澳门六合彩开奖记录
PP1RA: Reason and Argument
Module code: PP1RA
Module provider: Philosophy; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Credits: 20
Level: Level 1 (Certificate)
When you'll be taught: Semester 1
Module convenor: Dr Jumbly Grindrod, email: j.grindrod@reading.ac.uk
Pre-requisite module(s):
Co-requisite module(s):
Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):
Module(s) excluded:
Placement information: NA
Academic year: 2024/5
Available to visiting students: Yes
Talis reading list: Yes
Last updated: 29 August 2024
Overview
Module aims and purpose
Argumentative and reasoning skills are at the heart of how we come to understand the world: from basic decision-making, to political debates, all the way through to philosophical inquiry into difficult and abstract questions. And yet when we scratch the surface of what it takes for one claim to follow from another, we find that it is surprisingly easy to make a mistake.聽聽
This module introduces you to the basic concepts and methods of critical thinking, basic logic, and the psychology of reasoning. You will be introduced to a range of techniques for evaluating claims and arguments, ranging from informal analogical reasoning and fallacy identification, all the way through to basic formal logic. You will explore argument structures as they appear in a range of different contexts, including newspaper opinions, twitter spats, and philosophical treatises. You will learn to differentiate between different types of argument (e.g. deductive, inductive, abductive etc.), and also different types of responses to arguments. These skills are essential to further study in philosophy and also to other areas of academic work.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:聽
- Identify what logical reasoning is and why it matters.聽聽
- Differentiate between various types of argument聽
- Convert arguments into a standard form (premise/conclusion) format聽
- Respond effectively to arguments using a range of different techniques.聽
- Identify the formal structure of an argument聽
- Use propositional logic to prove the validity of an argument structure聽
Module content
The module begins with a focus on argument structure, as we learn how to differentiate between premises, sub-conclusions, and main conclusions. We then turn our focus to argument evaluation. In considering the plausibility of premises, we consider how to evaluate a claim for its truth, and how this differs across different circumstances of evaluation. We then turn to the issue of whether a given conclusion is supported by its premises. In doing so, we learn about common fallacies聽(and how to avoid them) and also effective ways of responding to arguments (e.g. posing a counter-example, constructing a reductio, etc.). Our focus then turns to formal methods, where we evaluate the validity of an argument in terms of its structure. To do that, we learn how to use propositional logic.聽聽
Structure
Teaching and learning methods
The contact hours each week are divided into a two-hour lecture session and a one-hour seminar. The lectures are an opportunity to be introduced to a topic for the first time and also complete exercises and ask questions in class. The seminars are primarily based around the weekly exercises that the student has to complete each week. The seminars are an opportunity to go through the answers and use that as a basis of further discussion. The module also has a dedicated free textbook available as a pdf that contains the required reading for each week and the weekly exercises. Using these in conjunction with the lecture activities ensures that you learn in an active way, as we acquire the skills that are essential for reasoning and debate.聽聽
Study hours
At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.
聽Scheduled teaching and learning activities | 聽Semester 1 | 聽Semester 2 | 听厂耻尘尘别谤 |
---|---|---|---|
Lectures | 20 | ||
Seminars | 10 | ||
Tutorials | |||
Project Supervision | |||
Demonstrations | |||
Practical classes and workshops | |||
Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
Scheduled revision sessions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Fieldwork | |||
External visits | |||
Work-based learning | |||
聽Self-scheduled teaching and learning activities | 聽Semester 1 | 聽Semester 2 | 听厂耻尘尘别谤 |
---|---|---|---|
Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | |||
Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Other | 15 | ||
Other (details) | Completing the weekly exercises | ||
聽Placement and study abroad | 聽Semester 1 | 聽Semester 2 | 听厂耻尘尘别谤 |
---|---|---|---|
Placement | |||
Study abroad | |||
聽Independent study hours | 聽Semester 1 | 聽Semester 2 | 听厂耻尘尘别谤 |
---|---|---|---|
Independent study hours | 155 |
Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.
Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.
Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.
Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.
Assessment
Requirements for a pass
Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written coursework assignment | Question-based task | 40 | 5-7 questions | Semester 1, Teaching Week 5 | |
Written coursework assignment | Question-based task | 50 | 5-7 questions | Semester 1, Assessment Week 1 | |
In-class test administered by School/Dept | Test | 10 | 1 hour | Semester 1, Teaching Week 12 |
Penalties for late submission of summative assessment
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
Assessments with numerical marks
- where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
- the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
- where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
Assessments marked Pass/Fail
- where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Formative assessment
Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.
The weekly exercises are the primary form of formative assessment. There is also further discussion in both lectures and seminars, and the use of class discussion boards.聽聽
Reassessment
Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written coursework assignment | Question-based task | 100 | 5-7 questions |
Additional costs
Item | Additional information | Cost |
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Computers and devices with a particular specification | ||
Printing and binding | ||
Required textbooks | ||
Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
Specialist equipment or materials | ||
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.