Critical Thinking Steps to Sound Reasoning: Step 2. Defining Positions Steps to Sound Reasoning: Step 2. Defining Positions Step 2.  Defining Positions Objectively examine multiple positions, perspectives and beliefs. Include positions held by professionals and experts. How is this issue understood by different people? What are common assumptions and beliefs about the issue? What do professionals and experts suggest? How do you know they are experts? Now it is time to look at different understandings of the issue including who is engaged in the debate or discussion surrounding this issue and what they have to say. Describe the experts who have weighed in on the issue. Provide the names of other individuals or groups weighing in on the issue.  Briefly describe the communities or organizations they are with. Now what are the positions of the public and other general perceptions of the issue? As you take notes to organize your research, remember to include the authors and sources (practice your APA citation style!). In your notes, summarize the positions presented, along with your reflections, thoughts, or questions about these opinions. Again, here are the tools that will support you in critical thinking Critical Thinking Infographic Critical Thinking Guide And here are some additional resources to help you with your research: Ashford Writing Center. How to Research Secondary Sources Ashford Writing Center. Student Writing Standard To complete the following discussions, go to this week's Discussion links in the left navigation. The Electoral College wk3 d1 Prepare: Prior to beginning work on this discussion question, read Chapters 5 and 6 in American Government . In addition, read the following articles: “ What Are the Arguments Made in Favor – and Against – the Electoral College? ,” “ GOP Leaders United in Defense of the Electoral College ,” and the ProQuest article “Why the Electoral College is Bad for America.” Also, please watch this week’s videos, Episode I - A More Perfect Union and Episode II - It’s a Free Country regarding the U.S. Constitution. Reflect: As the textbook author asserts, the Framers intentionally designed a process for selecting presidents that would minimize the president’s political power – the Electoral College. They hoped this institution would insulate the chief executive from the public because they feared the power of presidents who might be elected by the people. However, the Electoral College has also spawned a long ongoing debate about whether the Electoral College should be abandoned in favor of new methods, which would ensure that the candidate elected has the most popular votes. The controversy over the Electoral College must be understood in order to better understand how and why U.S. presidents are elected. Write: In your initial post, summarize how the Electoral College works. Explain some of the main pros and cons in the debate about whether to keep or abolish the current Electo.

1. Critical Thinking Steps to Sound Reasoning: Step 2. Defining
Positions
Steps to Sound Reasoning: Step 2. Defining Positions
Step 2. Defining Positions
Objectively examine multiple positions, perspectives and
beliefs. Include positions held by professionals and experts.
How is this issue understood by different people?
What are common assumptions and beliefs about the issue?
What do professionals and experts suggest? How do you know
they are experts?
Now it is time to look at different understandings of the issue
including who is engaged in the debate or discussion
surrounding this issue and what they have to say.
Describe the experts who have weighed in on the issue.
Provide the names of other individuals or groups weighing in on
the issue. Briefly describe the communities or organizations
they are with.
Now what are the positions of the public and other general
perceptions of the issue?
As you take notes to organize your research, remember to
include the authors and sources (practice your APA citation
style!). In your notes, summarize the positions presented, along
with your reflections, thoughts, or questions about these
opinions.
Again, here are the tools that will support you in critical

2. thinking
Critical Thinking Infographic
Critical Thinking Guide
And here are some additional resources to help you with your
research:
Ashford Writing Center. How to Research Secondary Sources
Ashford Writing Center. Student Writing Standard
To complete the following discussions, go to this week's
Discussion
links in the left navigation.
The Electoral College wk3 d1
Prepare:
Prior to beginning work on this discussion question, read
Chapters 5 and 6 in
American Government
. In addition, read the following articles: “
What Are the Arguments Made in Favor – and Against – the
Electoral College?
,” “
GOP Leaders United in Defense of the Electoral College
,” and the ProQuest article “Why the Electoral College is Bad
for America.” Also, please watch this week’s videos,
Episode I - A More Perfect Union
and
Episode II - It’s a Free Country
regarding the U.S. Constitution.
Reflect:
As the textbook author asserts, the Framers intentionally

3. designed a process for selecting presidents that would minimize
the president’s political power – the Electoral College. They
hoped this institution would insulate the chief executive from
the public because they feared the power of presidents who
might be elected by the people. However, the Electoral College
has also spawned a long ongoing debate about whether the
Electoral College should be abandoned in favor of new methods,
which would ensure that the candidate elected has the most
popular votes. The controversy over the Electoral College must
be understood in order to better understand how and why U.S.
presidents are elected.
Write:
In your initial post, summarize how the Electoral College
works. Explain some of the main pros and cons in the debate
about whether to keep or abolish the current Electoral College
process. In addition, evaluate one proposal to change how the
system works
without formally abolishing it
. Would this proposal effectively address some of the cons that
you identified earlier in your post? Please explain your
response.
Fully respond to all parts of the question and write your
response in your own words. Your initial post must be 200 to
250 words. Support your position with APA citations from two
or more of the assigned resources required for this discussion.
Please be sure that you demonstrate understanding of these
resources, integrate them into your argument, and cite them
properly.
Respond to Peers:
By Day 7, respond to at least two of your classmates' initial
posts. Your peer responses should be 75to 100 words each. As
your reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation
further by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or
responding to the posts that they make to you. Keep the
discussion on target and try to analyze things in as much detail
as you can. For instance, you might consider comparing your

