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Critical Thinking Paper Assignment Your job for this paper is to impress me with your knowledge of logic and critical thinking. Show me that you have learned something in my class, and that you can apply it in some situation which I have not simply handed to you. Your assignment is to analyze an argument. Take an argument in a natural environment, by which I mean one which is not constructed to demonstrate a fallacy or for a classroom exercise. You should find one in a book, a newspaper, or magazine, or online (be careful about online arguments. They should come from serious websites). I encourage you to use one of the arguments from my book, Why I Am Not A Democrat, though it is not required.Your project needs a cover page, and then should include the following: One page with the argument printed as you find it, making sure to properly cite the source (If you use one from my book, just cite the source).One page with the argument listed in standard form and/or diagrammed Three to four pages of analysis. I am expecting a fairly detailed analysis. In general, you should make a judgment about the validity or strength of the argument, as well as the soundness or cogency. The rest of your paper should defend your judgment with reasoning. Click here to see a sample of a paper that meets these guidelines (Note that the original argument is not included in this sample). Your paper should be typed, double-spaced, with one inch margins, a 12 point readable font. The source of your argument should be clearly identified, and if any outside sources are used in your analysis, they should also be cited. Grading: In general, an “A” paper is complete and meets all guidelines given. It will look professional, and will not have any major errors or mistakes. It will have a clearly stated thesis which has the appropriate scope for a paper of this size, and it will have clear reasoning which makes a strong case, without any fallacies or gaps in reasoning. A project which is deficient in any of these areas may receive a “B.” A project which is deficient in any two areas may receive a “C.” A “D” will be given to any paper with a major deficiency in any one area, or minor deficiencies in all areas. Generally, an “F” will be given to an incomplete paper, or one which has major deficiencies in multiple areas.Option Two: Pseudoscience Paper Assignment
Your assignment is to write a four to five page argumentative paper with a thesis involving the acceptance or rejection of some kind of pseudoscience. It should be typed, double-spaced, and include bibliography or footnotes. You have wide latitude on your choice of thesis. You may criticize an argument put forward in support of or against the pseudoscience in question. You may criticize an explanation provided to explain certain observations, using the techniques discussed in your book. You may provide alternative plausible hypotheses for given observations. You may offer your own argument in support of or opposed to the existence of one of the underlying observations made substantiating a pseudoscience. You may argue that there is no credible support for a pseudoscience, or that the evidence gathered is not credible. Throughout your paper you should exhibit critical thinking and be sensitive to critical thinking issues. You should avoid any errors in reasoning (rhetorical pitfalls, fallacies or pseudoreasoning). You should also avoid emotional appeals. You should consider your thesis to be the conclusion of an argument which you are putting forward in your paper. Each of the premises supporting the conclusion of your argument should be presented thoughtfully in a separate paragraph. Your paper should have a separate introduction, body, and conclusion. Your paper will be graded on a number of factors. Your grammar will affect your grade only inasmuch as it affects the clarity of your argument. An A paper will have a sufficiently interesting thesis which has the correct scope for a paper of this size and which is clear and explained adequately. An A paper will have a cogent and clear argument supporting its thesis, be organized well, and will not make any major critical thinking errors. A B paper will not measure up to this standard completely, and a C paper will have a major failure in any one of these areas. A D paper will not measure up to the assignment or the standards of a college level argumentative paper. An F paper will fail to meet the requirements of the assignment and will not offer reasoning in support of its conclusions. Here is a partial list of pseudosciences. If you have a different topic, get it approved prior to writing your paper.
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