In this course, our goal will be to learn how to do philosophy by examining some of the central problems of Western and Eastern philosophical traditions. We will be particularly interested in the methods of argumentation that people have used in attempting to grapple with fundamental questions concerning the nature of human existence. In so doing, students will develop analytical skills that can be used in many other areas. We’ll begin by trying to understand what philosophy is – what are its characteristic aims and methods, and how does it differ from other subjects? Then we’ll spend the rest of the course gaining an introductory overview of several different areas of philosophy.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Acquire knowledge of some core philosophical problems;
2. State and provide reasons for some central philosophical responses to these problems; and
3. Develop basic skills in philosophical reasoning which will enable them to critically examine positions and arguments at a level appropriate for a first year introductory course.

Research-Led Teaching

The topics covered in this class offer an overview of the various research areas (and research being done) within the school of philosophy at ANU.

Required Resources

All requires resources will be accessible through the class Wattle page.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• verbal feedback by tutors, lecturers and other students in tutorials and lectures
• written individual feedback by tutors on essays
• individual feedback during the tutor's and/or lecturer's consultation hours

The above feedback will be most helpful if students have already taken full advantage of all guidance offered in advance of assessments, such as:

• writing workshop(s) during tutorials
• sample(s) of philosophical essay(s)
• guide(s) on how to write philosophical essays
• marking rubric(s) for essay assignments

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Other Referencing Requirements:

Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. Any referencing style may be used but references must include (a) the authors name, (b) year of publication, and (c) the page where the quote can be located. A bibliography is also required listing all the material cited in the essay and that was used to help form your thoughts. Please note: You may not quote lecture slides in essays. 

Word limits:

Where an assignment exceeds the prescribed word length, no penalty will be applied for the initial 10% excess words. Thereafter a 10% penalty will apply. 

Bibliographies, footnotes and endnotes will not be included in the word count.

Students will declare the word length, without appendices, bibliography and footnotes on the final page of their assessment item.

Policy for Students with Disabilities, Learning Inefficiencies or Other Special Needs:

If you have an Educational Access Plan (EAP) through the Access and Inclusion office, and you feel you might need to make use of some of the EAP's suggested accommodations during this course, you must notify the course convener about the matter at the beginning of the term. They will be happy to work with you as necessary to make this a valuable learning experience and to advise you on the possibility of alternative options if you are unable to meet the stated course requirements as written.

Academic Skills and Learning Centre (ASLC):

Your writing, both in exams and papers, is expected to be both grammatically sound and stylistically appropriate. If you are having trouble in this regard, the Academic Skills and Learning Centre (ASLC) offers ANU students free and confidential help with their academic work through individual consultations, workshops, courses, podcasts and handouts. The ASLC is located on the lower ground floor of the Pauline Griffin Building and is only closed on weekends and public holidays.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	What is philosophy?/Who to trust in a world of fake news?
2	What can we know about the outside world? I
3	What can we know about the outside world? II	Short Writing Exercise Part 1 to be completed. Draft of Short Writing Exercise Part 2 (your first journal entry) to be bought to tutorials.
4	Why trust science? I	Draft of Journal Entry 2 to be bought to tutorials. Short Writing Exercise Parts 1 and 2 due (20/3)
5	Why trust science? II	Draft of Journal Entry 3 to be bought to tutorials
6	What is discrimination?	Draft of Journal Entry 4 to be bought to tutorials Essay instructions and topics available.
7	Why believe in universal human rights? I	Draft of Journal Entry 5 to be bought to tutorials. Journal Part I Due (20/04)
8	Why believe in universal human rights? II	Draft of Journal Entry 6 to be bought to tutorials
9	What can we know about other minds? I	Draft of Journal Entry 7 to be bought to tutorials
10	What can we know about other minds? II	Draft of Journal Entry 8 to be bought to tutorials Essay due (15/05)
11	What makes you, you? I	Draft of Journal Entry 9 to be bought to tutorials
12	What makes you, you? II	Draft of Journal Entry 10 to be bought to tutorials Journal Part II due (01/06)

Tutorial Registration

Available through Wattle, during the first week of classes

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Class Participation	10 %	*	1, 2, 3
Short Writing Exercise	20 %	20/03/2020	1, 2, 3
Journal Part 1	20 %	20/04/2020	1, 2, 3
Journal Part 2	30 %	01/06/2020	1, 2, 3
Essay	20 %	15/05/2020	1, 2, 3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are required to prepare for classes (both lectures and tutorials) and to participate in discussion of required readings and other material. This is worth 10% of their overall grade for the class.

