This is for a college level Philosophy class in Critical Thinking.
The value of truth in a democratic society.
The final paper is an opportunity for you to reflect on and synthesize what you have learned this semester. Throughout this course you have learned about basic principles of logic and argumentation, philosophical theories of truth and how it is established, and obstacles to critical thinking such as various kinds of biases and errors in reasoning. Despite all the different views held by people in a nation as diverse as the United States, we all have common needs. We all need healthy food, clean air and water, access to healthcare and education, good jobs, safe communities and homes, and opportunities to enjoy culture and the fruits of life.
Somehow we must be able to live together despite our different values and beliefs. Living together in a democratic society requires us to collectively discuss the issues we face and how to deal with them. This means that we need to come to a common understanding of the world we share and the goals we should pursue.
For this paper, write at least five full pages discussing what critical thinking skills and concepts you think are the most important for living together in a democratic society.
Specifically your paper should do the following:
Identify several (7-10) critical thinking skills and concepts that you’ve learned in this course that are necessary to apply when engaging in civic life, and discuss why you think they are important.
Provide examples of how these concepts and skills can be applied to a specific issue facing society.
Discuss the most significant takeaways from what you have learned this semester about the value of truth in a democratic society.
Tips:
As with all papers, it is important that your discussion is organized around a central claim, or thesis statement. It is good practice to state the thesis at the end of the first paragraph.
Be sure that your paper has a clear introduction that describes what will be covered in the paper, as well as a conclusion that brings your discussion to a satisfying close.
Use transitions between paragraphs that connect the topic just discussed with the next topic you are about to address. This creates a nice organizational flow.
It is expected that you will connect your reflections to specific ideas as they appear in the course modules. Including direct quotations is appropriate. However, avoid quoting overly long passages.
To cite passages, you may simply write the module page where the concept/term you are referencing is discussed in parentheses.
No work cited in necessary if you only reference assigned readings. If you quote readings not assigned in the course, please provide appropriate citation.
To avoid plagiarism, NEVER cut and paste or paraphrase another source without citing it. If you borrow phrases or ideas from another author, YOU MUST cite that author. It is perfectly fine to use ideas someone else has written. Just be sure to give them credit for their contribution to your paper. Failing to do so is plagiarism. Students found guilty of plagiarism will receive a “0” on the final paper.
Your paper must be at least five full pages .
The following rubric will be used to evaluate your paper:
Quality of writing
Organization of argument
Completion of assignment
Depth of philosophical insight
Engagement with course material
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