Writing and Critical Thinking: What is Wisdom?

Introduction

Module description

The University Scholars Program aims to be a “community of people who are curious, critical, courageous, and engaged”. Although we rarely think of it in this way, an older tradition would call such qualities aspects of wisdom. In this module, we will study the concept of wisdom from different disciplinary angles, ranging from philosophy to neurobiology and cultural studies. We will discuss key aspects of wisdom such as judgment and self-transcendence, study how wisdom can be developed, and consider how it might be relevant in professional life or even help to solve world problems.

Since this module aims to help you hone your writing and critical thinking skills, we will spend much of our time discussing strategies for becoming a better reader and writer. In addition to peer writing workshops, one-on-one writing conferences, and oral presentations, which will take up an entire class session, we will discuss a writing-related topic during the first half of each class. During the second half, we will discuss the assigned readings, guided primarily by student questions and responses.

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Analyze and critically evaluate arguments in texts drawn from different academic disciplines
  • Construct a clearly defined research problem, explain its significance, and articulate an argument that addresses it
  • Critically engage with relevant sources that will help you to contextualize and support your argument
  • Articulate your argument in a clearly structured, evidence-based way, and respond to anticipated objections
  • Revise your written work based on peer and instructor feedback and offer targeted suggestions for improvement to your fellow students

 

Assessment

Assessment

  • Attendance and participation (15%)
  • Research presentation (10%)
  • Writing Assignments (75%) 
    • 10 short process notes (25%)
    • Midterm paper (20%)
    • Final research paper (30%)

Schedule

This is a provisional schedule and is subject to changes. If you have any questions about this module, please email the instructor, Dr. Bart Van Wassenhove (bvw@nus.edu.sg).

 UNIT 1: What is Wisdom?

 Week 1 Mon, 10 August 2020 - Sun, 16 August 2020

  • TU:
    • Introductions
    • Syllabus overview
  • FR:
    • Weekly responses assignment  
    • Writing topic: critical thinking and reading  
    • Class discussion: your conceptions of wisdom  
      • Reading: Nic M. Weststrate, Susan Bluck, and Judith Glück, “Wisdom of the Crowd. Exploring People’s Conceptions of Wisdom”, In R. J. Sternberg & J. Glück (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom. Cambridge University Press (2019): 97-117 (selections by group; review the class slides for details)
    • Lecture: How can we construct a viable theory of wisdom?

Week 2 Mon, 17 August 2020 - Sun, 23 August 2020

  • TU:
    • Reading: Ryan, Sharon. "Wisdom, Knowledge and Rationality." Acta Analytica 27.2 (2012): 99-112
    • Writing topic: Paper 1 assignment; elements of the academic essay
      • Reference reading: Gordon Harvey, "A Brief Guide to the Elements of the Academic Essay" 
  • FR:
    • Reading:
      • Fileva, Iskra, and Jon Tresan. "Wisdom Beyond Rationality: A Reply to Ryan." Acta Analytica 28.2 (2013): 229-235.
      • Ryan, Sharon. "A Deeper Defense of the Deep Rationality Theory of Wisdom: A reply to Fileva and Tresan." Acta Analytica 32.1 (2017): 115-123.
    • Writing topic: academic writing as a conversation; summary and quotation
      • Reference reading: They Say, I Say, chapters 1-3

Week 3 Mon, 24 August 2020 - Sun, 30 August 2020

  • TU:
    • Reading: Baltes, Paul B., and Ursula M. Staudinger. "Wisdom: A Metaheuristic (Pragmatic) to Orchestrate Mind and Virtue Toward Excellence." American Psychologist 55.1 (2000): 122-136 (read up to 'Empirical Findings 6: Wisdom in Proverbs' on p. 131).
    • Writing topic: making evidence-based arguments
      • Reference reading: The Craft of Research, chapter 7. Making Good Arguments: An Overview; chapter 9. Assembling Reasons and Evidence;
      • They Say, I Say, chapters 4 and 5
  • FR:
    • Reading: Ardelt, Monika. "Wisdom as Expert Knowledge System: A Critical Review of a Contemporary Operationalization of an Ancient Concept." Human Development 47.5 (2004): 257-285 (read up to ‘Expected Correlates of Wisdom’ on p. 268)
    • Writing topic: identifying warrants and responding to objections
      • Reference reading:
        • The Craft of Research, chapter 10. Acknowledgments and Responses; chapter 11. Warrants
        • They Say, I Say, chapter 6.

