These are two separate discussion posts not one paper. Both discussion posts need to be completed. Any references used should be in APA format.

Elements of Critical Thinking

Prepare: In preparation for discussing the importance of critical thinking skills, please read the following articles: Critical Thinking and the Challenges of Internet and Common Misconceptions of Critical Thinking.

Reflect: Reflect on the characteristics of a critical thinker. What makes you a critical thinker? Critical thinking gets you involved in a dialogue with the ideas you read from others in this class. To be a critical thinker, you need to be able to summarize, analyze, hypothesize, and evaluate new information that you encounter.

Write: For this discussion, you will address the following prompts. Keep in mind that the article or video you’ve chosen should not be about the topic “critical thinking,” but should be about someone making a statement, claim, or argument. One source should demonstrate good critical thinking skills and the other source should demonstrate the lack or absence of critical thinking skills. Personal examples should not be used.

• Explain at least five elements of critical thinking that you found in the reading material.
• Search the Internet, or media and find an example in which good critical thinking skills are being demonstrated by the author or speaker. Summarize the content and explain why you think it demonstrates good critical thinking skills.
• Search the Internet, or media and find an example in which the author or speaker lacks good critical thinking skills. Summarize the content and explain why you think it demonstrates the absence of good, critical thinking skills.

Post should be at least 250 words in length, which should include a thorough response to each prompt. You are required to provide in-text citations of applicable required reading materials and/or any other outside sources you use to support your claims. Provide full reference information of all sources cited at the end of your response.

References:

Bailin, S., Case, R., Coombs, J. R., & Daniels, L. B. (1999). Common misconceptions of critical thinking. Curriculum Studies, 31(3), 269-283. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Plencner, A. (2014). Critical thinking and the challenges of Internet. Communication Today, 5(2), 4-18. Retrieved from http://www.communicationtoday.sk/critical-thinking-and-the-challenges-of-internet/

Argumentative Essay Progress

For this discussion, you will address the following prompts:

Identify the global societal issue you have chosen to research for your Argumentative Essay and explain why further research on this topic is important. (The global societal issue is Adult Illiteracy)

Provide a clear and concise thesis statement that includes a solution to the global societal issue.

Explain how this global societal issue impacts a specific population.

Locate a peer-reviewed scholarly source and provide statistical data that you found surprising on the topic.

Post should be at least 250 words in length, which should include a thorough response to each prompt. You are required to provide in-text citations of applicable required reading materials and/or any other outside sources you use to support your claims. Provide full reference information of all sources cited at the end of your response.