J o u r n a l
I n s t r u c t i o n s
Remember – these journal questions require more thinking than writing. Think about
exactly what you are asked to do, and then write as economically as possible.
For this journal assignment, answer each of the following prompts:
• Important Idea
o Considering only the Introduction to Chapter 5, in terms of developing
critical thinking and reasoning, what do you consider is the most
valuable and important idea in that section? You can either summarize
or directly quote the text; then, briefly explain why you find this idea
important and valuable.
• Critical Thinking
o In Chapter 5, the section “Making Arguments” states: “In some ways
applying our core critical thinking skills to analysis can be more difficult
than offering an evaluative opinion. Analysis, like interpretation, is
understanding at a deep level (p. 89)”
▪ What concepts discussed in Chapter 4 might make analysis of a
statement difficult – and why?
• Beliefs
o Why do you believe what you believe?
o What is your “evidence”?
o Test one of your beliefs by asking yourself, “Why?” As you answer each
“why,” go down another layer – four layers will probably give you a good
idea of why you believe what you believe.
o Your product should show a well-reasoned and logical basis for your
belief. Stay away from the big stuff, like believing in God, or who to vote
for in the next election, and don’t look for sources – this is about
what you believe and why you believe it. After all, this is only an 8-week
course, and we can’t settle everything!
o Click on the following link for an example of layers of why:
Suppose your claim is “All people should work to support their children.” Here is an
example of possible “layers of why” for this claim:
• Layer 1: People should work to support their children because it is the right thing
to do.
• Layer 2: It is the right thing to do because it is true that children need to be cared
for by adults.
• Layer 3: I believe my last statement is true because it is an accurate description
of what occurs – that is, very small children sicken and die if adults do not care
for their needs; older children may exhibit many physical and emotional
deficiencies if they are not properly cared for.
• Layer 4: Reasonable attention to the needs of children is just since children are
largely dependent on their parents (who, after all, brought them into the world)
for all of their needs during the early years of their lives. Furthermore, such
attention leads to a healthy, productive and ordered society in which each
individual has an opportunity to achieve his or her highest potential.
N o t e
Don’t be tempted to skip steps. If you start with layer 5, you have just opened up a
whole new line of “whys.” For example, why should everyone be afforded an opportunity
to reach his or her highest potential? After all, for most of the history of the world, that
has not been the case.
W r i t i n g R e q u i r e m e n t s ( A P A f o r m a t )
• Length: 1 ½ -2 pages (not including prompts, title page or references page)
• 1-inch margins
• Double spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• Title page
• References page (as needed)
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Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
