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Unit of study_

PHIL1014: Critical Thinking

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

An introduction to critical thinking and the analysis of argument. We will examine arguments drawn from diverse sources including journalism, advertising, science, medicine, history, economics, and politics. In doing so, we will learn how to distinguish good arguments from bad, and how to construct rationally persuasive arguments of our own. Along the way we will grapple with scepticism, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, and fallacies.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHIL1014
Academic unit Philosophy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
PHIL2642
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Luke Russell, luke.russell@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final Exam
Supervised exam
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Small test Week 5 Test
An online test during the first half of the lecture in week 5
20% Week 05
Due date: 28 Aug 2023 at 13:00
50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
Assignment Essay
Essay in which students apply critical thinking tools in depth
30% Week 11
Due date: 18 Oct 2023 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Assessment summary

1 x online test worth 20%

1 x 1500 word essay worth 30%

Final exam worth 50%

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Mastery of a broad range of critical thinking tools and ability to apply them accurately and insightfully

Distinction

75 - 84

Good knowledge of many important critical thinking tools and ability to apply them accurately

Credit

65 - 74

Knowledge of some important critical thinking tools and ability to apply them 

Pass

50 - 64

Knowledge of some of the basic tools in critical thinking

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties on the essay are in accordance with Faculty policy.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Critical Thinking Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Conditionals and Deduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Deduction Continued Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Definitions and Philosophical Analysis Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Inductive Scepticism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Induction and Surveys Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Abduction and Conspiracy Theories Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Causal Arguments Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Science, Non-Science, and Pseudo-Science Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Probabilistic Reasoning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Analogies and Fallacies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 More Fallacies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Conclusion: Reasoning Well Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are no required readings other than the lecture notes. Students will study for this unit by working through short answer exercises rather than doing readings.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. 1) demonstrate comprehension of the differences between various forms of argument, including deduction, induction, abduction, causal arguments, scientific arguments, probabilistic arguments, and arguments by analogy
  • LO2. 2) assess the strengths and weaknesses of arguments of these various forms
  • LO3. 3) detect deductive validity and soundness
  • LO4. 4) detect and label a broad range of common fallacies
  • LO5. 5) develop stronger arguments, and to revise and/or defend those arguments in the face of criticism
  • LO6. 6) identify and evaluate arguments as they appear in a range of contexts including advertising, journalism, politics, activism, and academic writing
  • LO7. 7) construct, analyse, defend, and revise arguments of their own and present arguments to others clearly and persuasively
  • LO8. 8) use clear reasoning to solve practical problems and resolve real-life disputes

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit is being moved from second year to first year. Appropriate changes have been made.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.