PHIL341 Critical Reasoning
Week 1 Assignment
Term Paper Topic
The Signature Assignment for this course is a term paper analyzing a current events issue of your choice.
Read the full instructions for the term paper below. The term paper is due in Week 7.
Choose and submit your term paper topic here. Your term paper topic must be approved in order to receive credit for this assignment.
Signature Assignment Full Instructions
The goal of this paper is to construct a fair-minded, unbiased, analytical analysis of a topic in a comprehensive essay.
This is not an opinion piece or a persuasive essay that simply aims to prove or reinforce what you already believe. This would be confirmation bias, and bias must be avoided in this project.
This project needs to avoid harsh rhetoric or language that is harmful and hurtful in nature. The point is to be objective and unemotional in your approach.
This essay should be written in a fair, academic, respectful, and analytical manner regardless of any of your opinions, feelings, or preconceived notions about the topic.
Both sides of your topic must be treated with equal attention, both in terms of the number and quality of sources and in the depth and breadth of their presentation in your essay. Both sides should be addressed in the same number of paragraphs in roughly equivalent detail, and should be supported by the same number of quality sources.
You must identify and define rhetorical devices and logical fallacies on both sides of the argument. Be sure you indicate which specific rhetorical device and fallacy you have found, and there is evidence in your sources of these course concepts in practice that is cited in your paper.
You will present statements and claims for analyzing both sides of the topic. Only then should you state you own conclusion as an objective, critical thinker given the information presented.
Topic Selection: Students should select a topic they are very interested in that has academically legitimate research that supports a two-sided argument.
Essay Format: Your essay must be 5–7 pages (1600–1900 words) in length. The abstract, title page, and reference list do not count in the page or word count. The essay must have the following elements:
Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced
1-inch margins
Proper Level I and Level II APA section headings for all major sections of the essay
All other applicable APA formatting
Required Elements:
A properly formatted APA title page
A properly formatted APA abstract
Body of the paper
Introduction: Identify the issue. Provide the necessary background and/or important recent developments. Define key terms and concepts. Engage the reader and explain the broader significance of the issue.
Arguments and Counterarguments: Summarize the best arguments on both sides of the issue. Include relevant research from credible sources used to support each conclusion. Devote at least one paragraph to each side.
Evaluation of Critical Thinking: Assess the strength of the arguments and the quality of thinking surrounding this issue.
Identify weaknesses in critical thinking such as fallacies, rhetorical devices, vague language, and cognitive biases. Provide specific examples of how these weaknesses appear in arguments you encountered, using terminology and definitions from the course. Be specific! Present evidence from your sources that show these fallacies/biases being used.
Evaluate the quality of scientific and anecdotal evidence using the standards of inductive and deductive reasoning described in the course. Consider the quality of causal relationship, analogies, generalizations, and/or moral reasoning.
Conclusion: Analyze the totality of research and offer a critical thinker’s response to the issue. Identify your own position and experience with the issue and explain how your thinking of the subject has evolved as a result of your analysis. Your conclusion does not have to be absolute, but it should not be equivocal. If both sides have good arguments, which is better, even if only slightly better, and what is the argument that tips the scales in the sides’ favor? Why does that point tip the scales?
A properly formatted APA reference list
Sources should appear in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first author listed on the source.
If there is no author(s), then the source should be cited by title or organization.
Sources and Research Sources: You must use five scholarly or academic sources and all research should be published within the last five years. Sources not scholarly or academic in nature may affect your grade. It is highly recommended that most of your research be conducted via the WCU Library. Eligible sources listed best-to-worst:
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Peer review is the process that allows scientists to trust the reliability of published journal articles. The only way to tell if a journal article has been peer reviewed is to look for information about the journal, normally on the publisher's website. Most databases do not indicate if an article is peer reviewed or not.
The WCU library contains many of peer-reviewed sources. This is going to be the most desired type of evidence to use for any paper at WCU.
Scholarly research articles
Research articles (original research articles, primary research articles, or case studies) are your standard scientific articles. Most often published in peer-reviewed journals, primary research articles report on the findings of a scientist's work.
They almost always include a description of how the research was conducted and what the results mean. This is also a highly desirable type of research to use for your papers.
