‘CIAIP| ‘Gommuneaton Ara Program Assignment/Activity Title — Critical Thinking Paper Year — Sophomore Portfolio Competency — Critical Thinking ‘Skill(s) — Research, Writing, Editing This Critical Thinking Paper was a response to the paper that we wrote last year. We researched the same topic, arguing the opposing side. The paper was longer, and we had much less time to write. For me, this topic was much more difficult, as I wrote about the necessity of closing long-term mental health institutions. I hhad another thesis and argument lined up, but it wasn’t the direct opposite of last year’s claim. I was asked to challenge myself, and to write a new thesis, one with litle support. The goal was to look at our topic with a new perspective, The process of writing the paper was similar to any other assignment. We researched the topic, forming a research outline that we would turn into the actual paper. We wrote a rough draf, then peer-edited in class. It used each of the skills of normal paper writing, but this was a longer and more in depth look at a topic than I have done before. There were more pages to fill up, and more arguments to write. It requires more research and analysis, and I had to think critically about each quote that I used. Given that we were writing the opposing side to last year’s assignment, we had to think about the arguments we used in the previous paper and respond to those claims, It was especially difficult if you had agreed with the previous claim, and this year, were attempting to argue something that you didn’t believe. In the Critical Thinking Paper 2.0, I gained new knowledge that was connected to the information that I leamed last year. It was difficult to form new arguments, especially because I had begun to believe in last year’s claim. I've never done an interdisciplinary assignment like this one, where information and assignments from the previous years are brought back and used again. It was really interesting to look back on the paper that T ‘wrote, especially because it was quite poorly written. I'd like to believe that my writing skills have improved this year, or at least, I've developed my research and editing abilities. Although this assignment was just being used for English and Government, [used writing skills that I gained from Journalism and overall researching skills from Media to help my paper. I know how to collect information and organize it, and how to format my paper in a cohesive manner. I learned how to find the necessary information and how to support my claim, throughout the entire paper. Each of the classes comes together in the writing of this paper, and overall, I've ‘become a stronger critical thinker and author. Because we're looking at the topic in a new light, it was a challenge to think differently about it.I had to set aside the arguments that I used last year, that I had begun to agree with, and organize the research into new claims, During the writing process for this assignment, it was helpful to write my information onto physical notecards and organize the paper by hand. I ended up agreeing with the side that wrote this year, as I researched aspects of the topic that I had never learned about. The skills that I learned from writing the Critical Thinking Paper are ones that I can use for the rest of my life, Writing is a life-long talect, and throughout the next two years and college, there are plenty more papers to be written and to think critically about. I've greatly improved my writing, and atthe end of this assignment, 1 enjoyed writing the Pl Lido Student Signature (Print Here: EM}|1@ Vighotra ) Date fier Signage ‘Date