Assignment 2: Critical Thinking Paper

Your paper should present a reasoned, convincing

argument for a position on a selected topic.

Write a four (4) page paper in which you:
1. Follow the five (5) steps of persuasion: establishing

credibility, acknowledging the audience’s position,

constructing a rationale, transplanting root elements,

and asking for a response.
2. Clearly define your position and supporting

evidence.
3. Include all the necessary “evidence” for the reader

to reach the expected conclusion in each argument in

the paper (whether the overriding argument or one

contained in an individual paragraph)
4. Ensure that each argument in the paper (whether

the overriding argument or one contained in an

individual paragraph) is valid and free from both formal

and informal fallacies.
5. Include at least four (4) references (sources). At

least one (1) of your sources must be obtained from the

collection of databases accessible from the Learning

Resources Center Web page.

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and

effectively organized writing:
• The paper is well-organized, and every explanation

is both complete and easy to understand.
• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding

paragraph for the paper.
• Main ideas should be addressed in body

paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting

sentences.
• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar,

punctuation, and mechanics.
• The paper should be checked for spelling and

grammatical errors.

Your assignment must:
• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman

font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides;

citations and references must follow APA or school-

specific format. Check with your professor for any

additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the

assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name,

the course title, and the date. The cover page and the

reference page are not included in the required

assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with

this assignment are:
• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical

thinking.
• Use technology and information resources to

research issues in critical thinking skills and informal

logic.
• Write clearly and concisely about issues in critical

thinking using proper writing mechanics.