Critical Thinking Paper # 1.
Value = 30 Points

We don't take stuff late--few exceptions.

Due October 7 in Wednesday Night Class

Due October 9 in Day Classes



You can say a lot in 500 words, but you have to winnow out the substantive, the relevant, the pertinent from the dross ("stultifying rubbish"--Am. Heritage Dictionary).

"Skim off the Dross" Steve Cook

Above all, discard the irrelevant." Barbara Tuchman, Historian.

It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn. ~Robert Southey

Good things, when short, are twice as good Baltasar Gracian, The Art of Worldly Wisdom

It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say in whole books - what other men do not say in whole books. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. ~Thomas Jefferson

This paper would be twice as good if it was half as long. Gordon Matzke

Never say in seven words what you can say in three. E. B. White

This term let's let our friend Thomas Friedman "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" be our guide.

On Page 27 Friedman states "Because they are no ordinary problems, any one of them, if not managed properly could cause sweeping, nonlinear, irreversible disruptions that might affect future generations."

Friedman gave his book a catchy title "Hot, Flat, and Crowded." Your charge for your first Critical Thinking Paper is to choose one of the three: Hot OR Flat OR Crowded and look at the issue through the "eyes" of . . . sweeping, nonlinear, irreversible disruption. Which of these three topics will eat our lunch first if we don't address it, Hot, Flat, or Crowded? The papers are short, so the contemplation time before beginning should be long. Remember that CT # 2 is a rewrite of CT # 1, so we will bear down on your first paper. Take advantage of the low value of CT # 1 to figure out what we want in these papers. If you blow off CT # 1, the highest score you can earn on CT # 2 is 30 points.



Follow the Critical Thinking Guidelines exactly. Especially pay attention to acceptable sources--we are adament.

This is a good place to note that we will "pay" you extra credit points to work with a classmate to improve your papers--10 points/hour for your effort. We really do want you to learn to write concise, information dense papers. To get this credit you need to give us evidence of your peer-review. ALWAYS on everything you turn in, include your name, TA name, Recitation Time. collaboration.

Remember that you MUST use sources as noted on the Critical Thinking Paper Guidelines. Failure to have four books and/or peer-reviewed journals as identified by "EBSCO" will result in a score of zero on the paper. Why? Because you can't argue effectively without utilizing credible sources. No dictionaries or Wikipedia.

To force you to think and write concisely, we require that the "Analysis" section contain betweem 375 amd 425 words.
The maximum paper length is 550 words. This gives you 125-175 words for the other five headings (depending upon the total in "Analysis." Write a 550 word paper. You can't write a good paper in less words. The "Interpretation" section is very important, it leads into your topic.

The following information MUST appear on your paper:

Which heading you are addressing: Hot OR Flat OR Crowded.
1. Word count for "Analysis" = ___________. [375-425]
2. Total word count = ______________ [550 max-serious deduction for too many words]. Count words in headings or not--your choice. Don't count words in "List of Sources/Bibliography"
3. Your name
4. TA name
5. Recitation Time
6. Paper Title
7. Due Date

Grading for Critical Thinking Paper # 1

Logistics = 20%
Style/Format/ = 25% with 9% coming under "Grammar/Writing Quality"
Content = 55% with 25% coming under "Analysis"
These papers can be written on the front and back of one sheet of paper OR on two sheets of paper previously used on one side. Doing so will garner you 1EC point. Failure to do so will cost you 2 points.