Research Seminar “Introduction to Argumentation and Critical Analysis"

2024/2025

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Школа иностранных языков

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 3, 4 модуль

Преподаватель

Марина Ольга Анатольевна

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course aims to help students develop an understanding of what is meant by critical thinking and to develop their reasoning skills, which are essential for progressing to higher levels of academic study. Students will be engaged in thinking in analytical and evaluative ways using mental processes such as attention, categorization, selection, and judgment. The course offers activities to apply the concepts, techniques and strategies it introduces when reading and producing critical writing. A wide range of topics is used as practical material; students do not need any background knowledge of the subjects covered in the course. The course will enable students to recognize and examine arguments; engage with and challenge the arguments used by both experts and their peers; produce better critical analytical writing of their own, and overall build their confidence in their abilities to manage information flow.

Learning Objectives

• • understanding what critical thinking (CT), reasoning and rational thought involve in academic context; raising awareness of barriers to CT;
• • introducing basic concepts used in CT;
• • developing skills to recognize and locate arguments in texts with greater precision and speed;
• • developing strategies to identify the key components of an argument;
• • developing strategies for checking argument for clarity, internal consistency and overall logical order;
• • developing strategies for close reading; recognizing implicit arguments and hidden assumptions;
• practicing critical, analytical reading;
• • evaluating critical writing.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Students understand what critical thinking (CT) in academic context is and what reasoning and rational thought involve.
• Students develop strategies to identify the key components of an argument.
• Students understand the distinction between argument and forms of non-arguments; distinguish analytical writing from descriptive one.
• Students recognize and locate arguments in texts with greater precision and speed.
• Students check argument for clarity and internal consistency; identify logical consistency in an argument and check for logical order.
• Students construct their own arguments based on inference.
• Students recognize assumptions underlying arguments, hidden assumptions and evaluate when an argument based on false premises.
• Students identify flaws in arguments and the language used to distort an argument.
• Students evaluate critical and analytical writing; recognize and use appropriate language to structure the line of reasoning to compare and evaluate texts in critical writing.
• Students use a structure for critically evaluating critical writing (including one’s own).
• understand what critical thinking (CT) in academic context is and what reasoning and rational thought involve.

Course Contents

• Identifying arguments
• Identifying major concepts
• Critical thinking in academic context
• Argument vs non-argument
• Clarity, consistency and structure
• Logical consistency
• Reading between the lines: recognizing underlying assumptions
• Inference in critical thought: inference vs facts
• Identifying flaws
• Finding and evaluating sources of evidence
• Selecting the best evidence
• Critical reading, interpretation and source material
• Evaluating critical and analytical writing

Assessment Elements

• Quiz
• Class discussion
  Home assignment discussions; mini-presentations; in-class practice.
• Inference essay
• Independent work/Home assignments
  Analyzing printed and visual material.
• Quiz
  Quiz 2
• Group project
• Test
• Written assignment

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 4th module
  0.1 * Class discussion + 0.1 * Class discussion + 0.1 * Group project + 0.1 * Independent work/Home assignments + 0.1 * Independent work/Home assignments + 0.1 * Inference essay + 0.1 * Quiz + 0.1 * Quiz + 0.1 * Test + 0.1 * Written assignment

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Bowell, T., Cowan, R., & Kemp, G. (2020). Critical Thinking : A Concise Guide (Vol. Fifth edition). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2240045

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Andrews, R. (2010). Argumentation in Higher Education : Improving Practice Through Theory and Research. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=289887

Authors

• MARINA OLGA ANATOLEVNA