Module FOUN0427: CRITICAL THINKING

Department: Foundation Year [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

FOUN0427: CRITICAL THINKING

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• Critical thinking is a fundamental academic competency akin to reading and writing. This module aims to explicitly teach the ability to interpret, analyse and evaluate ideas and arguments in ways which enable students to transfer them to other academic studies and to everyday life.
• This module aims to develop a student's ability to:
• Identify reasons;
• Evaluate reasoning of different kinds, including common and important species of reasoning;
• Recognise and evaluate assumptions;
• Clarify expressions and ideas;
• Produce reasoning appropriate to a given task

Content

• Identifying the elements of reasoning.
• Evaluating reasoning of different kinds.
• Recognising and evaluating assumptions.
• Clarifying expressions and ideas.
• Presenting arguments.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this course students will be able to:
• Identify the elements in a reasoned case by demonstrating a knowledge and understanding of:
• the characteristic language of reasoning;
• the differences between reasoning, quarrelling, debating, explaining and reporting;
• ways of identifying reasons and conclusions;
• some notions of logic and philosophy which are useful in argument.
• Evaluate reasoning of different kinds by demonstrating the ability to:
• recognise different kinds of claims and evaluate them differently;
• apply the relevant criteria for judging the credibility of sources in different contexts;
• recognise and evaluate different patterns of reasoning;
• apply appropriate standards in evaluating reasoning.
• Recognise and evaluate assumptions by demonstrating their ability to:
• recognise and evaluate assumptions.
• Clarify expressions and ideas by demonstrating their ability to:
• interpret and clarify terms and ideas whose meaning is vague, unclear, imprecise or ambiguous and to do this in a way that is appropriate to audience and context.
• Present a reasoned case in a clear, logical and coherent way by demonstrating their ability to:
• present their own arguments clearly;
• respond fairly to objections, counter-arguments and opposing points of view;
• communicate effectively with a particular audience.

• By the end of the module students will:
• be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills;
• be able to communicate effectively orally;
• be able to communicate effectively in writing;

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• All teaching will take the form of seminars with a view to encouraging the active participation of students.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured exercises, group work, class discussions and library assignments during tutorials and students' own time.
• Knowledge and understanding of concepts and ability to think critically will be assessed by a written assignment, a presentation and an invigilated examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Throughout the course exercises, reading and library research will be undertaken. Comments are fed back to individuals and the group.