Week 4 Mon, 31 August 2020 - Sun, 6 September 2020

  • TU:
    • Reading: Ardelt, Monika. “Wisdom as Expert Knowledge System: A Critical Review of a Contemporary Operationalization of an Ancient Concept.” Human Development 47.5 (2004): 257-285 (read pp. 268-282)
      • Optional activity: find out your own personal wisdom score by taking a test based on Ardelt’s model at https://nyti.ms/30xJVbG
    • Writing topic: planning and drafting your argument
      • Reference reading: The Craft of Research, chapter 12. Planning and Drafting
  • FR:
    • Reading: Staudinger, Ursula M. "The Distinction Between Personal and General Wisdom: How Far Have We Come?" In R. J. Sternberg & J. Glück (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom. Cambridge University Press (2019). 182-201.
    • Writing topic: introductions and conclusions 
      • Reference reading: The Craft of Research, chapter 16. Introductions and Conclusions

Week 5 Mon, 7 September 2020 - Sun, 13 September 2020

  • TU:
    • Working introduction workshop (45 min.)   
      • Email your working introduction to the members of your peer review group and upload it to Luminus by 2pm on Monday
    • Writing topic: organizing and revising your argument
      • Reference reading:
  • The Craft of Research, chapter 14
  • They Say, I Say, chapters 8, 10, and 11
  • Revision checklist (Luminus)
  • FR:
    • Writing topic: revising style; preparing for writing conferences  
      • Reference reading: The Craft of Research, chapter 17. Revising Style: Telling Your Story Clearly.
    • Draft workshop
      • Email your paper draft / outline to the members of your peer review group and sign up for a writing conference by 2 pm on Thursday
      • Email your peer review reports to the members of your group and upload them in a single file to the ‘Peer review’ folder on Luminus by 2pm on Friday.

Week 6 Mon, 14 September 2020 - Fri, 18 September 2020

  • No class: individual writing conferences

Recess week

Week 7: Wisdom in Educational Settings Mon, 28 September 2020 - Sun, 4 October 2020

  • TU: Midterm paper debriefing
  • FR:
    • Mid-term survey debriefing
    • Reading:
      • Sternberg, Robert J. "Why Schools Should Teach for Wisdom: The Balance Theory of Wisdom in Educational Settings." Educational Psychologist 36.4 (2001): 227-245.
        • You can skim/skip the sections on ‘Major Approaches to Understanding and Wisdom’ (pp. 228-229), ‘Measurement of TK in Wisdom’ (pp. 235-6) and ‘Testing the Balance Theory in the Classroom’ (pp. 239-42)
      • Sternberg, Robert J. "How Wise is it to Teach for Wisdom? A Reply to Five Critiques." Educational Psychologist 36.4 (2001): 269-272.
    • Writing topic: final paper assignment; coming up with a research question
      • Reference reading: The Craft of Research, chapter 4. From Questions to a Problem    

Week 8: Wisdom in the Public Domain Mon, 5 October 2020 - Sun, 11 October 2020

  • TU:
    • Reading: Zacher, Hannes & Ute Kunzmann, “Wisdom in the Workplace”. In Sternberg, Robert J., Howard C. Nusbaum, and Judith Glück, eds. Applying Wisdom to Contemporary World Problems. Springer, 2019:  255-292
      • You can skip/skim the 'Wisdom' section (pp. 258-62)
    • Writing topic: finding, evaluating, and recording sources
  • FR:
    • Reading: Schwartz, B., & Sharpe, K. E. (2019). "Practical Wisdom: What Aristotle Might Add to Psychology". In R. J. Sternberg & J. Glück (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom (p. 226–248). Cambridge University Press (2019).
    • Writing topic: incorporating sources
      • Reference reading: The Craft of Research, chapter 14. Incorporating Sources; Harvey, Writing with Sources

Week 9: Can Wisdom Help Us Solve Global Problems? Mon, 12 October 2020 - Sun, 18 October 2020

  • TU:
    • Writing topic: the logic of argument
      • Post your questions about the research project to the forum
    • Reading: Grossmann, Igor, and Anna Dorfman. "Wise Reasoning in an Uncertain World." In Sternberg, Robert J., Howard C. Nusbaum, and Judith Glück, eds. Applying Wisdom to Contemporary World Problems. Springer, 2019:  51-79.
  • FR:
    • Writing topic: the logic of argument (ctd.)
    • Reading: Staudinger, Ursula. M., "Can Wisdom Be Helpful?". In Sternberg, Robert J., Howard C. Nusbaum, and Judith Glück, eds. Applying Wisdom to Contemporary World Problems. Springer, 2019:  237-53.
    • Writing topic: giving a research presentation

Week 10: Literature Review Workshop Mon, 19 October 2020 - Sun, 25 October 2020

  • TU: 
    • Concluding discussion
  • FR: 
    • Literature review workshop
    • Writing topic: presentation skills

Week 11: Group Conferences Mon, 26 October 2020 - Sun, 1 November 2020

Send your working introduction and either an outline or a combination of a partial draft and an outline to your group members via email and upload it to the 'Final paper working introduction' folder by 2pm on Monday for Tuesday conferences / 2pm on Thursday for Friday conferences

Week 12: Individual Conferences Mon, 2 November 2020 - Sun, 8 November 2020

  • No class: individual conferences

Week 13: Research Presentations Mon, 9 November 2020 - Fri, 13 November 2020

  • TU: Research presentations 
  • FR: Research presentations
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