Critical Thinking and Research Skills

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• reflect on the research you have carried out
• prepare, plan and write an extended essay
• carry out a literature search using online and library resources.
• prepare and deliver oral contributions
• plan and organise your own learning schedule

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• The key transferable skills will be of value in all your future studies.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• how to select and summarise arguments fully, clearly and accurately and produce your own well developed or critical pieces of successful argumentation
• critical thinking by critically evaluating statements and complex reasoning deriving from them
• the effects of subtle biases and disguised persuasive devices in written, diagrammatic and numerical sources
• the topic selected for your personal research project.
• how to accurately assess the nature and strength of justification, even when measures are taken to disguise this

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• evaluate evidence, discussion and identify bias
• present reasoned and structured arguments, both orally and in written form
• understand how to formulate a topic for research
• extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources

This module is in two parts:

1. In the first part in Semester One, you will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of critical thinking.

2. In the second part, you will conduct a Personal Research Project including an extended essay. This is introduced at the beginning of Semester Two with sessions on preparing the Personal Research Project, (PRP), identifying the research needed under particular topics, a library tour and literature searching. With guidance from your academic advisor you will carry out independent research on your chosen topic. The critical thinking skills you acquired in Semester One are essential for success on your PRP.

If you are a student progressing to studio-based programmes at the Winchester School of Art (WSA), you will prepare a portfolio of art work with the support of a tutor in the studios at WSA.

In this module you will;

a. acquire critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis skills and then later apply these through your PRP.

b. learn how to accurately assess the nature and strength of justification, even when measures are taken to disguise this.

c. analyse and evaluate the effects of subtle biases and disguised persuasive devices in written, diagrammatic and numerical sources.

d. learn how to select and summarise arguments fully, clearly and accurately and produce your own well developed or critical pieces of successful argumentation.

Your PRP will show evidence of your critical thinking skills within the topic you have chosen.

If you are preparing a portfolio of work at WSA, you will learn how to work independently in an art studio.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

Lectures, seminars, library tour and workshop individual support through your academic advisor and module leader.

Learning activities include:

Individual study, group and pair work, preparing presentations and discussions in small groups and tutorials.

In Semester One you will have one two -hour lecture and one hour long seminar each week.

In Semester Two you will have a two one-hour lectures introducing the Personal Research Project and research methods. You will also have a library tour and research workshop. You will have a weekly 15 minute tutorial with your academic advisor, who will support and advise you throughout the whole of the Personal Research Project.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Haralambos M & Jones R (2003). Critical Thinking for OCR AS level. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Williams K (2009). Getting Critical. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Assessment strategy

Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback

 on oral presentations

 through classroom guidance on critical thinking coursework

 on your work via academic advisors on the development of your PRP

 on written summaries and referencing sources.

Formal assessments

The assessment will comprise 50% weighting for Critical Thinking and 50% for the PRP. The final mark across both parts of the module will be halved to give a single overall percentage for the module.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal