VCE Philosophy study plan

Map the Unit 1 scope into a one-page concept list covering metaphysics, epistemology and the nature of the self

Define and distinguish the core terms: argument, premise, conclusion, validity and soundness, writing each definition in your own words

Reconstruct three short philosophical arguments from your textbook into standard premise-conclusion form

Identify and label five everyday reasoning errors in news or advertising samples

Explain at least two competing accounts of the nature of the self and contrast their assumptions

Apply a thought experiment to test each account and record where each account strains

Construct one objection to each account and draft a possible reply

Write a 250-word comparative paragraph that uses at least four technical terms correctly

Outline the Unit 2 scope, listing the main ethical theories and the meta-ethical questions they raise

Summarise the core claims of two normative theories and state the standard objection to each

Distinguish descriptive, normative and meta-ethical claims in ten sample statements

Apply one theory to a contemporary moral dilemma and trace the reasoning step by step

Synthesise Units 1 and 2 by comparing how each unit treats the justification of belief or action

Answer six timed short-response questions drawn from both units under exam conditions

Diagnose your three weakest sub-topics from the timed set and rank them by severity

Rewrite two weak answers into full-mark model responses

Map the Unit 3 scope onto the concepts of argument analysis, inference and evidence

Analyse four extended arguments by extracting conclusions, premises and hidden assumptions

Evaluate the strength of inductive arguments and identify what would weaken each one

Distinguish deductive from inductive reasoning across ten worked examples

Construct original arguments on two Unit 3 issues, each with premises that support the conclusion

Anticipate and rebut the strongest objection to each of your own arguments

Explain the difference between explaining and justifying a position using your own examples

Draft a 500-word essay plan that states a thesis and maps the argument structure

Outline the Unit 4 scope, identifying the major debates and the positions available in each

Compare two opposing positions on one Unit 4 debate and state the strongest evidence for each

Assess the reliability of the evidence used by each side and note any gaps

Write a 600-word essay defending one position and conceding one point to the other side

Integrate Units 3 and 4 by writing two timed essays that each move from analysis to defended conclusion

Complete a full timed mock under exam conditions and self-mark against the assessment criteria

Consolidate all four units into a single revision sheet of the 20 highest-yield concepts

Identify and rehearse the three exam habits that cost you the most marks in the mock