Academic Writing, Critical Thinking, and Logic (AP1001C)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit assists students to develop skills in argument analysis and development, language analysis (e.g. evaluating the use of analogies), the identification of fallacies, critical thinking and the preparation of critical summaries of academic texts. These logical and critical thinking skills are basic to tertiary education, and are required for any academic study in the humanities. The unit also introduces and trains students in key academic skills such as paraphrasing, appropriate referencing and using library resources to develop a bibliography for a particular topic.

Unit code: AP1001C

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Philosophy

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Identify and explain the main semantic and logical fallacies studied in the unit.
2.

Recognise, analyse and evaluate the formal structure of simple arguments
3.

Assess the arguments in academic texts in terms of the semantic and rhetorical fallacies studied in the unit
4.

Prepare a précis of a piece of academic prose, identifying its presuppositions and conclusion.
5.

Plan and write a piece of academic work in a logical, systematic and comprehensive manner.
6.

Reference a variety of sources appropriately, accurately, and in the correct style

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • ACU Academic Skills Unit. ACU Study Guide: Skills for Success. 3rd ed. North Sydney: Australian Catholic University, 2012. (recommended for purchase).
  • Bowell, Tracy and Kemp, Gary. Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2010.
  • Govier, Trudy. A Practical Study of Argument. Enhanced 7th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012. (recommended for purchase).
  • LeBlanc, Jill. Thinking Clearly: A Guide to Critical Reasoning. New York: W.W. Norton, 1998.
  • Martinich, Aloysius. Philosophical Writing: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005.
  • Thomson, Anne. Critical Reasoning: A Practical Introduction. 3rd ed. London, New York: Routledge, 2009.
  • Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 8th ed. Revised by Wayne C. Booth et al. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013.
  • Warburton, Nigel. The Basics of Essay Writing. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2006.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Essay

500-word essay

 500 15.0
Short Answer Tests

4 précis/essay planning exercises given on one week and due the next week on 4 weeks throughout semester, as chosen at start of semester by lecturer and published in the unit guide - 200 words each (800 words total)

 800 30.0
Short Answer Tests

4 Logic exercises completed in class - equivalent of 200 words per exercise (800 words total)

800 25.0
Written Examination

1.5-hour written examination (1500 words)

 1500 30.0

Variant 2

Essay

500-word essay

 500 15.0
Short Answer Tests

8 précis/essay planning exercises completed in class - 100 words each (800 words total)

 800 30.0
Short Answer Tests

4 Logic exercises completed in class - equivalent of 200 words per exercise (800 words total)

 800 25.0
Written Examination

1.5-hr written examination (1500 words)

 1500 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 16 Aug, 2022

Unit record last updated: 2022-08-16 15:04:21 +1000