Assessment Task 1

Class Participation

Students are required to prepare for classes (both lectures and tutorials) and to participate in discussion of required readings and other material. This is worth 10% of their overall grade for the class.

Grading

Each student’s participation mark is based in part on the extent to which they come to class well prepared, having done the required reading and having considered the weekly set readings/questions/exercises. It is also based on the extent to which students make a constructive contribution to classroom discussion.

Class participation marking criteria:

Outstanding contributor: Contributions in class reflect extensive preparation. Ideas offered are usually substantive; provide major insights and direction for class discussion. Challenges are substantiated and persuasive. Makes an important contribution to class discussion overall. 

Good contributor: Contributions in class reflect thorough preparation. Ideas offered are often substantive; provide useful insights and some direction for class discussion. Challenges are substantiated and often persuasive. Makes a significant contribution to class discussion overall.

Adequate contributor: Contributions in class reflect adequate preparation. Ideas offered are sometimes substantive; provide some insight but rarely offer direction for class discussion. Challenges are sometimes presented, substantiated and persuasive. Makes a contribution to class discussion overall.

Unsatisfactory contributor: Contributions in class reflect inadequate preparation. Ideas offered are rarely substantive; rarely provide insight but do not offer useful direction for class discussion. Contributions may be distractions rather than constructive. Does not make a positive contribution to class discussion overall.

Non-participant: This person says little or nothing in class. There is not an adequate basis for evaluation. Makes no contribution to discussion.

Assessment Task 2

Short Writing Exercise

This assessment comprises the first journal entry for the students’ class journal (part 2, maximum 300 words) along with a preparatory writing exercise (part 1, approx 500 words)to be completed before writing the journal entry. The journal entry itself will be based on the assigned readings and material for week 3 of the course. Instructions will be available on Wattle and discussed in week 2.

Students should complete the preparatory writing exercise and a draft journal entry before their week 3 tutorial. These writing exercises must be bought to the tutorial in week 3 for peer review and discussion. Students will then use the peer review and discussion to polish their journal entry for submission. This assessment is worth 20% of the final grade for the class.

Grading

Submission of the preparatory writing exercise is a hurdle requirement for this assessment - it must be completed to receive a grade. Only the final short journal entry will be graded, however. It will be graded out of 20.

Assessment Task 3

Journal Part 1

In preparation for class during weeks 4-6, students will write a weekly, short (maximum 300 words) journal entry presenting their considered reflection on the assigned readings. Topics, guidelines and marking rubrics for these entries will be available on Wattle. These entries must be bought each week to tutorial for peer review and discussion. Two of these journal entries must then be submitted for grading. Students are encouraged to revise and polish their journal entries following peer review and discussion in class. This assessment is worth 20% of the final grade for the class.

Grading

Students will receive a grade out of 20 for these entries (10 marks per journal entry).

Assessment Task 4

Journal Part 2

In preparation for class during weeks 8-12, students will write a weekly, short (maximum 300 words) journal entry presenting their considered reflection on the assigned readings. Topics, guidelines and marking rubrics for these entries will be available on Wattle. These entries must be bought each week to tutorial for peer review and discussion. Three of these journal entries must then be submitted for grading. Students are encouraged to revise and polish their journal entries following peer review and discussion in class. This assessment is worth 30% of the final grade for the class.

Grading

Students will receive a grade out of 30 for these entries (10 marks per journal entry).

Assessment Task 5

Essay

Students will write an argumentative essay (maximum 1500 words) defending a position regards a topic covered in the course. In preparation for writing this essay students will complete an essay plan form which must be submitted with the final essay. Failure to submit a completed form will result in an automatic deduction of 10 points from your final essay grade. Please note, however, that the form does not contribute to the word count for the assignment.

Topics for these essays and other instructions will be provided in Week 6 of the semester.

This assessment is worth 20% of the final grade for the class.

Grading

Students will receive a grade out of 100. Note that failure to submit a completed essay plan form will result in the automatic deduction of 10 points from this grade.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) a submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

Not applicable.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item (whichever is sooner).

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students