Write an essay on “Critical Thought as Defined by Comparison and Contrast.” This should be somewhere between two and three pages in length, Times New Roman, 12 pitch, double spaced, plus the Reference List. But, if you decide to take advantage, I will grade based on the quality of your…
- Breath of the assignment (Did you cover it fully?)
- Quality of your writing
- Extent of your research
I suggest you start by reading the Elementary Example below. Then, find a source that defines “critical thought” or “compare and contrast” in similar fashion. Proved that definition with support. Then compare (find similarities) with other sources and contrast (find disagreements) from your research. I will let the number of points possible remain fluid until I see the paper.
***Example Below****
I will use an overly simplistic scenarioto demonstrate what compare and contrast between sources actually means.
Most students cancompare and contrast between two different “things,” such as between milk and water. The challenge, amore difficult task, is to compare and contrast between sources focused on a single topic (“thing,”) i.e.,
milk. Again, please forgive me if you see this as something below what would be appropriate for a juniorlevel college course but I want it to be as obvious as possible. I hope it helps.Suppose the assignment was to write on the benefits of milk from dairy – cow’s milk. A very briefnarrative (in bold) might go something like this…Author X (1990) elaborates on the numerous dietary advantages of drinking cow’s milk in the
homogenized form. Noting that there is vitamin D, Calcium and other vitamins inherent in cow’s milk,X goes on to suggest that it should be regularly consumed by all but those who may be lactoseintolerant. Author Y (1995) refers to studies by both agricultural and nutritional organizations that
show numerous benefits from dairy in general, including milk.
In the paragraph above, Author X has made a claim and Author Y notes similarities – comparisonsfocused on the single topic – milk. The two sources have comparison.Author Z (2002), a resident nutritionist at St. Johns University, disagrees with Author X. In presenting a
lecture at the University of Chicago, Z showed that in most cases although some benefits may bepresent in a small portion of cheeses, the majority of people are better off without milk.In the paragraph above, Author Z disagrees (contrasts) with Author X’s claim that milk is good for you. Atsame time, s/he agrees (compares) with some of what Author Y said, noting that cheese has somebenefits.This push to find what various experts claim on a single topic/subject pushes us towards critical thought.
When a company asks for your analysis of a product offering, you would want to critically investigatethat specific product – not compared or contrasted to other products but to study that specific productand what studies, focus groups, surveys, or experts in the field have found and reported.
