Introduction to Critical Thinking Papers

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GEO 300 Recitation

• Introduction to Critical Thinking Papers

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CT papers

• How to avoid a zero (check list will help!)
• At least 4 peer-reviewed sources in Works Cited
• All of which are in-text cited
• No plagiarism
• Word count list on paper
• 425/- 25 in Analysis section
• 125 /- 25 in all other sections combined
• 550-word max Over zero grade
• You may or may not include citations in your word
  count. Its up to you.
• Having the proper headings (Interpretation,
  Analysis, Evaluation, Inference, Explanation,
  Self-Regulation)

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CT paper Logistics (20)

• AT THE TOP OF THE PAPER (separate lines)
• Word counts
• 1 for Analysis section (42525)
• 1 for the Others (12525)
• 550 MAX. Over, you will receive a zero.
• Your name
• Date
• TA name
• Recitation day and time
• OSU ID Number
• Question number
• Title
• You lose 4 per missing item

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CT paper Style/Format (25)

• Follow format given by example paper
• 1 off for each grammatical error (max 9)
• No personal pronous (i.e. I , my, we or
  our)
• No contractions
• 8 for proper in-text citation format
• (Friedman, 2008 p. 16) or As noted by Friedman
  (2008 p. 16)
• 8 for proper Works Cited formatting
• No particular citation style (MLA, APA, etc.)
  required, but be consistent

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Works Cited/References/Bibliography, some tips

• List authors alphabetically by the FIRST authors
  last name
• Adams, Kelly, Joan Rivers and Ted Nuggent,
• Dole, Bob, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton,
• Include access date for web sites
• Be consistent in style
• Styles guides are available online, email me or
  visit office hours for help, or look at examples
• Using the citation function in the database
  produces strange results, be aware and check

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CT paper format Content (55)

• INTERPRETATION(10)
• A 3-sentence lead-in.
• Sentence 1 Issue statement.
• Sentence 2 A statement of importance.
• Sentence 3 A hypothesis where you take sides/ a
  stance.
• Eg Society is facing a growing energy deficit,
  sustainable and otherwise. With it becoming
  increasingly apparent that unsustainable energy
  is not an option, most find themselves facing
  young, pricy renewable energy sources.
  Conservation and storage are the cheapest and
  most reliable way to sustainably meet future
  energy needs.

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CT paper format Content (55)

• ANALYSIS (25)
• Largest component of the paper
• This is where you make your argument and cite
  facts from peer-reviewed sources to support it.
• Proper citation of all references in your works
  cited, 4 of which must be peer reviewed, is
  expected

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CT paper format Content (55) cont.

• EVALUATION (5)
• A critical look at your sources.
• Evaluate at least 2 of your sources potential
  bias or critique a limitation or shortcoming of
  their research.
• Be specific about which sources you are
  evaluating.
• INFERENCE (5)
• Infer something not already explicitly written in
  your work.
• Try looking at different scales OR
• Try connecting to a different discipline

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CT paper format Content (55) cont.

• EXPLANATION (5)
• Summary of the all the preceding sections.
• The best Ive seen on this was from a 3-sentence
  format
• Sentence 1 Statement of issue.
• Sentence 2 Supporting fact.
• Sentence 3 Broad conclusion.
• SELF-REGULATION (5)
• An examination of your own bias
• Where did it come from?
• How does it affect your analysis of the topic?
• Only place first person pronouns are acceptable.

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CT papers

• How to avoid a zero (recap).
• 4 peer-reviewed sources/books in Works Cited
• All of which are in-text cited
• No plagiarism
• Word count
• 425- 25 in Analysis section
• 125 - 25 in all other sections combined
• 550-word MAX (do not go over!)
• Having the proper headings
• Interpretation, Analysis, Evaluation, Inference,
  Explanation, Self-Regulation
• Otherwise, I mark it zero.

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CT paper 1

• Each CT Paper is worth 75 points
• Please print double-sided or on used paper
• 1 point for this, -2 points for not.
• Must be turned in at class next week
• Late work is NOT accepted (except for
  emergencies)
• Attach the check list (with grading sheet) to
  your paper and initial you have followed the
  instructions
• Papers without the checklist will not be accepted.

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Peer-reviewed sources

•  Instructions on how to access OSU library
  journal databases using the EBSCO database
  provider
• Go to http//oregonstate.edu/
• Click on the Library tab
• Click on Find it Databases there are three
  columns (Database Title, Dates of Coverage and
  Database Provider). Under the Database Provider
  column, you can see the ones which have EBSCO as
  the provider. You can also click on the link
  letter E and then click on the EBSCOhost (under
  the Database Title) to assess all the sources
  that are provided by EBSCO.
• Here is an example for instructions on how to get
  a peer reviewed source
• Click on the database as in step 3 above
• Click on Academic Search Premier (third under the
  Database Title).
• Lets assume you are searching for Carbon
  Footprint as a key word for your search.
• Make sure to click or check the Scholarly (Peer
  Reviewed) Journals box, type your key search word
  and then click Search
• The first article that comes is titled Emergy
  Net Primary Production (ENPP) as basis for
  calculation of Ecological Footprint. Click on
  the Link to Full article tab to access the
  article.
• To properly put it in your reference, go back to
  where you were before you clicked the link to
  full article tab. Then, click on the heading
  link Emergy Net Primary Production (ENPP) as
  basis for calculation of Ecological Footprint.
  Then on the same row as the citation where there
  are seven tabs (print, e-mail etc photos), put
  your cursor on the cite article tab (the fourth
  one from your right) and click. Copy and paste
  from your preferred citation format. Make sure to
  use the same citation format for all your sources 

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Example Papers (on website)

• Useful as a guide, but theyre not perfect papers
• Remember to include your ID number
• Remember to include the question number

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Tips

• Dont do it last minute.
• Everything in your Works Cited must be cited in
  your text everything cited in your text must be
  in your Works Cited.
• Never use a newspaper or magazines (Time, The
  Economist, Forbes, etc.)
• No Wikipedia.
• Use sources only from the 21st century (2000- )
• Questions about a source? Email me to check if it
  is appropriate.
• Go to the Writing Center (Waldo 123)
• Get a classmate to peer review your paper (Extra
  Credit for them!)

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