Islam Custom Essay

HUM-2113: Humanities I Critical Thinking Essay Dr. Oberrieder Spring 2014
Assignment
The student will compose an original, critical thinking essay of at least three full pages. The essay must engage in and demonstrate the student’s critical thinking about a specific, important issue or problem by

analyzing, interpreting, and arguing the significance and meaningfulness of a specific feature of, or substantially related matter regarding, the course readings. In selecting a subject and composing your essay

about it, then, think deeply about its value for demonstrating your critical thinking in studying the humanities.
The specific issue/subject/topic of the student’s essay must engage an issue/subject/topic distinctively different from that of the student’s Presentation Project. Like the Presentation Project, this essay will assess

the student’s critical and creative thinking, but it evaluates written analysis, interpretation, and argumentation, with respect to the whole of written exposition regarding an important issue or problem, rather than

oral and visual communication. Therefore, the student must: 1. articulate, 2. clearly frame for examination, 3. carefully interpret, and 4. cogently argue an original thesis that demonstrates his/her objective

understanding of the significance and meaningfulness of his/her specific chosen issue/subject/topic. As such, the student must focus his/her examination, be specific in his/her argumentation, and develop the

specific issue/subject/topic in depth; the student must forgo generalizing, broad treatments, and superficial surveys and/or reports of “facts”; s/he must concentrate on articulating substance and meaningfulness

regarding the humanities.
Deadlines (as scheduled) {1.} The student must submit a formal, one-page Essay Proposal (HW #3) to the Professor in class on MAR. 24. {2.} The final, completed version of the essay is due in class on

APRIL 30 – NO LATE SUBMISSIONS!
Execution
The assignment is to compose a critical thinking essay, not a book report; the student must argue a thesis, with textual evidence (!), not summarize or offer general characterizations; thus, follow the rule of the

four “Ps”: (1) Identify clearly/frame for examination the problem (fundamental issue) & (2) its pertinence, i.e., what is at stake in it. Be specific/concrete; avoid generalizations, vagueness, empty

characterizations, clichés, platitudes. (3) Develop, articulate, and argue a thoughtful position (thesis) regarding the problem (e.g., who/what is right and/or who/what is wrong and why/how so, as well as how

one must understand the problem/issue and what it means). Be certain to argue your position, not just assert claims and/or characterizations; demonstrate your position, don’t just report it, and don’t report it in

the first person in terms of opinion, belief, and/or feelings! Consider yourself to be an independent, objective thinker presenting an independent, objective argument.
(4) Adduce, interpret, and explain clearly your proof (evidence) to support your position vis-a-vis the problem, which should be arguable (not just summary or report), and aim to persuade (!) your reader that

your position (your understanding) is the one and only correct way to understand the problem and what is at stake in it.
Outside Sources and References/Citations in the Text
The student may and, depending on the issue/subject/topic, perhaps should (?), engage in some scholarly (!) research regarding content knowledge or “facts,” but the essay should not be a “book report,”

superficial survey, summary, or simply expository; the essay must demonstrate critical thinking about content or “facts” as it interprets and clarifies their significance and meaningfulness. When referencing or

quoting from any source (even the textbook!), be certain to identify it and to include proper attribution (cf. [11] p. 2 below).
Evaluation Criteria
1. The student has clearly identified, framed for examination, and argued an original thesis that articulates his/her interpretation or understanding of the significance and meaningfulness of a specific

issue/problem. 2. The student’s essay is well-structured and organized, free of all grammatical and mechanical errors, clear and coherent in its exposition and argumentation, and exhibits seriousness and care of

composition.
3. The student has adduced, properly introduced and integrated, and clearly and persuasively interpreted sufficient direct textual evidence to argue and support (demonstrate) his/her thesis. 4. The essay is

focused, has a clear, flowing style, and shows originality or insight in thought and argument.
Page 1 of 2
HUM-2113: Humanities I Critical Thinking Essay Dr. Oberrieder Spring 2014
Formatting & Submission Instructions (USE THIS AS A CHECKLIST!)
[1] Typed [2] Length: at least three full pages (i.e., to the bottom of each page); do not adjust or manipulate your font, margins, spacing, etc. (see below) to try to complete at least three full pages; if your essay

is short of three full pages, this means that you have not developed your issue and argued it in sufficient depth! There is no penalty for writing more than three full pages, but you should seek to remain within the

