Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapter 1, 2, 3
• Lesson

Introduction
The journal is an essential assignment that is meant to sum up the conclusions you come to after having reflected on the readings in the text, the online lecture, discussion posts, including your own and those of your peers, and any outside material you consult. You will probably find that you do as much or more thinking than you do writing in responding to the journal prompts – and that is perfectly okay. In general, the weekly journal should meet the noted length requirement – not including the space needed for the prompts.

You may feel the need to write out longer reflections – and that is also okay. If you do feel the need for longer reflections, then, once you have written them out, try to edit them, reducing them to their essence.

Part of this course is process – training ourselves to think critically. Part of it is learning to understand how we think and why we think or believe what we think or believe. While the journal prompts will occasionally address the process, it will more often ask you to reflect on the hows and whys of what you know and believe – or what you think you know and believe.

Instructions
For this journal assignment, briefly answer each of the following prompts:

• Critical Thinking

  After reading the required resources for this week and participating in the discussion, how do you define critical thinking? You will want to carry this definition with you, so keep it brief – perhaps 4 to 6 lines. You will find many definitions online – don’t be tempted to just quickly copy one; try to form your own so that it is meaningful to you.

• Heart of the Matter

  Considering just what is in this weeks’ readings, why do you think the authors (looking forward in the text) see Chapters 12, 13, and 14 as the “heart of the matter”?
  What do you think they mean by that?
  What two concepts do the authors say these chapters emphasize?
  How do you define these concepts?
  Why do you think the authors find these concepts important to critical thinking?

• Challenges & Insights

  What do you see as your greatest challenge for this session in general? For this class in particular?
  How do you think you can use the concepts in these first three chapters to help you meet these challenges as well as challenges in your personal life as a member of your family and your community?

If you include references to outside sources (beyond the textbook), make sure you cite them properly.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

• Length: 2-3 pages (not including title page or references page)
• 1-inch margins
• Double spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• Title page
• References page

(as needed)

 
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 1, 2, 3
Lesson

Introduction
Over the eight weeks of the course, you will work on a paper that addresses a current controversial issue. This paper is to be in the form of an argument. You will select a topic, choose an issue related to that topic, thoroughly research both sides of the issue, and then write a paper that supports one side or the other of the issue. Your paper must define the issue, present evidence on both sides of the issue, and then argue that one side is stronger and more persuasive than the other. Your paper must address at least three relevant aspects of the issue. More specific directions for each part of the paper will be found within the specific assignment in the weekly modules.

Here is a brief breakdown of the project so that you can plan your time in the course:

Week

Task

Week 1

Topic Selection

Week 3

Issue Review (both sides)

Week 5

Thesis & Annotated Bibliography (both sides)

Week 7

Argumentative Paper

Instructions
This week, you will choose one of the following topics for your project:

• Immigration
• Gene therapy
• Single-payer health care
• Free college for everyone
• Cancel student-loan indebtedness
• Capital punishment
• Universal basic income
• Artificial intelligence
• Care of the aging
• Legalization of prostitution
• Euthanasia

If you want to propose a different topic, you must have the consent of your instructor. When you choose a topic, think of specific issues under that topic that you will explore. Click on the following link for an example:

Link: Immigration Topic Example

For the assignment this week, address the following:

• State the topic chosen from the list or topic approved by instructor.
• State the specific issue you will explore.

  This must be stated either as a question (“Should prostitution be legalized?”) or a whether-or-not statement (“Whether prostitution should be legalized”).

• For the stated issue, state three (3) aspects of the issue that you think you will likely develop in your paper. Briefly state why you have chosen each aspect.

  You are not confined to three aspects only, but you must develop at least three. As you develop your paper, you may find other aspects that you deem more relevant, and may add or substitute those.

  Example: For the topic of prostitution, you might examine the aspect of personal autonomy, public health aspects, and law enforcement aspects, at a minimum.
  Example: For the topic of free healthcare for undocumented persons, you might address economic aspects, ethical aspects, and public health aspects, at a minimum. 

Writing Requirements (APA format)

• Length: 1-1.5 pages (not including title page or references page)

1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page