CONCEPT REDESIGN - Analytical thinking

Dimension: Acquires, analyzes, and evaluates information from multiple sources.

Description: In this assignment, you will take a concept from this course and find out more about it. You will
1) choose a concept or question that is relevant to this class (ISS 315)
2) identify THREE different sources that address the concept;
These sources might include: Google, Wikipedia, social media, library, newspaper, or article databases. You must include proper citation of your sources so that someone else would be able to find the article.
3) write an essay explaining and justifying how and why you selected these sources for this assignment.

STEP 1. Choose a concept or question from the course. Examples include Population, Environments, Conflicts and Terrorism, Religion, and Poverty". Basically, you might choose any of the concepts listed on the syllabus.

STEP 2. Identify THREE different sources that address the chosen concept and evaluate these sources based on biases, strengths, and weaknesses. Consider the following:
1. Search strategy: What process are you using to identify diverse sources?
2. Credibility: Where did the source come from and who wrote it?
3. Relevance: Is the information in the source recent or timely?
4. Objectivity: What kind of methods, evidence, or arguments did they provide?

STEP 3. Submit an essay (500-700 words) that addresses the following:
1. Search strategy: Describe and rationalize your plan to identify the sources used in the assignment.
2. Source description: Describe the TYPE of sources you chose (articles, books, videos, websites, etc.) and your reasoning (why did you choose those sources to find out more about your specific topic?).
3. Source evaluation: Evaluate each source in terms of credibility, relevance, and objectivity (refer to step 2).

A 500 to 700-word essay that tells the reader about the sources and also reflects on your search strategy, overall quality, and evaluation of the sources. This length represents at least two full pages of double-spaced typing (500 words is about two pages of typed, double spaced text).

To "Describe" means to provides factual information (identify, list, name, write down).

To "Analyze" means to distinguish, compare, contrast, classify, or differentiate.

To "Defend" means to provide an assessment, evaluation, argument, or a justification.