Critical Reasoning Week 2 Assignment

Week 2 Assignment: Journal

Due Monday by 1:59am Points 35 Submitting a file upload

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

Instructions Remember – these journal questions require more thinking than writing. Think about exactly what you are asked to do, and then write as economically as possible.

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

Textbook: Chapter 4, 5 Lesson

Important Idea

Critical Thinking

Beliefs

Considering only the Introduction to Chapter 5, in terms of developing critical thinking and reasoning, what do you consider is the most valuable and important idea in that section? You can either summarize or directly quote the text; then, briefly explain why you find this idea important and valuable.

In Chapter 5, the section “Making Arguments” states: “In some ways applying our core critical thinking skills to analysis can be more difficult than offering an evaluative opinion. Analysis, like interpretation, is understanding at a deep level (p. 89)”

What concepts discussed in Chapter 4 might make analysis of a statement difficult – and why?

Why do you believe what you believe? What is your “evidence”? Test one of your beliefs by asking yourself, “Why?” As you answer each “why,” go down

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Link: Example of Layers of Why

 

Suppose your claim is “All people should work to support their children.” Here is an example of possible “layers of why” for this claim:

 

Note

Don’t be tempted to skip steps. If you start with layer 5, you have just opened up a whole new line of “whys.” For example, why should everyone be afforded an opportunity to reach his or her highest potential? After all, for most of the history of the world, that has not been the case.

another layer – four layers will probably give you a good idea of why you believe what you believe. Your product should show a well-reasoned and logical basis for your belief. Stay away from the big stuff, like believing in God, or who to vote for in the next election, and don’t look for sources – this is about what you believe and why you believe it. After all, this is only an 8-week course, and we can’t settle everything! Click on the following link for an example of layers of why:

Layer 1: People should work to support their children because it is the right thing to do. Layer 2: It is the right thing to do because it is true that children need to be cared for by adults. Layer 3: I believe my last statement is true because it is an accurate description of what occurs – that is, very small children sicken and die if adults do not care for their needs; older children may exhibit many physical and emotional deficiencies if they are not properly cared for. Layer 4: Reasonable attention to the needs of children is just since children are largely dependent on their parents (who, after all, brought them into the world) for all of their needs during the early years of their lives. Furthermore, such attention leads to a healthy, productive and ordered society in which each individual has an opportunity to achieve his or her highest potential.

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Journal Grading Rubric – 35 pts

Criteria Ratings Pts

5.0 pts

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

Writing Requirements (APA format)

Grading This activity will be graded using the Journal Grading Rubric.

Course Outcomes (CO): 1, 4, 6

Due Date: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday

Length: 2 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)

Length 5.0 pts Meets length requirement

0.0 pts Does not meet length requirement

Content Reflection

15.0 pts Reflection demonstrates a high degree of critical thinking in applying, analyzing, and evaluating key course concepts and theories from

12.75 pts Reflection demonstrates some degree of critical thinking in applying, analyzing, and/or evaluating key course concepts and theories from

11.25 pts Reflection demonstrates limited critical thinking in applying, analyzing, and/or evaluating key course concepts and theories from

9.0 pts Reflection lacks critical thinking. Superficial connections are made with key course concepts and course materials, activities,

0.0 pts Little or no reflection; copies or repeats text or lecture.

Top

!

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15.0 pts

10.0 pts

readings, lectures, media, discussions activities, and/or assignments. Insightful and relevant connections made through contextual explanations, inferences, and examples.

readings, lectures, media, discussions activities, and/or assignments. Connections made through explanations, inferences, and/or examples.

readings, lectures, media, discussions, activities, and/or assignments. Minimal connections made through explanations, inferences, and/or examples.

and/or assignments.

Personal Growth

10.0 pts Conveys strong evidence of reflection on own work with a personal response to the self- assessment questions posed. Demonstrates significant personal growth and awareness of deeper meaning through inferences made, examples,

8.5 pts Conveys evidence of reflection on own work with a personal response to the self- assessment questions posed. Demonstrates satisfactory personal growth and awareness through some inferences made, examples, insights, and challenges. Some

7.5 pts Conveys limited evidence of reflection on own work in response to the self- assessment questions posed. Demonstrates less than adequate personal growth and awareness through few or simplistic inferences made, examples, insights, and/or

6.0 pts Conveys inadequate evidence of reflection on own work in response to the self- assessment questions posed. Personal growth and awareness are not evident and/or demonstrates a neutral experience with negligible personal impact.

0.0 pts No evidence of reflection.

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Total Points: 35.0

5.0 pts

well developed insights, and substantial depth in perceptions and challenges. Synthesizes current experience into future implications.

thought of the future implications of current experience.

challenges that are not well developed. Minimal thought of the future implications of current experience.

Lacks enough inferences, examples, personal insights and challenges, and/or future implications are overlooked.

Writing Quality

5.0 pts Well written and clearly organized using standard English, characterized by elements of a strong writing style and basically free from grammar, punctuation, usage, and spelling errors.

4.25 pts Above average writing style and logically organized using standard English with minor errors in grammar, punctuation, usage, and spelling.

3.75 pts Average and/or casual writing style that is sometimes unclear and/or with some errors in grammar, punctuation, usage, and spelling.

3.0 pts Poor writing style lacking in standard English, clarity, language used, and/or frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, usage, and spelling. Needs work.

0.0 pts Lacks coherence; errors in grammar, usage and spelling interfere with readability and understanding to significant degree.

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