PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY Step 1: Read the following reports and take some notes. • UN Climate Change Annual Report • 2017 State of the Climate Highlights Step 2: Compose and post your...

PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY Step 1: Read the following reports and take some notes. • UN Climate Change Annual Report • 2017 State of the Climate Highlights Step 2: Compose and post your response to the following prompts: • Define an inductive generalization (use the textbook or Unit 4 videos as your resource). • Reconstruct (or simply create, using standard form) an argument using the characteristic pattern of an inductive generalization that references data from one of the reports. (Be sure to cite your sources properly, using APA style.) • Evaluate your argument in terms of the criteria for acceptable inductive generalizations. Does it satisfy the criteria? Explain why. • Define a statistical syllogism (use the textbook or video as your resource). • Reconstruct (or simply create, using standard form) an argument using the characteristic pattern of a statistical syllogism that references data from one of the reports. (Again, be sure to cite your sources properly, using APA style.) • Evaluate your argument in terms of the criteria for acceptable statistical syllogisms. Does it satisfy the criteria? Explain why. Step 3: Peer Response -- Is climate change "fake" science? Is climate change just a hoax? You’ve probably heard some opinions that climate change is nothing but a hoax based on "fake" science. Before you respond to your classmates in this Discussion Forum, read a few of these views and then attempt to detect some habits of good and bad thinking within them. Here are several samples -- or find your own (there are many out there!): Unit 4 Discussion Assignment Climate Change or Fake Science? Global climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. Many believe that it is disrupting national economies and negatively affecting people’s livelihoods. For this assignment, you will review a UN Climate Change Annual Report and State of Climate Highlights, and then practice your critical thinking skills by reconstructing arguments that employ inductive generalizations and statistical syllogisms using data from these reports. https://calthomas.com/columns/climate-change-hoax-exposed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_conspiracy_theory PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY Step 4: Once you've perused these articles, do the following in your responses to other students: • Identify the most obvious habits of bad thinking/questioning (or good thinking/ questioning, if you feel that global climate change is a hoax) that the articles reveal. Use the list of good/bad habits of thinking/questioning that follows below as a resource. • State your own view on global climate change. Is it real? On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most important, how would your rate the importance of addressing climate change? What steps, if any, are you taking in your own life to address the problem? Bad Habits of Thinking: • Self-Interest • Saving Face • Peer Pressure • Stereotyping and Prejudice • Excessive Skepticism • Intellectual Laziness • Relativism (Subjective or Cultural) Bad Questions: • Rhetorical Questions • Leading Questions • Loaded Questions • Obstructionist Questions • Framing Questions • Empty Questions Good Questions: • Direct • Useful • Open and Creative Good Habits of Critical Thinking • Be Curious • Be Self-aware • Be Healthy • Be Courageous • Be Reasonably Skeptical • Think for Yourself • Keep it Simple • Be Precise • Be Patient • Be Consistent • Be Open-Minded • Ask for Help Recommendations for Success and Grading Criteria • Respond to the assignment with clear and detailed answers. • Follow all assignment prompts and answer all prompt questions. • Incorporate relevant examples and evidence to support your claims. • Compose your response in clear and grammatically correct English and post it on time. • Respond to at least two students with substantive comments and follow-up questions. • Acknowledge all students who comment on your post.