Colorado State University Using Scientific Method to Challenge Our Thinking Paper OPTION #1: USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD TO CHALLENGE OUR THINKING Directi

Colorado State University Using Scientific Method to Challenge Our Thinking Paper OPTION #1: USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD TO CHALLENGE OUR THINKING

Directions:

Using the concepts and ideas learned in Tutorials 1-9 in Lau and Chan (2017), write an essay in response to the following prompts.

Briefly define the Scientific Method using the Lau and Chan text (Links to an external site.).
Where have you made assumptions or drawn inferences on an important issue regardless of data or evidence to the contrary?
Analyze how you could improve your critical reasoning on this issue by using tools from the scientific method or statistical reasoning.
Provide a peer-reviewed example to add further support to the reasoning on your issue.

Requirements:

Cite all claims and ideas using scholarly sources.
Include at least one scholarly source that is not part of the required or recommended reading for this course. The CSU-Global Library (Links to an external site.) is a good place to find these scholarly sources.
Your paper should be 4-5 pages in length (not including the title page and reference page). Format your paper according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing & APA (Links to an external site.).

You may wish to review the APA Template Paper (Links to an external site.) for help formatting your essay according to the requirements. If you need assistance with your writing style or you need writing tips or tutorials, visit the CSU-Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.). Review the grading rubric to see how you will be graded for this assignment.

OPTION #2: PERSUASIVE LETTER TO A PUBLIC OR BUSINESS OFFICIAL

Directions:

Using the concepts and ideas learned in the Tutorials 1-9 of Lau and Chan (2017) (Links to an external site.), write a letter (your letter’s body should be an APA-formatted essay) to a public or business official who rejects the scientific consensus on an important issue. In this letter/essay, address the following questions:

How would you define scientific theories and how they operate?
Why do scientists employ the idea of falsifiability?
How would you try to convince this person to examine the issue using the scientific method in order to come to clear and careful assessments?
Why would you argue for engaging scientific, peer-reviewed sources on the issue?

Requirements:

Cite all claims and ideas using scholarly sources.
Include at least one scholarly source that is not part of the required or recommended reading for this course. The CSU-Global Library (Links to an external site.) is a good place to find these scholarly sources.
Your submission should be 4-5 pages in length (not including the title page and reference page). Format your submission according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing & APA (Links to an external site.).

You may wish to review the Letter Template to Public or Business Official (found in the module folder) for help formatting your essay according to the requirements. If you need assistance with your writing style or you need writing tips or tutorials, visit the CSU-Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.). Review the grading rubric to see how you will be graded for this assignment.

REQUIRED READINGS:

Required

Chapter 3 in Introduction to logic and critical thinking.
Lau, J., & Chan, J. (2017). Scientific methodology: Tutorials 1-9. https://philosophy.hku.hk/think/sci/

Recommended

Popova, M. (2015). Physicist Lisa Randall on the sublime and the crucial differences between how art, science, and religion explain the universe. Brain Pickings.https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/10/19/lisa-randall-knocking-on-heavens-door/
Weiland, T. (2017). Problematizing statistical literacy: An intersection of critical and statistical literacies. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 96(1), 33–47.