Module 1/Week 1 Lecture

I. Thinking Critically About One Issue in Education… and Taking a Position

Now that you’ve discussed the benefits of Critical Thinking in general (to help you consider all sides of an argument to better support your own position on a topic), let’s get started on developing your thesis (claim) and reasons (support) for Essay #1, on the larger issue of “College Education.”

First, carefully read and review the essays in “Casebook 1” in your Current Issues and Enduring Questions text (pages 547-574). Here you’ll be reading a variety of arguments on different points of debate within the larger issue of College Education.

Next, narrow down this larger topic into a more focused issue of particular interest to you. For example, you might decide you’d like to write your first argumentative essay on one of the following topics of debate:

-Does today’s Bachelors Degree have the same value it did in the past? or -Should students should be able to specialize in their degree early on, or should they be required to take a number of “core classes” in the liberal arts for a “well-rounded” education in college? or -What is the best way for a college to prepare its graduates for the “real world” and the workplace?

After you’ve decided on your narrower topic of focus, submit your initial post to the “College Education: What’s It Worth?” Discussion Board and respond to at least two classmates’ initial posts as well.

(See full instructions in this week’s Discussion Board Forum, and remember to refer to your materials and “Discussion Board Rubric” under “Course Information” for more help in writing successful posts.)

II. Taking a Position for Essay #1

Download and carefully read the “Assignment and Rubric for Essay #1” attached in this week’s folder. (Keep this document handy so that you can refer to it in the coming weeks before Essay #1 is due!)

Develop your own thesis/claim for Essay #1, and outline 3 supporting reasons to back it up in your essay. Keep this thesis and its supporting claims in mind for next week’s discussion of your rough draft and final version of Essay #1.