4. classmates’ proposals for changing the Electoral College against
your own proposal.
Week Three Reflection wk3 d2
Prepare:
Prior to beginning your reflection this week, read chapters 5, 6,
and 7 in
American Government
. Review the videos,
Episode I - A More Perfect Union
and
Episode II - It’s a Free Country
regarding the U.S. Constitution.
Reflect:
The executive and judicial branches of the U.S. national
government often seem to operate independently and with little
conflict. Many laws are signed by the President and then
implemented without a word from the judicial branch. However,
there are times when executive decisions are challenged by the
judicial branch in a process called judicial review. In addition,
there are times when a judicial review has direct impact on your
life. For example, when the Supreme Court declared the
Affordable Care Act
constitutional, many people without health care insurance were
finally able to purchase health care insurance. Additionally,
when the Supreme Court declared sections of the Defense of
Marriage Act unconstitutional, some of the constraints that
prevented many gay and lesbian couples from marrying were
eliminated. Executive Order 13658 on February 20, 2014 also
had a direct impact on many business people that contract with
the federal government by increasing the minimum wage to
$10.10 per hour. Clearly, the actions of the executive and
judicial branches often directly affect our lives.
Write:
In your initial post, explain how and why the actions of the
executive and/or judicial branches have personally affected your
life. Fully respond to all parts of the question. Write in your

5. own words. Support your position with APA citations to two or
more of the assigned resources required for this discussion.
Fully respond to all parts of the prompt and write your response
in your own words. Your initial post must be 200 to 250 words.
Please be sure that you demonstrate understanding of these
resources, integrate them into your argument, and cite them
properly.
Respond to Peers:
By Day 7, respond to at least two of your classmates' initial
posts. Your peer responses should be 75 to 100 words each. As
your reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation
further by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or
responding to the posts that they make to you. Keep the
discussion on target and try to analyze things in as much detail
as you can. For instance, you might consider contrasting the
impacts of the executive and/or judicial branches on your life
with the impacts of these branches described by your peers on
their lives.
Week Three Learning Activity Worksheet
Develop a detailed outline of your third main point. (
For assistance with your writing skills, refer to the
Ashford Writing Center
)
Branches of Government:
Provide a paragraph that briefly describes one strength and one
weakness of one branch of our government: Executive,
Legislative, or Judiciary.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)

6. Provide a paragraph that recommends one option to maintain the
strength and one to correct the weakness.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
Scholarly Support: (
For assistance with your research, the Ashford University’s
Library provides tutorials and recorded webinars on a variety of
topics. To access these helpful resources look for the links
located under the
[email protected]
search box on the library home page. For help with writing,
please review the
APA Style Aid
, and Ashford Writing Center’s
Sample Annotated Bibliography
for additional help.
)
Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your
main points.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)

7. Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability.
(Use the space below to complete this section.)
To complete the following quiz, go to this week's
Quiz
link in the left navigation.
Week Three Quiz
Complete the quiz on the assigned readings for the week.
What should I do to prepare for this quiz?
Carefully read and critically reflect on this week’s readings
before attempting this quiz. Keep in mind that you may use your
book as you complete this quiz.
How many chances do I have to take the quiz?
You will have
two
opportunities to take this quiz. This quiz utilizes a test bank so
each attempt may contain different questions. Please note that
your last attempt will be the grade recorded in the gradebook.
How can I improve my score between each attempt?
Review the quiz feedback available in the gradebook.
Review chapters and resources related to quiz topics.

8. How much time do I have to take this quiz?
Once you open this quiz, it will remain open for 12 hours.
However, you must finish it in one sitting, as it will time out
after 45 minutes of inactivity. When finished, click on
Save Answers
and then on
Submit for Grade
. The amount of time the quiz will take to complete will vary by
individual.
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To complete the following assignment, go to this week's
Learning Activity
link in the left navigation.
Branches of Government
The three branches of our government each play crucial roles in
the U.S. national government. Each branch has specific power,
duties, and responsibilities that are the most apparent features
of our system of separate powers. Nevertheless, each branch has
been critiqued for having definite strengths and weaknesses that
become obvious in certain situations. Analyzing these strengths
and weaknesses will enable you to evaluate and recommend
ways to enhance and correct these fundamental assets and
deficiencies of the branches of our national government.
To complete the assignment, save the
Week Three Learning Activity Worksheet
to your computer, fill it out, and submit it.
Develop a detailed outline of your third main point using the
Week Three Learning Activity Worksheet.
Branches of Government:
Provide a paragraph that briefly describes one strength and one
weakness of one branch of our government: executive,
legislative, or judiciary.
Provide a paragraph that recommends one option to maintain the

9. strength and one to correct the weakness.
Scholarly Support: (For assistance with your research, the
Ashford University’s Library provides tutorials and recorded
webinars on a variety of topics. To access these helpful
resources look for the links located under the
[email protected]
search box on the library home page. For help with writing,
please review the
APA Style Aid
, and Ashford Writing Center’s
Sample Annotated Bibliography
for additional help.)
Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your
main points.
Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points.
Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability.
View the
POL201 Research Guide
for help on how to find and evaluate sources for assignments in
this course.
Carefully review the
Grading Rubric
for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
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