This assignment requires a comprehensive application of the elements of critical reasoning that we are studying in this course. The main objective is for you to follow the systematic critical reasoning process to thoroughly document all relevant information in analyzing and making an argument. 

You will critically analyze a claim from the list below. (Choose one topic)

• Abortion is not morally acceptable and should be illegal. 
• Physician-assisted suicide should be legal and available to those how choose to use it. 
• Gun laws are in danger of becoming too restrictive. 
• Marijuana should not be legal for recreational use. 
• Spanking is not the best alternative for disciplining children. 
• Organic foods lead to longer lifespans and less heart disease than non-organic foods. 
• Obesity rates in the US have reached epidemic proportions. 
• E-cigarettes are just as harmful as tobacco cigarettes 
• Genetically-modified foods are harmful to human health. 
• Crime rates in the US are at an all-time high. 
• High school graduation rates in the US are at an all-time high. 
• Global warming is real and caused primarily by human activities. 

In your essay, you must address the following questions about your claim. 

1. Briefly define the claim and its counter argument. 
2. Who are some of the people and sources making the claim? 
3. What are the interested parties for this claim? 
4. What types of information has been transmitted about this claim? 
5. Does the claim conflict with your personal observations and background information? 
6. What rhetoric and fallacies are used with respect to this claim? 
7. Are there any scientific findings about this claim? 
8. What are the best ways to assess the probabilities of this claim? 
9. What are your conclusions about your claim? 

It is expected that you have the following: 

• A title page 
• The body of the paper: 4-6 pages of text, double-spaced, 12-point font with clear and understandable language with no grammar or spelling errors 
• Adequate justification for your responses with at least three appropriate references 
• Appropriate in-text citations throughout paper (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/). 
• A reference page with only the sources that you used in the body of the paper (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/06/). 
• Sources should be less than 5 years old unless there has not been recent research available. Do not use Wikipedia, as it is not considered a reliable academic source