Government and state reports
Many government agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may have studies and statistics that may be useful for your topic. However, these sources are usually informational reports in nature, and therefore they rarely dig into the critical arguments used by the sides of a topic.
Though usually credible and reliable source, government reports should generally be used as supplemental, secondary sources to support or rebut academic sources. They should not be the main sources of your argument.
Other articles or sources
When this general term is used for an assignment, get clarification from your instructor about the source requirements. These are articles or sources that have been well researched and include a lot of citations. When you assess these resources, make sure that they are appropriate to use as evidence because they may contain bias. You should look at the sources these articles are using, determine if they are legitimate, reputable, and credible, and then make a judgment call.
These types of articles are the least desirable type of articles from the list of acceptable types to use (depending on each course’s expectations).
Review articles
Editorials, opinion, commentary, and perspectives
Trade publication articles
Technical reports
Documentaries
Interviews or TED talks
Sources that may not be used on this essay include the following:
Wikipedia and information from freelance websites (check with your professor before using these sources)
Information from general or reference sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, general information websites, or other reference works online or in print. Check with your instructor regarding textbooks from other courses or other sources if you are not sure.
Articles from publications or magazines that lack research to back up their claims
Religious texts of any kind
Obviously or highly biased sources that contain no credible or reputable support
Avoiding plagiarism: Remember that avoiding plagiarism is priority number one for credible academic writers.
It is always better to cite and attribute to a source than not to cite. If you are ever unsure, cite and attribute.
Anything that you copy word-for-word from a source must be quoted, attributed to its original source, and parenthetically cited in APA Style.
Anything that you take from a source and put into your own words must be both attributed to its original source and parenthetically cited in APA Style.
PHIL341 Critical Reasoning
Week 2 Assignment
Analysis of Personal Beliefs and Biases
Who are you? What do you believe? What cognitive biases do you have? These are big questions to answer, but necessary to consider before moving forward in your professional life.
In a one- to two-page paper, consider the people and experiences that have shaped how you see yourself, how you see life, and, most importantly, how they have shaped your biases.
List and then describe a minimum of three things you believe to be true, such as the existence of God, right vs. wrong, morality, and what it means to be a “good” person.
Explain, in detail, how you acquired these beliefs (including the other people or experiences that have influenced you most), why these beliefs are important and how these beliefs will influence how you engage with people and policies in your future career. Do not simply say something like, “I believe in doing the right thing because it is the right thing.” You must really dig deep into your psyche and analyze your own perspective of the world; make your brain hurt!
Most importantly, discuss at least two cognitive biases discussed in Chapter 1 that you might be most subject to and why. Integrate these into your three beliefs and analyze the ways in which they shape you.
There is no right or wrong answer to these questions, but your in-depth insight is important.
Your paper must be in APA Style, typed, and proofread. You do not need an abstract or outside references for this paper.
Review the rubric for specific grading criteria.
PHIL341 Critical Reasoning
Week 3 Assignment
Term Paper Outline
For this assignment, you will develop an outline for your term paper.
Use the sample outline provided to help structure your outline, which will assist you in organizing your final paper. Your final paper will include:
An introduction to the claim you are investigating
Body paragraphs which will analyze the claim
Your conclusions about the claim and its validity
Outline Template
I. Introduction
a. What claim are you investigating:___________________________________________
b. What is the counter argument to this claim?__________________________________
c. Who is making this claim? _________________________________________________
d. What other parties are interested in this claim? _______________________________
II. Information
a. What types of information has been transmitted about this claim?
i. Supporting detail 1:_______________________________________________
ii. Supporting detail 2:_______________________________________________
iii. Supporting detail 3:_______________________________________________
b. Does the claim conflict with your personal observations and background information?
III. Rhetoric and Fallacies
a. What rhetoric and fallacies are used with respect to this claim?
i. Supporting detail 1:_______________________________________________
ii. Supporting detail 2:_______________________________________________
iii. Supporting detail 3:_______________________________________________
IV. Research
a. Are there any scientific findings about this claim?
i. Supporting detail 1:_______________________________________________
ii. Supporting detail 2:_______________________________________________
iii. Supporting detail 3:_______________________________________________
b. What are the best ways to assess the probabilities of this claim?
i. Supporting detail 1:_______________________________________________
ii. Supporting detail 2:_______________________________________________
iii. Supporting detail 3:_______________________________________________
V. Conclusion
a. What are your conclusions about your claim?_________________________________
PHIL341 Critical Reasoning
Week 4 Assignment
Advertisement Analysis
Choose an advertisement, either on television, on the radio, on the internet, or in print.
