Your task for Part 1 of the Capstone Project is to select a topic and justify your choice in the Discussion Forum by discussing the main problem or issue. This topic will be the main subject of your essay, the culmination of the Capstone Project.

It’s important to choose a topic about which you feel strongly and that is personally relevant.  You will be provided with a list of 3 controversial topics for you to choose from – all three from contemporary debates with pro- and con- arguments for both sides. For this assignment, you will review the resources for all three topics carefully before deciding on which topic you would like to work on for your capstone project essay. Please note: once you selected and committed to a topic, you will not be able to change it later, so choose wisely!

Overview of the Capstone Project

For this capstone project, you will demonstrate the following learning objectives:

· Use critical thinking skills to assess information, solve problems, and make decisions

· Identify, reconstruct and appraise different argument types that appear in print/non-print media

· Evaluate inductive and deductive inferences using the concepts of validity, soundness, reliability, strength and cogency

· Construct and evaluate oral and written arguments emphasizing clarity and reason.

· Research: Locate, synthesize, and evaluate narrative and numerical information in print, electronic, and live formats.

Overview

In the capstone project for this course, you will be asked to demonstrate your understanding and application of key critical thinking concepts from this course.  You will have some choices to make, including the topic that you will work on and the medium that you will be submitting your work. More on that later. The capstone project will have four parts:

· Part 1 – selection of topic;  

· Part 2 – outline of the project;

· Part 3 – draft of the project and peer feedback;  

· Capstone Project Submission – The completed, edited and polished version of your capstone project.

Be sure to review the Grading Rubric carefully as you work through the project and please contact the professor with any questions.

PHIL110 3WK

Part 1 of the Capstone Project
Your task for Part 1 of the Capstone Project is to select a topic and justify your choice in the Discussion
Forum by discussing the main problem or issue. This topic will be the main subject of your essay, the
culmination of the Capstone Project.

It’s important to choose a topic about which you feel strongly and that is personally relevant. Below you
will find a list of three controversial topics to choose from. All three topics are contemporary and
include both pro and con arguments. Please review the resources for all three topics carefully before
deciding on your Capstone Essay topic. Please note: once you select and commit to a topic, you will be
unable to change it later, so choose wisely!

1. Choose one of the following topics:

Topic 1 — Gun Violence

Topic 2 — Illegal Immigration

Topic 3 — #MeToo movement: resource 1, resource 2

2. After you’ve read through the resources and have chosen your topic, write 2-3 paragraphs in
which you justify the reasons for choosing that topic, answering the following questions:

• Why did you select it?
• Can you clarify or re-state the main points as you initially understand them? In other words,

what is the issue at stake or problem?
• What are some of the components of that issue or problem? Try reconstructing a simple

argument or two that you identified from the reading.

Post your 2-3 paragraphs to the designated Discussion Forum. Then, read and respond to at
least two of your classmates’ posts, following the instructions below.

Instructions for Peer Feedback
When writing responses to your peers:

• Find similarities and differences between their observations and your own;
• Compare your position to theirs on your selected topic; and
• Pose at least one critical question that might deepen their (and your own) thinking about this

issue

https://gun-control.procon.org/

https://immigration.procon.org/

https://www.nytimes.com/series/metoo-moment

https://metoomvmt.org/resources

Part 1 of the Capstone Project
Instructions for Peer Feedback

PHIL110 3WK

Part 1 of the Capstone Project
Your task for Part 1 of the Capstone Project is to select a topic and justify your choice in the Discussion
Forum by discussing the main problem or issue. This topic will be the main subject of your essay, the
culmination of the Capstone Project.

It’s important to choose a topic about which you feel strongly and that is personally relevant. Below you
will find a list of three controversial topics to choose from. All three topics are contemporary and
include both pro and con arguments. Please review the resources for all three topics carefully before
deciding on your Capstone Essay topic. Please note: once you select and commit to a topic, you will be
unable to change it later, so choose wisely!

1. Choose one of the following topics:

Topic 1 — Gun Violence

Topic 2 — Illegal Immigration

Topic 3 — #MeToo movement: resource 1, resource 2

2. After you’ve read through the resources and have chosen your topic, write 2-3 paragraphs in
which you justify the reasons for choosing that topic, answering the following questions:

• Why did you select it?
• Can you clarify or re-state the main points as you initially understand them? In other words,

what is the issue at stake or problem?
• What are some of the components of that issue or problem? Try reconstructing a simple

argument or two that you identified from the reading.

Post your 2-3 paragraphs to the designated Discussion Forum. Then, read and respond to at
least two of your classmates’ posts, following the instructions below.

Instructions for Peer Feedback
When writing responses to your peers:

• Find similarities and differences between their observations and your own;
• Compare your position to theirs on your selected topic; and
• Pose at least one critical question that might deepen their (and your own) thinking about this

issue

https://gun-control.procon.org/

https://immigration.procon.org/

https://www.nytimes.com/series/metoo-moment

https://metoomvmt.org/resources

Part 1 of the Capstone Project
Instructions for Peer Feedback