Project Guidelines

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of a critical essay.

Being able to access and apply the proper critical thinking and reasoning skills is key to being successful in school, your career, and many aspects of your personal life. By studying the basic elements involved in determining the validity of arguments, composing coherent arguments, and understanding how personal biases, assumptions, and values influence thinking, you will become more confident in processing the information you are presented with on a daily basis. Critical thinking is, therefore, an essential component of the educational experience for every student and in all academic disciplines. In your final project, you will apply the skills of critical thinking to the examination of an argument you have chosen from the list of potential artifacts provided. You will examine the argument's logic, reasoning, bias, and credibility, and then apply the same critical thinking skills to developing your own alternative argument. You will also reflect on how you can apply this process to other areas and situations in your life.

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

• Assess established arguments for their bases in logic, reasoning, and fact
• Explain how subjective influences can impact the credibility of arguments
• Construct basic arguments utilizing logic, reasoning skills, and appropriate supporting evidence
• Apply critical thinking skills to real-world situations for informing decision making

Prompt

In Module One, you will select a real-world topic from a provided list to focus your critical essay on. A list of topics is provided in the Final Project Topics and Resources section of the course.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your critical essay:

I. Introduction: To begin your essay, you will formally introduce your chosen real-world topic. As the foundation of your paper, your introduction should engage the audience and establish any necessary background.

A. Provide a brief overview of the topic. For example, you might consider the premise of the conversation and why the topic is being discussed.

B. Describe any personal connection you have to the topic. Why is the topic of particular interest to you?

II. Presented Argument: In this section, you will explore the argument in your chosen artifact. You will uncover the logical structure of the argument and investigate any bias behind its claims.

A. Describe the argument made by the artifact.

B. Identify key facts, research, or resources the argument is based on. Provide specific examples to support your identification.

C. Describe the logic and reasoning used to advance the argument and any gaps or weaknesses present. Consider the premises and conclusion advanced in the artifact, and the questions that are left unanswered.

D. Explain how the argument contains or avoids bias. Provide specific examples to support your explanation.

E. Discuss the credibility of the overall argument. For example, were the resources the argument was built on credible? Does this credibility support or undermine the artifact's claims in any important ways?

III. Your Argument: In this section, you will craft your argument to counter the one that was initially presented. You will support your position with the critical thinking skills you've learned throughout the course.

A. Construct an alternative argument to the artifact. Support your response using the provided resources or additional research.

B. Explain your logic and reasoning as you craft your argument. For example, you might consider assumptions and resources.

C. Identify any weaknesses in your argument that would require additional research or support.

D. Explain how your previously identified personal experience with the topic may create emotional influences, values, or other bias.

IV. Application: In this section, you will reflect back on the process of critical thinking as it relates to this assignment and make connections to its future application in your everyday life.

A. Describe the process of critical thinking as you applied it to this assignment. For example, what questions did you ask yourself when analyzing the initial argument? How did you answer these questions? What steps did you take in assessing the strength of the argument?

B. Explain how you will apply this process in your everyday life. Provide specific examples to support your explanation.

Milestones

Milestone One: Milestone One Worksheet

In Module Three, you will submit a worksheet that helps you organize and draft the Introduction section and Parts A, B, and C of the Presented Argument section of your final project.

Milestone Two: Milestone Two Worksheet

In Module Five, you will submit a worksheet that helps you organize and draft Parts D and E of the Presented Argument section and the entire Your Argument section of your final project.

Submission: Critical Essay

In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course, and should include the critical elements from all of the sections above, including the Application section.