Current Event / Self-Chosen Topic

Essay 3: Current Event / Self-Chosen Topic

4 Sources / 1,800 word minimum                  

You must choose your own topic for this writing assignment.

What are you seeing, feeling, and thinking about right now? What are you seeking to understand?

Begin by using the eight Elements of critical thinking to generate ideas about your topic, and then pick one of those ideas and write about it without stopping for about 15 minutes or so. Then at least you know what you think about the issue. You could do this on several ideas on your list. You should come back to your writing and examine it using the Standards of critical thinking, but not until after you have done some research.

Read several articles on your chosen topic, more than you will eventually use. Consider your sources. A lack of peer reviewed sources will show an intellectual laziness that will result in a lower grade than a variety of research sources that shows the courage, autonomy, integrity, and perseverance that this course requires. Demonstrate a variety of information gathering techniques (databases, journals, interviews, newspapers…), but your analysis of the content of these sources is ultimately what is being assessed. Have something to say about the quotes you use. There is a 25% borrowed material maximum.

I expect you to apply your own good mind to the question at issue. Answer your questions. There should be a deep and broad analysis of the research, not merely a summarization. The issue should be significant, your analysis clear, accurate, and logical.

Your thesis should be an insightful answer to a specific question at issue, not a statement that is broad, vague, or obvious. Your support should be relevant and specific, well introduced, cited and interpreted, from at least three different disciplines or perspectives. Use sound reasoning in developing your thesis, and demonstrate critical thinking by addressing the elements and the standards of critical thinking to understand the research and to articulate your interpretations of it. Anticipate questions and objections to your argument as part of a concession and refutation.

Reflect upon and articulate your own beliefs and assumptions in seeking to understand what you took for granted when you first started thinking about this topic, and consider the consequences of this reflection. Think about your thinking. I encourage you to not settle on the first idea that comes to mind. Get beyond the easy or surface implications and use the tools of metacognition to push your thinking to where it gets interesting. Your first response may be adequate (a C), but is not often insightful (an A). Examine the values, beliefs, and habits which are a part of this topic and make connections to the nature and quality of life. Engage your imagination. Be energetic, innovative, and sophisticated. Tell me something I don’t know or haven’t thought of before.

This paper must be written in MLA format, 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, with proper citation of quotes and paraphrases, and a work cited page. Document your sources appropriately. A sample paper appears in the MLA section of Rules for Writers.

Refer to the CRTW Essay Rubric for grading guidelines: An A paper is superior work that far exceeds the requirements of the assignment: All elements can be judged against the standards very favorably. The argument reaches sufficient interpretations with implications and consequences that are deep and diverse. A failing grade is received when an argument is underdeveloped, when mechanical errors interfere with readability, when the submission does not meet minimum word count, or exceeds the borrowed material maximum.

Failure to submit this assignment as required will result in an F for this