The participation mark is based in part on the extent to which students come to class well prepared, having done the required reading and devised questions and discussion points. It is also based on the extent to which students make a constructive contribution to classroom discussion, so students should come to class with prepared questions and discussion points.

Grading: Students will receive a mark out of 100 at the end of term.

Class participation marking criteria:

• Outstanding contributor: Contributions in class reflect extensive preparation. Ideas offered are usually substantive; provide major insights and direction for class discussion. Challenges are substantiated and persuasive. Makes an important contribution to class discussion overall.
• Good contributor: Contributions in class reflect thorough preparation. Ideas offered are often substantive; provide useful insights and some direction for class discussion. Challenges are substantiated and often persuasive. Makes a significant contribution to class discussion overall.
• Adequate contributor: Contributions in class reflect adequate preparation. Ideas offered are sometimes substantive; provide some insight but rarely offer direction for class discussion. Challenges are sometimes presented, substantiated and persuasive. Makes a contribution to class discussion overall.
• Unsatisfactory contributor: Contributions in class reflect inadequate preparation. Ideas offered are rarely substantive; rarely provide insight but do not offer useful direction for class discussion. Contributions may be distractions rather than constructive. Does not make a positive contribution to class discussion overall.
• Non-participant: This person says little or nothing in class. There is not an adequate basis for evaluation. Makes no contribution to discussion.

(Adapted from Tyler, J. (2004) Class Participation Assessment Guide. Department of Education, Brown University).

External students are required to post a discussion point online in response to the readings for the week. They should also provide courteous and relevant feedback on at least one other post each week for an absolute minimum of 7 weeks of the semester. The marking criteria are the same as for internal students.

Grading: Mark out of 100 per week, overall grade will be the calculated mean

Due: Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 ,10 & 12 Weighting: 30%

Multiple choice questions will cover material discussed in weekly class readings. Each quiz is worth 5%. 

Marks are determined by the accuracy of your responses to the quiz questions.

Assessment:

This assessment task will be assessed by the following criteria set out in the following learning outcomes:

1. A working knowledge of some of the current major issues connecting philosophy and biology

2. The ability to understand and critically evaluate the theories and arguments studied, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and develop an appreciation of the ways in which these positions have developed in response to identification of problems in other views

3. An ability to understand and critically evaluate theories and arguments in the philosophy of cognitive science.

4. An ability to express and expound the positions studied clearly and lucidly

5. Students should start to develop their own philosophically informed views on the issues studied and defend their views, clearly and courteously in response to critical evaluation from others in discussion and in writing

Grading: Students have to submit answers to all the questions, which are posted weekly before class based on the readings, each week from Week 2-11.They will have to submit answers to the questions for at least 7 weeks to get a pass.

Grade: Mark out of 100 per week, overall grade will be the calculated mean of all submissions.

Students will produce a detailed 1-2 page (max 500 words) plan of the essay for peer review and submit it via Turnitin. An planning worksheet and instruction on how to write an essay plan and an essay will be provided on iLearn. 

Submission Instructions for Internal Students: Students will submit their plan via turnitin and bring their plan to seminar in week 10 for peer discussion and feedback.

Submission Instructions for External Students: External students will submit their plan via turnitin and post their essay plans to the external students forum and provide feedback on at least one other plan.

Grading: Mark out of 100

This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:

• Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources concerning foundational concepts and arguments in cognitive science and philosophy.
• Analyze and critically evaluate philosophical arguments.
• Reflect individual performance to identify opportunities for improvement.

Assessment criteria for this essay are detailed in the rubric provided on ilearn.

Students will write a research paper of 3000 words (with a margin of 10% on either side), which provides a careful critical examination, based on reasons, argumentation and evidence, of a set topic. A list of topics will be made available on iLearn in week 6, and the research paper can explore one of these topic. Students are encouraged to come up with their own essay topic, which they need to present to the convenor for approval.

There will be materials for how to write an essay on iLearn.

Submission: Turnitin submission on iLearn

Grading: Students will receive a grade out of 100 for the paper.

This assessment task will be assessed by the following criteria set out in the following learning outcomes:

• Acquire a coherent and advanced knowledge of the methodology, concepts and arguments of cognitive science and philosophy.
• Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources concerning foundational concepts and arguments in cognitive science and philosophy.
• Articulate clearly and coherently philosophical arguments in written and oral form to a variety of audiences.
• Analyze and critically evaluate philosophical arguments.
• Apply acquired knowledge and skills in the context of philosophical and cognitive science scholarship.
• Reflect individual performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Understand and critically evaluate evidence from a broad range of disciplines including cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience.

Assessment criteria include the accuracy of the paper's engagement with the material, the quality of its explanation of how that material relates to the theme of the course, and the technical and stylistic quality of the paper. A  detailed rubric regarding the grading of the final essay will be made available on learn.