Describe and analyze the advertisement by answering the following questions:
Where did you find the advertisement?
Briefly describe the scenario depicted in the advertisement.
What product is being advertised?
Who is the audience for this advertisement? How do you know this?
Identify the main claim in that advertisement.
Is the claim credible? Why or why not? Use class terminology to explain.
What might make the claim more credible? What might make it less credible?
How does the author use rhetorical strategies to sell this product to its audience?
Does the advertisement reveal any cognitive biases? Which ones and how?
Your analysis must be at least 400 words in length and follow APA formatting and citation guidelines as appropriate.
PHIL341 Critical Reasoning
Week 5 Assignment
Current Affairs Video
For this video, choose one item that addresses a current issue and makes connections to class concepts. The item may be print or video—for example, an article from the current edition of a newspaper or magazine, a segment from a news or talk show, a YouTube video, vlog, or any program that features current affairs.
Your item (up to 2 minutes) will be embedded in a PowerPoint that you will use to supplement your presentation.
You may use clips of a video, pause a video as necessary to identify concepts, or use a clip for a full 2 minutes. However, you cannot use over two minutes of video in your own presentation.
Items cannot be more than 90 days old.
Clips and articles can be embedded in a PowerPoint that you will use to supplement your presentation or you can share your screen and show these separately during your presentation.
Remember, your PowerPoint is there to guide you during your presentation. Do not overload this with text.
Submit a 4-5 minute video in which you:
Use any software you are comfortable with, including Panopto, in order to record yourself speaking and presenting a PowerPoint at the same time. You and your PowerPoint must be visible during the entirety of the presentation. This cannot just be a recording of your face presenting and it cannot just be a voice over with your PowerPoint – Video and screen option should be selected on any media you use.
Clearly identify the argument. Present the premises and conclusion in your chosen article or video clip and explain their importance. Did the speakers/writers use deductive or inductive reasoning?
In your article or video clip, identify three of the following: vague/ambiguous language; credibility; cognitive bias; rhetoric; logical fallacies; generalizations; arguments from analogy; cause and effect reasoning; and value judgments about morality, law, or aesthetics.
Explain why you think the argument fits this concept. Also, identify if this was purposeful and why, and how this affects the strength of the argument.
Provide a conclusion to your video. Was the argument convincing? What is your position? (30 seconds max)
Length: 5 minutes maximum
You will be graded on:
Your ability to identify arguments made about relevant issues in our world today
How well you identify class concepts. Accuracy and a clear explanation are required
Your use of terminology from the textbook/class lectures
Your ability to showcase your critical thinking skills
Your ability to use Panopto, Screen cast-o-matic or any other media to complete your presentation
Your presentation skills and delivery
PHIL341 Critical Reasoning
Week 7 Assignment
Term Paper
The goal of this paper is to construct a fair-minded, unbiased, analytical analysis of a topic in a comprehensive essay.
This is not an opinion piece or a persuasive essay that simply aims to prove or reinforce what you already believe. This would be confirmation bias, and bias must be avoided in this project.
This project needs to avoid harsh rhetoric or language that is harmful and hurtful in nature. The point is to be objective and unemotional in your approach.
This essay should be written in a fair, academic, respectful, and analytical manner regardless of any of your opinions, feelings, or preconceived notions about the topic.
Both sides of your topic must be treated with equal attention, both in terms of the number and quality of sources and in the depth and breadth of their presentation in your essay. Both sides should be addressed in the same number of paragraphs in roughly equivalent detail, and should be supported by the same number of quality sources.
You must identify and define rhetorical devices and logical fallacies on both sides of the argument. Be sure you indicate which specific rhetorical device and fallacy you have found, and there is evidence in your sources of these course concepts in practice that is cited in your paper.
You will present statements and claims for analyzing both sides of the topic. Only then should you state you own conclusion as an objective, critical thinker given the information presented.
