Research the duty of a critical thinker in a contemporary society. You might select any topic which deals with a contemporary social concern. Observe the principles of critical thought in relation to the selected societal concern, and consider the importance of ethics, moral reasoning, a research-based process to search for truth and the benefits of information technology in gathering data.

Potential social concerns comprise, however are not limited to health (ex: obesity, smoking, or underage drinking), poverty (ex: homelessness, basic needs, or transportation issues), family relations and dynamics (ex: teen violence, physical abuse, depression, or suicide), social media (ex: privacy), immigration (ex: illegal), and education (ex: plagiarism and/or cheating).

Your Final Research Paper must:

Comprise a literature review of two scholarly sources based on the selected contemporary issue. Analyze the validity of the author's arguments and/or biases. Describe how academic knowledge influences the social elements and institutions of both local and global communities. Evaluate how the principles of active citizenship could impact the contemporary issue throughout the next five to ten years. Comprise at least one reference to a multimedia component (i.e., podcast, interactive website, blog, or video) and evaluate the relevance of this piece in relationship to academic knowledge and the selected issue.

The paper should be 8 to 10 pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style. You should use at least five scholarly sources, three of which can be found in the Ashford Online Library. Two of the five sources should be the two articles which your topic is based on. The remaining three are to be your secondary sources. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, comprising samples and tutorials.