The following question is worth 300 points, or the majority of my final grade. Again this professor has been very difficult to work with and grades strictly off of the rubric. (100 level class with 500 level expectations) It is due no later than the 4th of Aug. at 12am. But would like to review it on the 2nd of Aug., giving time for any revisions. Please let me know if you need any additional information to get started on it. Thanks again! Option #1: Critical Thinking Paper on Issue or Problem  Select an issue or problem that you wish to investigate critically. Formulate a question or thesis (Links to an external site.) on the issue so that your research has a clear and cogent direction. Use Paul and Elder’s (2012) intellectual standards to find a topic or problem that is clear, relevant, significant, and precise. Now, write a paper that addresses the problem or issue via scholarly sources. Your paper should include the following: Title page: include your name, date, title of essay, and class Introduction: provide a two-paragraph introduction (Links to an external site.) that frames the issue or problem carefully Engagement with issue or problem using scholarly sources and the intellectual standards proposed by Paul and Elder (2012): What  is the issue? Why is it significant? Why is this issue relevant to you  (and/or your community)? What have you learned about the depth and  breadth of the issue or problem from scholarly sources? How do the  scholarly sources aid you in fair-mindedness and logic? Conclusion (Links to an external site.):  Reflect  on your issue or problem and how the sources informed your thinking.  What have you learned? How can you apply the intellectual standards and  elements of reason to this issue or problem to come to creative  solutions? What critical questions remain? References Journal Submission. Each module lecture contains a  section with journal prompts that focus on reflection and application of  the module content. Use the Journal Template to record your answers for  each module’s prompt(s). Include these entries at the end of your Final  Portfolio. Details Cite all claims and ideas using scholarly sources. While it is  acceptable to write in the first person, be sure to cite your sources to  support your inferences. Your paper should engage a minimum of six scholarly sources that are not required or recommended readings for this course. The CSU-Global Library (Links to an external site.) is a good place to find these sources. Your paper should be eight to ten pages in length and formatted according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing & APA (Links to an external site.). Papers should be double-spaced, 12-point font.   Keep in mind the following milestones throughout the course designed to assist you in crafting your Final Portfolio Week 1: Submit Portfolio Topic (worth 25 points) Week 4: Submit Revised Portfolio Topic and Preliminary Outline (worth 25 points) Refer to the Portfolio Project rubric below to understand how your project will be graded. Option #2: Annotated Bibliography  Select an issue or problem that you wish to investigate critically. Formulate a question or thesis (Links to an external site.) on the issue so that your research has a clear and cogent direction. Use Paul and Elder’s (2012) intellectual standards to find a topic or problem that is clear, relevant, significant, and precise. Now, construct an annotated bibliography (Links to an external site.) that addresses the problem or issue through scholarly sources. See this example (Links to an external site.) for a good overview of how an annotated bibliography should be constructed. Your annotated bibliography should include the following: Title page: include your name, date, title of annotated bibliography, and class Introduction (Links to an external site.): provide a two-paragraph introduction that frames the issue or problem carefully Annotations (Links to an external site.):  Summarize the main point or arguments of each scholarly source. What  are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What  topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about,  what would you say? After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to  evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other  sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this  source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source? Each  annotation should be roughly one or two paragraphs in length. Conclusion (Links to an external site.):  Reflect  on your issue or problem and how the sources informed your thinking.  What have you learned? How can you apply the intellectual standards and  elements of reason to this issue or problem to come to creative  solutions?

Based on the material in this module, address the issue of human freedom in a socially structured world. That is, to what extent do you think people are free to think and act as they wish? In answering this question, consider the theories presented in this module?Nature Versus Nurture: A False Debate➢ Nature (Inherited characteristics)➢ Nurture (Socialization experiences)Socialization ➢ The process of social interaction that teaches the child the intellectual, physical, and social skills needed to function as a member of society. Through socialization children learnBegins at birthTheir cultureAcquire a personalityBecoming a Person: Biology and Culture➢ Every human being is born with a set of genes, inherited units of biological material. Where do these inherit traits come from?Genetics – Inherited➢ Biological transmissions from mother and father that influence:Chemical processesBlood typePhysiological response and perception » Taste, colorPhysical traits » Height, weight, hair color, musculatureSociobiology - Synthesis (the influence of both society and biology on behavior)• Behavioral Ecology – Acknowledges biological basis for some human behavior• Recognizes socialization and free will• Links some behavior to survival• Part of natural selectionThe Concept of Self➢ Every individual comes to possess a social identity by occupying statuses—culturally and socially defined positions—in the course of his or her socialization.➢ Social identity is the total of all the statuses that define an individual. How does the self develop?➢ When the individual becomes aware of his or her feelings, thoughts, and behaviors as separate and distinct from those of other people.Six Concepts of Self➢ An awareness of the existence, appearance, and boundaries of one’s own body ➢ The ability to refer to one’s own being by using language and other symbols➢ Knowledge of one’s personal history➢ Knowledge of one’s needs and skills➢ The ability to organize one’s experiences➢ The ability to take a step back and look at one’s being as others do, to evaluate the impressions one is creating, and to understand the feelings and attitudes one stimulates in othersDimensions of Human Development➢ Cognitive ➢ Moral ➢ GenderSocialization in American SocietySocialization begins with the Family, the School, Peer Groups, and Mass MediaFamily: Primary source for early socializationConnects to particular version of culture• Subcultural community• Geographic region• Social class• Ethnic group• Religious orientationThe School: Institutional Framework–Selected skills and knowledge–Mitigates conflicting values between:FamilyLocal communityState, regional, and local requirementsHow important are schools to the process of socialization? Peer Groups: Individuals who are social equals. Powerful influence over lifestyle issues• Appearance• Activities• Interaction and dating• Materialism and consumerism➢ Diverse Society Mass Media Television, Movies, & Video Games: An inescapable presence – Measurable time involvement • 2.5 hours weekdays / 4.3 hours weekends • Cumulative totals exceed personal interaction in other areas – Promotes aggression • Problem resolution via violence Four consequences of repeated exposure to video games➢ It produces more positive attitudes and expectations regarding the use of aggression➢ It leads to rehearsing more aggressive solutions to problems➢ It decreases consideration of nonviolent alternatives➢ It decreases the likelihood of thinking of conflict, aggression, and violence as unacceptable alternatives

Consider an argument called "Pascal’s Wager." This argument was developed by the 17th century philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal. Do you accept this argument? Why or why not? Pascal's wager can be summarized as follows: Either God exists or God does not exist. And either one can believe that God exists or one can reject belief that God exists. Logically, this permits the following four options: God exists and you believe that God exists.  God exists and you do not believe that God exists.  God does not exist and you believe that God exists.  God does not exist and you do not believe that God exists.  Now, since this is an existentially significant issue, you ought to weigh the options and choose the one that has the best consequences for your life. What are the consequences of each option? Pascal says the consequences of option (1) include indescribable joy forever. The consequences of option (2) include great misery forever. The consequences of (3) include being wrong but deriving some comfort and well-being in this life, although there is no afterlife. The consequences of (4) include being correct about God, but since there is no afterlife, death is the end for you. Pascal says that if you don't find other arguments for God plausible, since (1) has the best consequences, you should believe in God for pragmatic reasons.