Choose an urban myth that is a solid mixture of reliable and unreliable sources, facts, half-truths, assumptions, fallacies
Choose an urban myth that is a solid mixture of reliable and unreliable sources, facts, half-truths, assumptions, fallacies, etc., a virtual treasure trove of critical thinking issues.
Gather as many sources as possible and thoroughly evaluate them so that you become an “expert” on the topic and all the strengths and weaknesses, contradictions, etc., of the sources.
Understand the historical arc of the myth: the creation, proliferation, and variations of it.
Begin your inferential analysis. That is, begin making “conclusions about the unknown, based on the known.” The “known” is all the information: good sources, bad sources, and everything in between. The “unknown” is what you think the “known” suggests about how we as humans function in a world of media (everything from word-of-mouth to Twitter) and why we tend to think so uncritically.
Your essay should answer this question: What does your critical analysis of the urban myth suggest about how and why we tend to not think critically in the media environment?
4 full pages, maximum of 5
Minimum of 4 outside sources
Include the language of critical thinking such as hidden assumptions, fallacies, ethos, pathos, and euphemistic language.
Answer preview to choose an urban myth that is a solid mixture of reliable and unreliable sources, facts, half-truths, assumptions, fallacies
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