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Debating Science in Society (HPSC20024) // Assessment
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Email: fidlerfm@unimelb.edu.au
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Tutorial Presentation and Essay: Choose one of the 11 debates for a critical analysis presentation and paper
| From Week 3 to Week 12 | 40% |
Error of Omission Essay: Identify, analyse and critique an error of omission in one of the debater's arguments
| From Week 3 to Week 12 | 30% |
Error of Commission Essay: Identify, analyse and critique an error of commission in one of the debater's arguments
| From Week 3 to Week 12 | 30% |
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Additional details
Tutorial Paper and Presentation
A 1600 word tutorial paper and presentation which judges what is at issue, weighs the evidence, and argues which case is strongest. Assessment will factor in presentation skills, the ability to structure an argument, the research undertaken, and the quality of the written work. Students address one debate for their tutorial paper and presentation; the debate occurs during the lecture, the presentation occurs during the tutorial on the week of the debate, and the paper is due three days after the presentation.
Tutorial Papers
Students complete two tutorial papers offering constructive criticism of arguments presented in two debates. Each paper must address a different debate, and each paper must address a debate in a different group of debates (Science and the Environment, Science and Technology, Scientific Methods). These papers do not provide an overall assessment of a debate. Rather, these papers offer constructive criticism of specific arguments presented by one side of a debate.
Paper 1. A 1200 word paper constructively criticising one side of a debate in terms of its weaknesses of omission and/or commission. This paper is due within 7 days of the relevant debate and is due by week 7 of semester. Failure to do so will attract the standard late penalty.
Paper 2. A 1200 word paper constructively criticising one side of a debate in terms of its weaknesses of omission and/or commission. This paper must address a debate in a different group to paper 1 and is due within 7 days of the relevant debate. Failure to do so will attract the standard late penalty.
Last updated: 31 January 2024