CRITICAL THINKING PAPER INSTRUCTIONS
In preparation for the Critical Thinking Paper and by completing your textbook readings you will be equipped to respond by objectively compiling information from a variety of sources to compose a Critical Thinking Paper. In this paper, you will identify the worldview beliefs of a non-biblical worldview and, applying critical thinking strategies, compare and contrast those beliefs with the biblical worldview (Syllabus MLOs: A, B, E).
Refer to the “Course Policies” in the course syllabus for the formatting expectations in this course.
Requirements:
1. Cover page – This is the first page to be included in your paper. (Based on the formatting style that you will be using, see the sample paper in the Writing Style Guide Link).
a. APA: For this course, a Summary or Abstract is not required.
b. MLA: This format does not require a title page, but does have a specific format for student information.
2. Content pages – These pages will contain your content and fulfill the requirements as listed below.
a. Be sure to complete the minimum word count (500–1,000 words).
i. Do NOT include the question as part of your word count. Use only your answers.
ii. Direct quotations must be short and limited.
iii. Include your word count at the bottom of the paper.
iv. NOTE: Submissions totaling fewer than 300 words will not receive credit.
b. Quotations and material used from other sources must be cited using current APA, MLA or Turabian format. You must include in-text citations and a bibliography/reference or works cited page.
c. Check your work for spelling and grammatical errors.
d. Be sure to do your own work; do not plagiarize.
3. Bibliography/references/works cited page
a. In addition to the in-text citations, a bibliography/reference or works cited page must be included.
b. A minimum of 4 different sources is required.
i. Use academic sources for your paper. (For example, do not include blogs, social media, opinion pages, or Wikipedia.)
ii. At least 2 of the sources must be outside of the materials used in this course (this would include the Bible, any required reading or videos, and the required textbooks).
iii. Refer to the “Course Policies” in the course syllabus for the formatting expectations in this course.
iv.
Content:
Instructions:
o Fulfill all of the requirements as listed above.
o Select 1 of the following worldviews (Secular Humanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam) that have been considered in the course content.
o Identify the worldview that you have selected on your title page.
o Using course content and additional sources outside of the course, complete the following:
Note: This is a “Critical Thinking” assignment so you must go beyond just giving factual content, and demonstrate your comprehension of the material. To accomplish this, the assignment will be asking you to “compare and contrast” your selected worldview (Secular Humanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam) with the biblical worldview.
• Compare: How are the 2 worldview positions similar or the same?
• Contrast: How are the 2 worldview positions different?
In your paper, you must follow the outline and answer the questions below.
How would the worldview that you selected answer these 5 worldview questions:
1. The Question of Origin – (What is the origin of the universe etc.? How did humanity come into existence?)
i. How would your selected worldview answer this question?
ii. Compare and contrast this with how the biblical worldview would answer this question.
2. The Question of Identity – (What does it mean to be human? Are humans more important than other living things?)
i. How would your selected worldview answer this question?
ii. Compare and contrast this with how the biblical worldview would answer this question.
3. The Question of Meaning/Purpose – (What is humanity’s purpose?)
i. How would your selected worldview answer this question?
ii. Compare and contrast this with how the biblical worldview would answer this question.
4. The Question of Morality – (What is meant by right and wrong? How is morality determined?)
i. How would your selected worldview answer this question?
ii. Compare and contrast this with how the biblical worldview would answer this question.
5. The Question of Destiny – (What happens when a person dies?)
i. How would your selected worldview answer this question?
ii. Compare and contrast this with how the biblical worldview would answer this question.
*An overview of these specific worldview questions can be found in chapter 4 of Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly about the World.
Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 6.
