Importance: Critical Thinking: We have been hearing about “fake news” in the media, and a crucial component of
education is learning how to distinguish reputable sources from opinion or fake sources. A multitude of articles and
books exist on parenting; however, most are opinions or advice and are not based on research. As a critical consumer of
information, you should be able to compare information in different articles and craft a constructive criticism of articles
about parenting.
Expectation: Find at least two articles either online or in parenting magazines that take opposing viewpoints on a
parenting topic. Write a short summary of the article and then analyze and critique the content, determine whether or not the content is evidence-based and/or biased or “fake” in nature. The article critiques should be no longer than 3 pages, not including your cover page and reference page. Examples of common parenting debates – vaccinations or not,
breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, stay at home versus working parents. You are welcome to choose one of these topics
or find one of your own.
Grading Breakdown:
• Articles are attached/website link is provided – 5 points
• Provide a short summary of each article, 1-2 paragraphs – 25 points
• Present the strengths and weaknesses of your opposing viewpoints – 25 points
• Draw a conclusion on your topic and support your conclusion with outside sources (e.g.
textbook, lectures, other articles) – 30 points
• Paper is formatted correctly (12 point font, double spaced, 5 pages max), and uses proper
spelling and grammar – 10 points
• Uses APA format for citations and references (see your 7th edition APA manual) – 5 points
Parenting Debate Topic – 100 points
