Critical thinking

PHL 111 Module One Journal Guidelines and Rubric Overview: For your final project in this course, you will write a critical essay in which you use critical thinking skills to examine an argument presented in an article that you select from a choice of three options. This journal assignment is an opportunity for you to review the requirements of the critical essay, select the topic that you will focus on, answer some reflection questions about the project, and have the chance to ask your instructor any questions you have about this assignment. First, you will choose the topic and associated primary article that you will focus on for your critical essay. After you have done this, you will answer the questions below to open up some dialogue between you and your instructor about the topic and article. This exercise will start you on the path toward crafting your critical essay. It particularly will serve to introduce you to the specifics of the critical essay and help you work one-on-one with your instructor regarding any concerns or questions you have about this assignment. Prompt: Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your journal assignment:

 Introduce your chosen topic and provide a brief summary of it and the primary article associated with that topic. Which topic do you plan to focus on? Describe your chosen topic for your instructor and include any background relevant to your topic, as well as a brief summary of the primary article associated with that topic.

 Describe any personal connection you have to the topic. Why is the topic of particular interest to you?

 Discuss your initial thoughts about your topic and the critical essay. What are your initial thoughts about your chosen topic? What scares you about the critical essay after reviewing the guidelines and rubric? Share these concerns with your instructor so that you can receive personal clarity and direction.

Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Submit assignment as a Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Your journal assignment should be 2 to 3 paragraphs in length.

Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction: Summary

Introduces the chosen topic and provides a brief summary of it and the primary article associated with that topic

Introduces the chosen topic and provides a brief summary of it and the primary article associated with that topic but summary is too verbose or contains inaccuracies

Does not introduce chosen topic or provide a summary of it

30

Introduction: Personal

Connection

Describes personal connection to the chosen topic

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

Does not describe personal connection to the chosen topic

30

Initial Thoughts Discusses initial thoughts about the chosen

topic and the critical essay assignment Discusses initial thoughts about the chosen topic and the critical essay assignment but discussion lacks detail

Does not discuss initial thoughts about the chosen topic and the critical essay assignment

30

Articulation of Response

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

10

Total 100%