Unit Outline

This unit is built around a close examination of key philosophical texts. Students will acquire a specialist understanding of debates and positions within a select field of philosophy, and will identify and engage with philosophical issues in detail. The unit prepares students for further study in philosophy at honours level.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Gain a specialist understanding of contemporary debates and positions within particular fields of philosophy across different philosophical traditions appropriate for advanced-level study of philosophy, leading to honours and postgraduate study.
2.	Engage with contemporary issues in relation to philosophy and from a range of philosophical traditions, synthesising perspectives to arrive at reflectively formed judgements.
3.	Apply disciplinary skills of argument analysis and construction and clear communication with flexibility and creativity to identify and solve problems with intellectual independence.
4.	Demonstrate the development of an ethical comportment to the world in engaging with issues in relation to philosophy.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Article Summary	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Tutorial Presentation	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Tutorial participation	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Position Paper	See the MyLO site for the due date	45 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Article Summary

Task Description:

The student will locate a text new to them relevant to the specialist issues studied in the unit and will summarize it for a non-specialist audience. Full details of this assessment task can be found on the unit MyLO website under Assessment Resources.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accurately summarise the relevant text.	LO3
2	Write in clear prose aimed at a non-philosophical audience.	LO3
3	Structure and reference work properly.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Tutorial Presentation

Task Description:

In one week of the semester, the student will analyse an aspect of the chosen texts and present a reflectively sustainable position in relation to them, and will engage in critical discussion of the analysis and position with other students and staff. Full details of this assessment task can be found on the unit MyLO website under Assessment Resources.

Task Length:

Varies

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically analyse the relevant texts.	LO3
2	Present a reflectively sustainable position in relation to the philosophical ideas considered in the texts.	LO3
3	Constructively engage with the philosophical thoughts of other students.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Tutorial participation

Task Description:

Through the semester the student will engage constructively with other students and staff in discussions of philosophical texts. Full details of this assessment task can be found on the unit MyLO website under Assessment Resources.

Task Length:

Varies

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically analyse the set texts.	LO1, LO3
2	Present your own thoughts in relation to the philosophical ideas considered in the readings.	LO2, LO3
3	Constructively engage with the philosophical thoughts of other students.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 4: Position Paper

Task Description:

This is a summative assessment task for individual students. The student will identify a philosophically significant question in relation to the texts studied, will refine it in discussion with staff, and will write for a chosen audience in response to the question. Full details of this assessment task can be found on the unit MyLO website under Assessment Resources.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

45 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and issues that are relevant to the essay topic.	LO1, LO3
2	Develop and argue well for a clear position relevant to the question.	LO2, LO3
3	Engage with likely objections to the position put forward.	LO2, LO3, LO4
4	Express ideas and arguments in a way that is clear, coherent and easy to understand.	LO3
5	Structure and reference work properly.	LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.