Critical Thinking in the Real World, T2, 2022 Written Assignment Due date: Monday 18 April (submissions after 11:59pm will be classed as late) Submission: Submit an electronic copy of your assignment to the submission folder named ‘Written Assignment’ found on eLearn in the Assignment section. Length: 1000-1200 words (essays exceeding the word count will be penalized) Format: Include a title page at the END of your document listing your full name and a word count. Do not include your name, or other identifying information, within the body of your essay or document title as I want to assess your essay without knowing your identity. It is permissible (but not expected) for you to use tables, argument diagrams, or other figures in your essay. Weighting: 20% of final grade Task: Write an evaluative essay that discusses and applies critical thinking to problems and events in your own life. Your essay MUST discuss both critical thinking skills (i.e., the techniques for evaluating and assessing arguments, covered in weeks 1-10) and critical thinking habits of mind (i.e., intellectual virtues and vices, covered in session 11) . You might do this by applying both skills and habits of mind to a single example (e.g., identifying and analysing a reasoning mistake and then arguing that it occurred because of certain intellectual vices) or by using separate examples to explore each. The problems you discuss might come from your university studies, future career, or personal life. They may involve things that have recently happened in your life or things that you anticipate happening to you in the future. When presenting your examples, don’t speak in vague generalities, be specific and give concrete details. For each example you use, explain in detail how you think critical thinking can be helpful. There is no recommended number of examples for this exercise. One complicated example requiring detailed analysis and discussion could suffice. Several less complicated examples could also work well. The best evaluative essays will typically involve examples that are realistic and compelling, and will correctly apply critical thinking concepts and methods to them in ways that are illuminating.
