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2025 unit information
Nil
1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week
1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week
1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided)
1 x 1-hour online seminar per week
The ability to construct sound arguments - and logically evaluate the arguments of others - is an invaluable skill across numerous academic disciplines (including philosophy, politics, science, law, business and media), as well as a broad range of professional contexts beyond the University. This unit provides an introduction to the principles of critical thinking which underlie such skills.
Students will learn how to identify the structure of an argument in a 'logical outline', detect common reasoning errors and fallacies, and construct sound arguments of their own. The course features numerous examples of arguments taken from public discussions that are 'live' at the time of teaching, and students will have a chance to reflect on some of the particular challenges to critical thinking presented by social media and other aspects of 'online life'. This unit teaches valuable foundational skills for a wide range of academic pathways, as well as forming a key foundation for further study in philosophy.
Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)
Understand and explain the structure of arguments - distinguishing conclusions from premises and identifying a range of different roles that those premises play - by means of a logical outline
GLO1: Discipline specific
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
Evaluate arguments in terms of the extent to which the evidence or reasons given logically support the conclusions drawn
Construct logically sound arguments for conclusions of students' own choosing
Critically evaluate the likely reliability of sources of evidence and argument from a variety of contexts (both academic and non-academic)
GLO3: Digital literacy
Reflect on the question: "Why by logical?", with reference to their own experience
GLO6: Self-management
GLO8: Global citizenship
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year.
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
The texts and reading list for ASP108 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
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Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
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