PHLB99H3 - Philosophical Writing and Methodology - Fall 2026

In this writing-intensive course, students will become familiar with tools and techniques that will enable them to competently philosophize, on paper and in person. Students will learn how to write an introduction and how to appropriately structure philosophy papers, how to accurately present someone else's position or argumentation, how to critically assess someone else's view or argumentation, and how to present and defend their own positive proposal or argumentation concerning a given topic. Students will learn many more specific skills, such as, how to `signpost' what students are doing, how to identify and charitably interpret ambiguities in another discussion, and how to recognize and apply various argumentative strategies.

Timetable

PHLB99H3

Job Details

The following position for a Sessional Instructional Assistant is available in the Department of Philosophy for the Fall 2026 academic session. This is an emergency posting in accordance with the Collective Agreement between The Governing Council of the University of Toronto and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3902 Unit 3. Please note that the position below is tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolments. In accordance with the Collective Agreement, this posting is being sent as an email notification to all applicants in the Department’s Applicant Pool: all Sessional Lecturers who are teaching for the Department during the current academic year or who have taught for the Department within the past twenty-four months and all persons who have submitted an application within the past twenty-four months. Application process: All pool members who wish to be considered for a particular position must submit a CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form and updated curriculum vitae to Professor Julia Nefsky,



Chair of the Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto Scarborough using the online application system found at https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/webapps/cupehiring/.

Salary: $55.25/hour. Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Appointment Dates: September 8, 2026 – December 31, 2026

Sessional Dates (including exam periods): September 8, 2026 – December 19, 2026. Job Title Positions Size of Appointment (hours) Session PHLB99H3 - Philosophical Writing and Methodology 1 Up to 100 Fall 2026

Minimum Qualifications

MA in Philosophy; Good prior knowledge of the subject-matter of the course; Robust English-language writing and editing skills.

Duties

Grading and preparation for grading; organizing and submitting grades; attending training sessions; meetings with instructor; lecture attendance at the instructor’s discretion; general teaching-related duties.

Notes

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.

📌 Sessional Instructional Assistant - P: Philosophical Writing and Development Seminar (Toronto)
🏢 University of Toronto
📍 Toronto