SACE Stage 2 Philosophy study plan
SACE Stage 2 Philosophy · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge and ethics & Critical reasoning and the foundations of argument analysis
Map the Domain 1 syllabus into a one-page concept grid covering existence, knowledge and ethics, and label each cell with the question type it raises
Distinguish deductive validity from inductive strength by classifying 20 short arguments drawn from your own notes
Write out the standard form of 8 arguments, identifying premises and conclusion explicitly
Define the key terms 'valid', 'sound', 'cogent' and 'strong' in your own words and check each definition against a counterexample
Your checkpoint
A one-page concept grid plus a 20-item argument classification log with justifications for each label
Rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge and ethics & Critical reasoning and the foundations of argument analysis
Explain the distinction between analytic and synthetic propositions, and between a priori and a posteriori knowledge, using your own examples
Reconstruct the main responses to radical scepticism (e.g. Cartesian doubt, external-world scepticism) and state the cost of each
Identify and name 6 informal fallacies in passages you write yourself, explaining why each inference fails
Evaluate one knowledge claim by testing it against a coherentist and a foundationalist standard
Your checkpoint
A 600-word comparative note on two theories of knowledge, ending with a defended verdict on which handles scepticism better
Rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge and ethics & Critical reasoning and the foundations of argument analysis
Compare consequentialist, deontological and virtue-ethical approaches to a single moral dilemma you construct
Test each approach against 2 counterexamples and record where it strains
Analyse the logical form of 5 moral arguments, flagging any is-ought inference
Draft a position statement of 300 words on the dilemma and mark every premise that needs support
Your checkpoint
A dilemma analysis table comparing three ethical frameworks, with counterexamples and a flagged 300-word position statement
Critical reasoning and the foundations of argument analysis & Articulating and justifying philosophical positions and reasoned action
Diagram 10 extended arguments, including at least 3 with nested or convergent structure
Write 4 original arguments in standard form and stress-test each for hidden premises
Practise articulating a position in 150 words, then in 60 words, without losing the core claim
Self-mark one practice essay against a criteria checklist you build from the syllabus
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of 10 argument diagrams and 4 original standard-form arguments, plus a self-marked practice essay with annotated criteria
Rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge and ethics & Articulating and justifying philosophical positions and reasoned action
Construct a sustained defence of a position on a Domain 1 question, anticipating 3 objections
Reply to each objection and concede where the objection succeeds
Distinguish explaining a position from justifying it, and revise your draft to remove mere exposition
Integrate one thought experiment as evidence and explain exactly what it is meant to show
Your checkpoint
A 900-word argumentative essay with an objection-and-reply section and a short reflection on what you conceded
Critical reasoning and the foundations of argument analysis & Articulating and justifying philosophical positions and reasoned action
Write two timed essays of 40 minutes each under exam conditions
Apply a fixed structure: claim, premises, objection, reply, significance
Annotate both essays for unstated assumptions and unsupported leaps
Rewrite the weakest paragraph of each essay and compare the versions
Your checkpoint
Two timed essays with annotated weaknesses and revised paragraphs, plus a comparison note
Rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge and ethics & Critical reasoning and the foundations of argument analysis & Articulating and justifying philosophical positions and reasoned action
Synthesise Domain 1 content into 12 flashcard prompts that each demand reasoning rather than recall
Rehearse oral justification of a position in a 5-minute recorded explanation
Identify your three weakest skills from weeks 1-6 and design a targeted drill for each
Complete one full practice paper under time constraints
Your checkpoint
A full timed practice paper plus a weakness audit listing three drills and their completion status
Articulating and justifying philosophical positions and reasoned action
Consolidate notes into a single one-page reasoning checklist for exam use
Re-run your three drills and record improvement against week 7 baselines
Write one final essay that demonstrates objection handling and explicit justification
Rehearse concise definitions of 15 core terms aloud until fluent
Your checkpoint
A one-page exam checklist, a drill-improvement log, and a final polished essay
Milestones
Week 2: Can classify any short argument as deductive or inductive and state whether it is valid, strong, sound or cogent, with a reason
Week 4: Can diagram a multi-premise argument and write an original standard-form argument with hidden premises made explicit
Week 6: Can produce a structured 40-minute essay containing a clear claim, anticipated objection and reply
Week 8: Can justify a philosophical position orally and in writing using an explicit reasoning checklist, with drills showing measurable improvement