This document outlines the requirements for three critical thinking assignments related to analyzing editorials. The first assignment requires students to select an editorial from a major newspaper and write a 2-page essay identifying the key issue and outlining the public debate. The second assignment is a 4-page analysis of differing perspectives on the issue presented in the first assignment, without taking a position. The third assignment is another 4-page essay where students must take a position on the issue and construct an argument to support their thesis. Students will be evaluated on clarity, organization, writing quality, use of examples, and analytical depth.

1. Editorial Analysis paper
CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENTS Dr. Larry Menna 1. Editorial Selection
Assignment: DUE FEBRUARY 19For this assignment, you need to select an editorial from a
respected newspaper or journal such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Nation, the New
Republic, Commentary, etc.Once you have made your choice, you need to write no more
than a two-page essay (oneinch margins, double-spaced, 12-pt. type) that clearly identifies
the key issue in your selected editorial and that outlines the public debate over the issue on
which the editorial has taken a position. You should conduct research on the issue itself and
on the primary positions that have been publicly debated. 2. Editorial Analysis
Assignment: DUE MARCH 26This four-page assignment requires you to present an analysis
of the key positions debated on the issue you have identified in your chosen editorial in
Assignment #1. In your analysis, you should present a balanced evaluation of the key
origins, factors and parts that have defined the differing perspectives on your editorial
topic. In your analysis, you should NOT present your own thesis or a claim on the editorial
topic but rather analyze multiple perspectives to provide insight into a complex topic but
rather analyze the reasoning, assumptions, issues, values and evidence used to support the
various perspectives you have identified. 3. Editorial Argument Assignment: DUE
MAY 7In this assignment, you will present a four-page essay that clearly provides a thesis or
claim about the editorial topic you have chosen and that constructs an argument to support
your thesis. Your essay should establish a clear thesis, whether it diverges from or agrees
with the position in the editorial you originally selected, and organize your reasoning for
your claim based on your research. Be sure to provide evidence of your assertions and a
strong sense argument, i.e., an argument that addresses potential counterarguments and
contrary evidence and statements.Your essays will be evaluated based on the following
criteria: The clarity of your ideas and thoughts. The extent to which the organization of your
essay promotes an understanding of your points. The clearness of your writing, including its
attention to grammar, and quality of your presentation (the avoidance of typographical,
spelling, pagination, or other types of errors). The use of illustrations, examples, specifics,
and details of your analytical points. The clarity of the segmentation and analysis of your
shift, that is, the clearness in the identification and evaluation of the various aspects or
features of your paradigm shift. The development of your points and the cohesiveness of
your analysis (the connections between and among your points should be clear).#Editorial
#Analysis #paper