break to complete this task and must have finalised your peer marking by 17th April.
Due: 29/05/15
Weighting: 5%
You will take a Harvard Implicit Association test. This is a simple online assessment of our implicit views. You will then answer some short questions reflecting on the findings of your test.
The test will be made available on April 3rd. You must submit by the end of teaching week 12 - 29/05/15
Due: 12/05/2015
Weighting: 35%
The written assignment requires you use the skills you have acquired throughout the course to write a report analysing an argument and providing guidance and material for a counter-response.
The full assignment, a scenario, and an information resource file, will be made available through the unit website no later than 20/03/15 and must be submitted no later than Friday 12th June.
Lectures and Tutorials
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.
Attendance isn't compulsory, but people do often benefit.
Unit Webpages and E-Resources
This course has many resources including notes, practice quizes, your tests, submission boxes, recordings of lectures for download, all available and 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.
Course Texts
The Course Notes available through the PHL 137 ilearn site constitute a text for the course. No other text is required. If you simply must have a copy of a book for support, ask your tutor for advice.
Changes Since Last Offering
Content and assessment has been altered and updated.
Topic 1 WC 23/02 |
Introduction - What is critical thinking and why do we need it?; What are arguments?
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Topic 2 WC 02/03 |
Standardisation and Reconstruction of Arguments
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Topic 3 WC 09/03 |
Deductive Arguments
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Topic 4 WC 16/03 |
Inductive Arguments
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Topic 5 WC 23/03 |
Critical Thinking and The Human Mind
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Topic 6 WC 30/03 |
"Automatic" Thinking and Critical Reasoning
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Topic 7 WC 20/04 |
"Social" Thinking and Critical Reasoning
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Topic 8 WC 27/04 |
The Power of Language and Image I
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Topic 9 WC 04/05 |
The Power of Language and Image II
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Topic 10 WC 11/05 |
Fallacies and Pseudo-Reasoning
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Topic 11 WC 18/05 |
Fallacies and Pseudo Reasoning
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Topic 12 WC 25/05 |
Putting it all together
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Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's 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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Date | Description |
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01/03/2015 | Updated contact details for tutors. Corrected error on Online Quiz three due date. |