Details for Critical and Creative Thinking

This unit introduces students to the challenges of observation, analysis and deduction, as they relate to the academic endeavour. It introduces the fundamentals of quantitative and qualitative research and the ontological and epistemological implications of these two approaches.   

The unit Critical and Creative Thinking is part of the subject area Research and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Graduate Certificate in Christian Leadership (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)), Master of Arts (Christian Studies) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

At the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

a)       Demonstrate ability to engage in critical and creative thinking in academic writing, specifically in relation to the student’s discipline area of specialisation

b)       Demonstrate broad understanding of academic writing as a genre

c)       Demonstrate understanding of referencing styles and writing expectations of the defining discipline(s) indicated by the student’s program of enrolment.

d)         Exhibit ability to engage major thinkers’ writings in chosen discipline 

Subject Content

1. Overview of academic writing: consolidated thought, discipline and genre
2. Creative and critical thinking in academia
3. Approaches to discipline, audience and analysis
4. Sample of key literature in Christian studies
5. Sample of key thinkers in Professional studies
6. Essay structures and referencing;
Creativity and diversities of logic 

Assessment Methods

2 minor essays, major essay.

Prescribed Text

• Craswell, G. Writing for academic success. Sage Publications, 2007.

Representative References

Bui, Y. How to write a master’s thesis. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2009.

Fink, A. Conducting research and literature reviews. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2005.

Locke, L.F., S.J. Silverman, and W. Spirduso. Readingand understanding research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2004.

Maner, M. The research process: A complete guide and reference for writers. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2000.

Moore, B.N. & Parker, R. Critical thinking. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009.

Punch, K.F. Developing effective research proposals, London: Sage, 2006.

Sabrio, David and Mitchell Burchfield, Insightful writing: a process rhetoric with readings, Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2009.

Seyler, D. Read, reason, write, 8^th Edition.Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.

Spears, D. Developing critical reading skills. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009.