3-5 pages range (if possible). [3] Margins: one-inch margins all around–left, right, top, & bottom; be certain to click the “Page Layout” tab and to check the “Page Setup” box in order to ensure that all of

your margins are 1”. [4] Spacing: true double-spaced (i.e., no extra spacing either before or after each line or after each paragraph); be certain to right-click your mouse and open the “Paragraph” box in order

to check the “Spacing” section to ensure that you have true double-spacing without any additional spacing; the “Line spacing” drag-down box should be “Double” and the spacing both “Before” and “After”

should be “0 pt”. [5] Font: an accepted “standard” font and size no larger than 12 (e.g., this assignment sheet is Calibri 11). [6] Indentation: indent each new paragraph exactly five spaces from the one-inch

left-hand margin; be certain to right-click your mouse and open the “Paragraph” box in order to check the “Indentation” section to ensure that you have no artificial indentation; both the “Left” and the “Right”

indentation boxes should be 0” and the “Special” box should be “(none)”. [7] Do not attach or include a Cover Page. [8] Identification & Title: Type in the upper left-hand corner of page one (not as a

header) only the following information, on three separate lines: 1. your name; 2. the course identification information; 3. the date. Center the next line (do not introduce extra spaces!) and type your title for your

paper; title it something pithy, either imaginative or simply descriptive. [9] Number Each Page: use the “Insert” tab and the “Header & Footer” function to number each page within a “header” at the top of

each page; MLA formatting (consult The Everyday Writer from your Comp course). [10] Originality: All thoughts and argumentation must be the student’s original work and be grounded in the textbook

readings, primary text selections, and/or some scholarly (!) research (if applicable). [11] Textual Citations: insofar as you reference, quote, or even paraphrase any reading or source (which you must, if you

adduce any evidence—beyond your own straightforward argumentation), use a simple parenthetical citation that indicates the location of the line or passage that you quote, paraphrase, or even reference in

summary (!); for example, for a quotation, etc. from Iliad book 1, lines 165-7, cite it thus (1.165-7) or (Iliad 1.165-7), depending on whether you have clearly identified the textual source before your quoting

the quotation. Likewise, a quotation from a scholarly (!) source (even the textbook!) should include the author’s name and page number(s) in parentheses at the end of the reference or quotation: (Benton

& DiYanni, 24-5). [12] Quotations: Be certain to introduce and integrate properly, as well as interpret sufficiently, all quotations; do not float or hang your quotations without proper introduction and

integration in your exposition! [13] Works Cited: if you consult, cite, quote, or reference any source(s) or reference(s), including the textbook, you must cite it/them properly in the body of your paper (per

above) and on a separate, but consecutively- numbered, works cited page at the end of your paper; MLA formatting (consult The Everyday Writer). [14] Printing: your paper must be printed legibly in clear,

easy-to-read black ink. [15] Staple Assignment & Grading Rubric: be certain to staple together (in the upper left-hand corner) all of the pages of your essay, together with the Professor-supplied

grading/evaluation rubric (distributed separately); staple the rubric to the end of your paper (after your essay last page and separate works cited page); the Professor will not accept unstapled, dog-eared,

and/or paper-clipped, etc. papers, and/or papers without the rubric attached properly; such papers will be rejected and are subject to a “F” grade. [16] Complete Grading Rubric: in stapling the grading rubric

to the end of your paper, be certain that you have completed (!) the grading rubric by engaging in an honest, objective, self-critical self-evaluation of your essay! Students who fail to complete as assigned,

and/or who do not seriously engage in, this crucial exercise in/of self-evaluation may be subject to a “F” grade for this assignment!