Details for Critical Thinking for Undergraduate Students

This paper explains the nature and process of critical thinking and the process necessary for academic writing. Students will learn how to structure arguments and research for assignments.

Awards offering Critical Thinking for Undergraduate Students

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This paper explains the nature and process of critical thinking and the process necessary for academic writing. Students will learn how to structure arguments and research for assignments. 

Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Explain the nature and process of critical thinking. This includes the analysis of different types of reasoning
2. Examine genres of writing, and identify academic writing as a genre 
3. Combine critical thinking with academic writing to create essays with a clear, standardised form. This includes the ability to structure arguments and communicate ideas more effectively. 
4. Demonstrate a practical understanding of referencing styles and plagiarism   
5. Show basic skills in research.                            

Subject Content

1. Overview of academic writing: consolidated thought, discipline and genre
2. Critical Thinking
3. Logic and reasoning
4. Identifying, clarifying and summarising arguments
5. Genres of writing
6. Essay writing and structures
7. Sample of key literature in Christian studies
8. Research skills
9. Referencing and plagiarism 

This course may be offered in the following formats

face to face or online lectures, discussions, online engagement

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Reviews  (25%, 2 x 1250 words ); Minor Essays (25%,  2 x 1250 words)

Prescribed Text

Turabian, K. Students Guide to Writing College Papers, 4th Ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.

Representative References

Prescribed Texts:

Turabian, K. Student's Guide to Writing College Papers, 4^th Edition. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 2010.

Recommended Reading:

Bui, Y. How to Write a Master’s Thesis. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2009.

Craswell, G. Writing for Academic Success. Sage Publications, 2007.

Geisler, Norman and Ronald Brooks. Come Let Us Reason: An Introduction to Logical Reading.

Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Book House, 1990

Locke, L.F., S.J. Silverman, and W. Spirduso. Reading and Understanding Research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2004.

Moore, B.N. & Parker, R. Critical Thinking. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009.

Punch, K.F. Developing effective research proposals, London: Sage, 2006.

Sabrio, David and Mitchel Burchfield. Insightful Writing: A Process Rhetoric with Readings. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2009.

Seyler, D. Read. Reason, Write, 8^th Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.

Spears, D. Developing Critical Reading Skills. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009.

Thody, A. Writing and Presenting Research. London: Sage Publications, 2006.

Journals:

         Academic Writing

         Across the Disciplines

         Journal of Writing in Creative Practice

         Rhetoric & Public Affairs

         Young Scholars in Writing