Phil 341 Signature Assignment Outline
I. Introduction
A. What topic are you investigating?
B. Why is this issue important to the general public?
II. Side 1- Argument
A. What is/are the main claims? (state them clearly)
B. Who are the people making this claim and any interested parties?
C. What information have they said about this claim?
1. Supporting Detail #1
2. Supporting Detail $2
III. Side 2- Counter Argument
A. What is/are the main claims? (state them clearly)
B. Who are the people making this claim and any interested parties?
C. What information have they said about this claim?
1. Supporting Detail #1
2. Supporting Detail $2
IV. Evaluation of Critical Thinking Side 1
A. What rhetorical devices are used with respect to this side?
B. What fallacies are being used with respect to this side?
C. Are there any biases with this side?
(Give specific examples and use the terminology from our text)
V. Evaluation of Critical Thinking Side 2
A. What rhetorical devices are used with respect to this side?
B. What fallacies are being used with respect to this side?
C. Are there any biases with this side?
(Give specific examples and use the terminology from our text)
VI. Conclusion
A. What are your conclusion about which side has the stronger
argument?
The goal of this paper is to construct a fair-minded, unbiased, analytical analysis of a topic in a comprehensive essay.
This is not an opinion piece or a persuasive essay that simply aims to prove or reinforce what you already believe. This would be confirmation bias, and bias must be avoided in this project.
This project needs to avoid harsh rhetoric or language that is harmful and hurtful in nature. The point is to be objective and unemotional in your approach.
This essay should be written in a fair, academic, respectful, and analytical manner regardless of any of your opinions, feelings, or preconceived notions about the topic.
Both sides of your topic must be treated with equal attention, both in terms of the number and quality of sources and in the depth and breadth of their presentation in your essay. Both sides should be addressed in the same number of paragraphs in roughly equivalent detail, and should be supported by the same number of quality sources.
You must identify and define rhetorical devices and logical fallacies on both sides of the argument. Be sure you indicate which specific rhetorical device and fallacy you have found, and there is evidence in your sources of these course concepts in practice that is cited in your paper.
You will present statements and claims for analyzing both sides of the topic. Only then should you state you own conclusion as an objective, critical thinker given the information presented.
