Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title READING AND WRITING PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY
Code PHIL107
Coordinator Dr L Gow
Philosophy
L.Gow@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 4 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To introduce the academic skills and knowledge necessary for the critical reading and writing of philosophy. To foster in students an appreciation of the value of philosophy. To enable students to read effectively and to takes notes efficiently. To develop students'skill in presenting complex ideas to an audience and in practicing the intellectual virtues associated with philosophical discussion. To promote students skill in writing rigorously argued, well-written and well-presented philosophical essays. To promote students research skills.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Students will be able to explain and evaluate some work relevant to a selected specialist topic in ethics. (This topic may vary from year to year. Examples include: human treatment of animals; ethics and the environment.)

(LO2) Students will be able to explain and evaluate some central work about political liberty.

(LO3) Students will be able to give structured seminar presentations and to conduct discussion in a manner that displays the intellectual virtues associated with philosophy.

(LO4) Students will be able to write essays that embody a philosophically-informed approach to argumentation.

(LO5) Students will be able to use the Harvard referencing system.

(LO6) Students will be able to conduct independent research in support of their work, using appropriate print and online resources (including the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Philosopher's Index).

(LO7) Students will be able to explain and evaluate some work in aesthetics and the philosophy of art.

(S1) Students will enhance their abilities in reading and understanding texts and in comprehending abstract material.

(S2) Students will develop their skills in thinking critically, analysing problems and analysing and assessing arguments.

(S3) Students will enhance their ability to identify the issues that underlie debates.

(S4) Students will develop confidence in considering previously unfamiliar ideas and approaches, and their ability to identify presuppositions and to reflect critically upon them.

(S5) Students will enhance their ability to marshal arguments and present them orally and in writing.

(S6) Students will develop the ability to perform bibliographical searches, to include (to professional standard) citations and bibliographies in their work and to plan, organise and produce presentations and essays.

(S7) Students will enhance their oral and written communications skills and develop skill in explaining complex material in a precise manner.

(S8) Students will develop their ability to work independently.

(S9) Students will develop their ability to sift through information, assessing the relevance and importance of the information to what is at issue.

(S10) Students will develop their skills in making appropriate use of information technology, information on the World Wide Web and reference works and databases relevant to the discipline.

(S11) Students will develop the ability to write to a professional standard, using word-processing software.

(S12) Students will enhance their capacity to participate, in a dispassionate and respectful manner, in debates about controversial and profound matters.

(S13) Students will develop their willingness critically to evaluate and reflect upon arguments, beliefs, proposals and values, both their own and those of others.

(S14) Through developing their analytical and critical skills and observing good standards of academic practice, students will develop their intellectual honesty.

(S15) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

(S16) Improving own learning/performance - Self-awareness/self-analysis

(S17) Improving own learning/performance - Personal action planning

(S18) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - visual

(S19) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Listening skills

(S20) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Following instructions/protocols/procedures

(S21) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Communicating for audience


Syllabus

 

Philosophical topics

Each presentation of this module will include discussion of some classic and contemporary readings selected from the following areas of philosophy. The readings chosen will complement, but not overlap with, readings on other modules offered at this level by the Department in the same year of presentation.

Areas, such as ethics and political philosophy, will be covered in continuous blocks lasting 3-4 weeks each. Students will be expected to read one or two pieces per week depending on the length of the set readings and to conduct some secondary research each week.

The readings in ethics will be on a specialised topic not covered on other modules at this level e.g., human treatment of animals, environmental ethics).

The lectures will be devoted to teaching study skills. The indicative content of such lectures are as follows:

How to give a successful seminar presentation.
How to reconstruct and evaluate arguments.
How to app roach reading philosophical texts, including those written in antiquated and unfamiliar styles and those written in dialogue form.
Taking notes based on reading.
How to write a well-structured, fully relevant philosophy essay.
How to identify relevant secondary literature.
How to use the Harvard system for page references.
How to format a bibliography using the Harvard system.
Taking notes at classes.
How to evaluate internet sources.
How to use online resources for philosophy, including the Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy and the Philosopher's Index.
Learning from feedback on your work.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Seminar
Description: 11 x 1 hour seminars, starting in Week 1.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Workshop
Description: 1 x 2 hour information skills workshop provided by the Library.
Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching Method 3 - Lecture
Description: 11 x 1 hour lectures, starting in Week 1.
Attendance Recorded: No


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 11

11

      2

24
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 126
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Assessment 3 This is not an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :1  5-10 minutes (Semina    10       
Assessment 1 There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :1  1500 words (Essay 1)    40       
Assessment 2 There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :1  2000 words (Essay 2)    50       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.