Essay Format: Your essay must be 5–7 pages (1600–1900 words) in length. The abstract, title page, and reference list do not count in the page or word count. The essay must have the following elements:
Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced
1-inch margins
Proper Level I and Level II APA section headings for all major sections of the essay
All other applicable APA formatting
Required Elements:
A properly formatted APA title page
A properly formatted APA abstract
Body of the paper
Introduction: Identify the issue. Provide the necessary background and/or important recent developments. Define key terms and concepts. Engage the reader and explain the broader significance of the issue.
Arguments and Counterarguments: Summarize the best arguments on both sides of the issue. Include relevant research from credible sources used to support each conclusion. Devote at least one paragraph to each side.
Evaluation of Critical Thinking: Assess the strength of the arguments and the quality of thinking surrounding this issue.
Identify weaknesses in critical thinking such as fallacies, rhetorical devices, vague language, and cognitive biases. Provide specific examples of how these weaknesses appear in arguments you encountered, using terminology and definitions from the course. Be specific! Present evidence from your sources that show these fallacies/biases being used.
Evaluate the quality of scientific and anecdotal evidence using the standards of inductive and deductive reasoning described in the course. Consider the quality of causal relationship, analogies, generalizations, and/or moral reasoning.
Conclusion: Analyze the totality of research and offer a critical thinker’s response to the issue. Identify your own position and experience with the issue and explain how your thinking of the subject has evolved as a result of your analysis. Your conclusion does not have to be absolute, but it should not be equivocal. If both sides have good arguments, which is better, even if only slightly better, and what is the argument that tips the scales in the sides’ favor? Why does that point tip the scales?
A properly formatted APA reference list
Sources should appear in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first author listed on the source.
If there is no author(s), then the source should be cited by title or organization.
Sources and Research Sources: You must use five scholarly or academic sources and all research should be published within the last five years. Sources not scholarly or academic in nature may affect your grade. It is highly recommended that most of your research be conducted via the WCU Library. Eligible sources listed best-to-worst:
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Peer review is the process that allows scientists to trust the reliability of published journal articles. The only way to tell if a journal article has been peer reviewed is to look for information about the journal, normally on the publisher's website. Most databases do not indicate if an article is peer reviewed or not.
The WCU library contains many of peer-reviewed sources. This is going to be the most desired type of evidence to use for any paper at WCU.
Scholarly research articles
Research articles (original research articles, primary research articles, or case studies) are your standard scientific articles. Most often published in peer-reviewed journals, primary research articles report on the findings of a scientist's work.
They almost always include a description of how the research was conducted and what the results mean. This is also a highly desirable type of research to use for your papers.
Government and state reports
Many government agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may have studies and statistics that may be useful for your topic. However, these sources are usually informational reports in nature, and therefore they rarely dig into the critical arguments used by the sides of a topic.
Though usually credible and reliable source, government reports should generally be used as supplemental, secondary sources to support or rebut academic sources. They should not be the main sources of your argument.
Other articles or sources
When this general term is used for an assignment, get clarification from your instructor about the source requirements. These are articles or sources that have been well researched and include a lot of citations. When you assess these resources, make sure that they are appropriate to use as evidence because they may contain bias. You should look at the sources these articles are using, determine if they are legitimate, reputable, and credible, and then make a judgment call.
These types of articles are the least desirable type of articles from the list of acceptable types to use (depending on each course’s expectations).
Review articles
Editorials, opinion, commentary, and perspectives
Trade publication articles
Technical reports
Documentaries
Interviews or TED talks
Sources that may not be used on this essay include the following:
Wikipedia and information from freelance websites (check with your professor before using these sources)
Information from general or reference sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, general information websites, or other reference works online or in print. Check with your instructor regarding textbooks from other courses or other sources if you are not sure.
Articles from publications or magazines that lack research to back up their claims
Religious texts of any kind
Obviously or highly biased sources that contain no credible or reputable support
Avoiding plagiarism: Remember that avoiding plagiarism is priority number one for credible academic writers.
It is always better to cite and attribute to a source than not to cite. If you are ever unsure, cite and attribute.
Anything that you copy word-for-word from a source must be quoted, attributed to its original source, and parenthetically cited in APA Style.
Anything that you take from a source and put into your own words must be both attributed to its original source and parenthetically cited in APA Style.
