Loyalty
Prejudice
Pseudoscience
Rationalization
Wishful Thinking
Superstition
Your essay assignment is to choose one of these topics and develop an essay that:
Explains the topic and how it affects good reasoning,
Explores the many aspects of the topic, including ways that it hurts us and ways it may help us,
Tells us how or why we do this sort of reasoning error,
Uses evidence and examplesespecially examples from your own lifeof this sort of error in action,
And finally, tells us how we can avoid or minimize the reasoning error.
Research
In this essay, research your topic: what are the problems of reasoning irrationally, what are the benefits (there are some!), what can be done to minimize problems and maximize benefit? Then, write a short essay 6 to 7 pages not including the Works Cited page about your topic in general and about specific experiences or examples from your own life (or the world around you) that illustrate the topic.
Your essay must include some research and have a minimum of three sources, properly cited in the text where quoted, summarized or paraphrased, and properly cited on the Works Cited page at the end of the essay.
Your essay must also integrate your personal experiences or observations:
For example, consider the topic of superstitions. Do you have any, or do you know of people who have them? Tell us about that (nicely) and how they affect your life or the lives of those people. You can do this with any of the topics.
The main point of the essaywhat you are aiming to end withis to tell us how to recognize and avoid bad reasoning and to encourage the kind of reasoning people should have in life.
Grading
The following expectations affect the essay grade:
It must be a minimum of six pages in MLA format, typed, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point font.
It must have a Works Cited page at the end of the essay.
The Works Cited is not counted in the page count for the essay, and
it cannot be a separate file it must be the last page of the essay, after the actual essay itself, and
it must be properly formatted along with the rest of the essay.
The essay must be proofread for grammar and spelling errors.
Your grade will be based on the above factors as well as on the readability, depth, and logic of the essay.
