Unit Outline
HPH506
Critical Thinking: Reasoning Skills for Health Professionals
Semester 2, 2024
Richard Corry
School of Humanities
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Richard Corry
Email: Richard.Corry@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit teaches the fundamentals of critical thinking, with particular focus on applications in the health-care sector. You will learn how to construct, analyse, and critically evaluate arguments; how to reason logically and well; and how to communicate your thoughts clearly and effectively. You will learn practical techniques for the evaluation of reasoning, and apply these techniques with fellow students to explore topics and arguments from health-care, academia, and the popular media. The skills you acquire in this unit will be invaluable, not just across academic disciplines, but more broadly for leading a life enriched by critical thinking.
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
Explain the principles of critical thinking and their applications to the health-care sector.
2
Analyse the structure of reasoning across both academic and health-care contexts.
3
Critically evaluate the use of different types of reasoning and decision-making in health-care and other contexts.
4
Defend your own positions and decisions using clear and effective writing.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Lecture (Online)
Lecture
0.75
Weekly
Tutorial (Online)
Online discussion
participation
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
Self-directed exercises
1
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

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:
Portfolio
See the MyLO site for the due date
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Written Argument
Week 7
20 %
LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Take Home Exam
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Portfolio
Task Description:
See the MyLO site for assessment details.
Task Length:
1250 words
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Recognise various argument types and techniques in health-care or other
contexts
LO2
2
Apply appropriate tools that have been developed in the unit.
LO1, LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Written Argument
Task Description:
See the MyLO site for assessment details.
Task Length:
700-800 words
Due Date:
Week 7
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
 

1
Identify the conclusions and premises of your argument using argument signposts.
LO2, LO4
2
Structure arguments, subarguments, objections, counter considerations, and/or counter arguments so that they are clear.
LO4
3
Analyse your argument using a standardisation or diagram.
LO2
 
Assessment Task 3: Take Home Exam
Task Description:
Take-Home Exam - In this assignment you will put all of the skills you have learned to work by answering questions relating to all parts of the unit. This is a take-home exam that is submitted through MyLO. Further details will be available on the unit website closer to the due date.
Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explain the principles of critical thinking and their applications to the health-care
sector.
LO1
2
Analyse the structure of reasoning across both academic and health-care
contexts.
LO2
3
Evaluate the use of different types of reasoning and decision-making in healthcare and other contexts.
LO3
4
Communicate your own reasoning clearly and effectively.
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.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
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.
 
 

 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
See the MyLO site for details of required readings.
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources