Critical thinking

PHL 111 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a critical essay.

Being able to access and apply the proper critical thinking and reasoning skills is key to being successful in school, your career, and many aspects of your personal life. By studying the basic elements involved in determining the validity of arguments, composing coherent arguments, and understanding how personal biases, assumptions, and values influence thinking, you will become more confident in processing the information you are presented with on a daily basis. Critical thinking is, therefore, an essential component of the educational experience for every student and in all academic disciplines. In your final project, you will apply the skills of critical thinking to the examination of an argument you have chosen from the list of potential artifacts provided. You will examine the argument’s logic, reasoning, bias, and credibility, and then apply the same critical thinking skills to developing your own alternative argument. You will also reflect on how you can apply this process to other areas and situations in your life.

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 Assess established arguments for their bases in logic, reasoning, and fact

 Explain how subjective influences can impact the credibility of arguments

 Construct basic arguments utilizing logic, reasoning skills, and appropriate supporting evidence

 Apply critical thinking skills to real-world situations for informing decision making

Prompt In Module One, you will select a real-world topic from a provided list to focus your critical essay on. A list of topics is provided in the Final Project Topics and Resources section of the course.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your critical essay:

I. Introduction: To begin your essay, you will formally introduce your chosen real-world topic. As the foundation of your paper, your introduction should engage the audience and establish any necessary background.

A. Provide a brief overview of the topic. For example, you might consider the premise of the conversation and why the topic is being discussed. B. Describe any personal connection you have to the topic. Why is the topic of particular interest to you?

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II. Presented Argument: In this section, you will explore the argument in your chosen artifact. You will uncover the logical structure of the argument and

investigate any bias behind its claims. A. Describe the argument made by the artifact. B. Identify key facts, research, or resources the argument is based on. Provide specific examples to support your identification. C. Describe the logic and reasoning used to advance the argument and any gaps or weaknesses present. Consider the premises and conclusion

advanced in the artifact, and the questions that are left unanswered. D. Explain how the argument contains or avoids bias. Provide specific examples to support your explanation. E. Discuss the credibility of the overall argument. For example, were the resources the argument was built on credible? Does this credibility

support or undermine the artifact’s claims in any important ways?

III. Counterargument: In this section, you will craft a counterargument to counter the one that was initially presented. You will support this position with the critical thinking skills you’ve learned throughout the course. Note: Your counterargument is not a reflection of your personal opinion in this matter.

A. Construct an alternative argument to the artifact. Support your response using the provided resources or additional research. B. Explain the logic and reasoning as you craft the argument. For example, you might consider assumptions and resources. C. Identify any weaknesses in the argument that would require additional research or support. D. Explain how your previously identified personal experience with the topic may create emotional influences, values, or other bias.

IV. Application: In this section, you will reflect back on the process of critical thinking as it relates to this assignment and make connections to its future

application in your everyday life. A. Describe the process of critical thinking as you applied it to this assignment. For example, what questions did you ask yourself when analyzing

the initial argument? How did you answer these questions? What steps did you take in assessing the strength of the argument? B. Explain how you will apply this process in your everyday life. Provide specific examples to support your explanation.

Milestones Milestone One: Milestone One Worksheet In Module Three, you will submit a worksheet that helps you organize and draft the Introduction section and Parts A, B, and C of the Presented Argument section of your final project. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Milestone Two Worksheet In Module Five, you will submit a worksheet that helps you organize and draft Parts D and E of the Presented Argument section and the entire Counterargument section of your final project. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

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Final Submission: Critical Essay In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course, and should include the critical elements from all of the sections above, including the Application section. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your critical essay should be 6 to 8 pages in length with double spacing and 12-point Times New Roman font. Adhere to APA guidelines.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction: Overview

Meets “Proficient” criteria and overview expertly balances brevity with necessary detail

Provides a brief overview of the topic

Provides an overview of the topic but overview is too verbose or contains inaccuracies

Does not provide an overview of the topic

6

Introduction: Personal Connection

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description makes cogent connections between personal life and the topic

Describes personal connection to this topic

Describes personal connection to this topic but description is cursory or unrelated to the topic

Does not describe any personal connection to this topic

6

Presented Argument: Argument

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Describes the argument made by the artifact

Describes the argument made but description is cursory, contains inaccuracies, or is incomplete

Does not describe the argument made by the artifact

8

Presented Argument: Key Facts, Research,

or Resources

Meets “Proficient” criteria and identification cites specific, relevant examples to establish a robust context

Identifies key facts, research, or resources the argument is based on and provides specific examples to support identification

Identifies key facts, research, or resources but does not provide specific examples or examples provided are illogical

Does not identify key facts, research, or resources

8

Presented Argument: Logic and Reasoning

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Describes the logic and reasoning used to advance the argument and any gaps or weaknesses present

Describes the logic and reasoning used to advance the argument and any gaps or weaknesses present but description is cursory, illogical, or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe the logic and reasoning used to advance the argument

8

4

Presented Argument: Bias

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates insightful awareness of the influence of bias on the argument

Explains how the argument contains or avoids bias and provides specific examples to support explanation

Explains how the argument contains or avoids bias but explanation is illogical or contains inaccuracies or does not provide specific examples

Does not explain how the argument contains or avoids bias

8

Presented Argument: Credibility

Meets “Proficient” criteria and discussion demonstrates keen insight into the factors that impact credibility

Discusses the credibility of the overall argument

Discusses the credibility of the overall argument but discussion is cursory, illogical, or contains inaccuracies

Does not discuss the credibility of the overall argument

8

Counterargument: Alternative Argument

Meets “Proficient” criteria and argument is exceptionally clear, contextualized, and supported

Constructs an alternative argument to the artifact, supported by the provided resources or additional research

Constructs an alternative argument to the artifact but does not provide specific support or support provided is cursory, illogical, or inaccurate

Does not construct an alternative argument to the artifact

8

Counterargument: Logic and Reasoning

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the intricacies of logic and reasoning

Explains logic and reasoning used to craft the argument

Explains logic and reasoning used to craft the argument but explanation is cursory, illogical, or contains inaccuracies

Does not explain logic and reasoning used to craft the argument

8

Counterargument: Weaknesses

Meets “Proficient” criteria and identification demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the relationship between the strength of an argument and its supporting information

Identifies any weaknesses within the argument that require additional research or support

Identifies any weaknesses within the argument but identification is cursory, illogical, or contains inaccuracies

Does not identify any weaknesses within the argument

8

Counterargument: Bias

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the impact of bias on an argument

Explains how previously identified personal experience with the topic may create emotional influences, values, or other bias

Explains how previously identified personal experience with the topic may create emotional influences, values, or other bias, but explanation is cursory or illogical

Does not explain how previously identified personal experience with the topic may create emotional influences, values, or other bias

8

Application: Critical Thinking

Meets “Proficient” criteria and descriptions is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Describes the process of critical thinking applied to this assignment

Describes the process of critical thinking but description is cursory, illogical, or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe the process of critical thinking

6

5

Application: Everyday Life

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates an astute ability to connect the process to future application

Explains how the process will be applied in everyday life, supporting response with specific examples

Explains how the process will be applied in everyday life but does not provide specific examples or examples provided are illogical

Does not explain how the process will be applied in everyday life

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Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

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Total 100%