Year 10 5ACTH – Critical Thinking in the Humanities

Available for study in: Optional for Year 10 students - one semester. Year 9 students may be considered for this course at the discretion of HoLA.

Main areas of study:    

This course provides an in-depth analysis of social issues past and present, using critical thinking skills. This extension class pushes students to question, debate, analyse, and reason.

What is critical thinking?

A method of applying our thoughts to a subject or problem in an ordered and creative way. Critical thinkers evaluate and analyse argumnets objectively in order to come to reasoned conclusions.

Critical thinkers:

• Raise relevant questions and identify issues
• Gather information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively
• Think with an open-minded, recognising assumptions  
• Consider multiple perspectives of often complex issues

In this course you will learn:    

Possible topics may include:

• Crime in the 21st Century
• Conflict and War
• Ethics and Motivations - How do we make decisions?
• Exploring local issues and solutions
• Applying critical thinking to a topic of choice.

This course provides explicit teaching of civic literacy, research, formal essay writing and report writing.

Methods of assessment:    

Essay writing, research skills, use of digital platforms for report writing, and presentation skills through seminars.

This course leads to:    

• 5ACOM Commerce (Optional Year 10)

Level One Social Science courses:

• 6COM Commerce
• 6GEO Geography
• 6HIS History

Level 1 Social Science courses (6COM, 6GEO and 6HIS). All Social Studies courses provide an excellent foundation to gain success in senior Social Science courses such as Geography, History, Economics, Business Studies and Tourism.