CPL5000 Unit 1 Capella University Taking A Stand? Objectives To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to: Think critically about a

CPL5000 Unit 1 Capella University Taking A Stand? Objectives To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to: Think critically about an issue and define your position on it.Support your position with credible evidence.Organize a written argument clearly and coherently.Use grammar, punctuation, and language appropriate for academic writing.Please see attachments for further guidance Studies
The studies in this section contain activities that will help you become familiar with Capella
course room features and prepare for the unit discussion and assignment activities.
Know What Is Expected
Carefully read the instructions for assignments and discussions. They provide important
information for successful course completion.
In addition, look for the following:
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Tools and Resources: help learners understand what is required to successfully complete
each activity.
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Scoring Guides: accompany all unit discussions and assignments. While your work in
this trial course is not graded, review these scoring guides to understand what is expected
to successfully complete each activity.
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Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
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Stating Your Position Scoring Guide.
Best Practice—prior to submitting your work, review the scoring guides
again to make sure you have addressed the grading criteria appropriately.
Competency Map
After completing an assignment in an academic course, Capella learners have access to a
personalized Competency Map. This example is like one you might see after completing an
assignment in an academic course. The Competency Map helps you visualize your progress
toward your degree.
Suggested Schedule
Open the Workload Schedule. It contains time estimates to complete each activity. After you
have previewed the course activities, create your own schedule using the content as a guideline
and adjust to fit your personal schedule.
Assignment Preview
Review the Stating Your Position assignment. As you complete the study activities and the first
unit discussion think about how to apply what you are learning to the position paper.
The course assignment is to write a 2-4 pages persuasive position paper on an issue of your
choice that pertains to your area of professional interest. You are expected to:
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Research a selected topic and take a position.
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Write a paper that demonstrates critical thinking in your analysis.
In this trial course, you will submit your paper using a template provided in the assignment
resource.
As we just mentioned, your work in this course will not be graded however, we want you to
understand the caliber of paper that is expected at Capella to receive an “A” grade. View the
Example of an “A” Paper media piece. It also describes the different elements that comprise an
academic paper. In addition, view the Graduate Level Writing vs. Undergraduate Level Writing
media piece.
Required Reading
Read pages 1–9 of Facione’s 2013 essay, “Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts.”
While you read it, consider:
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The questions that arise about your selected topic.
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How someone might challenge your position.
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How to anticipate and address challenges to your position.
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How to apply the core critical thinking skills Facione identifies to construct your
argument.
Keep in mind—the more critically you think about your topic, the stronger your argument and
position paper will be.
Optional Reading
Read “What Is Scholarly?,” which defines what characterizes a resource as “scholarly.” Although
you do not need to restrict yourself to scholarly resources for your assignment, this one-page
explanation will help you understand the difference between scholarly articles and other sources
of information. This reading is optional.
Media
In your assignment you will provide evidence to support your position. Click Claims and
Evidence to view a video on ways to present supporting evidence and facts.
A successful position paper recognizes the existence of opposing arguments and counters them
in advance. Click Opposing Viewpoints and Counterarguments to view the video.
Research
Use Capella library’s Research Guide – Masters to complete the following:
1. Find an article published within the last two years that addresses a current issue related to
your area of professional interest, such as business, psychology, or health care. This
article will form the basis of both your unit discussion and your position paper.
2. Choose a topic of interest that you will enjoy researching and can develop a position on.
3. Find evidence to show that your position is based on something more than your opinion.
4. Use credible sources to support your position.
5. Be prepared to offer a brief synopsis of the article and your position during the
discussion. (You are required to post a link or citation for your selection in the
discussion, so your classmates can access the article.)
Should you have trouble identifying an area of interest, check out Potential Topics for Position
Paper.
NOTE: The research guide provided for this course is representative of the guides the Capella
library develops for many academic. Not all links are active for this sample course.
Preparing for the Unit Discussion: Contemporary Issues in the Workplace
Before participating in the discussion, you may want to:
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Review Course room Tour | Transcript.
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Review the Discussion Participation Scoring Guide to understand how an instructor in a
graded Capella Guided Path course would evaluate your initial post, as well as how to
respond to students’ posts.
Tips for a Successful Discussion Post:
1. Strive to apply the core critical thinking skills outlined in Facione’s essay as you draft
your discussion post.
2. When asked to describe your own experiences and opinions, it is appropriate and
expected that you write in the first person. In other words, using personal pronouns like
“I” is acceptable and correct.
3. Always be respectful of diverse perspectives and refrain from making inappropriate
comments in course room discussions and personal interactions.
Resources
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Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts.
Competency Map [PDF].
Workload Schedule [DOCX].
Opposing Viewpoints and Counterarguments | Transcript.
Research Guide – Masters.
Potential Topics for Position Paper [PDF].
What Is Scholarly?.
Graduate Level Writing vs. Undergraduate Level Writing.
Claims and Evidence | Transcript.
Example of an “A” Paper | Transcript.
Stating Your Position
Constructing Your Argument and Writing Your Paper
A good persuasive position paper requires more than simply stating facts: it must give the reader
reasons to accept a point of view. It requires good research, awareness of the reader’s possible
biases, and a solid understanding of all sides of the issue. It should demonstrate why a position is
correct and why the opposing view is incorrect.
Read through this entire assignment, review the resources provided, and reflect on the studies in
this course. You may also:
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Use what you learned about critical thinking to inform your approach to research and
writing.
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Incorporate information you acquired from your peers in the discussion.
Understanding the Task
Write a 2-4 pages double-spaced paper, taking a position on your chosen topic and providing
evidence and persuasive arguments to support your standpoint. To get started:
1. Use the Position Paper Template provided in Resources as a guideline to construct your
argument and write your paper.
2. Download the template, and replace the guidelines and tips provided in italics with your
own text.
3. Include all sections of the template in your completed position paper.
Researching Your Topic
You began your research on your chosen topic in the unit studies. To complete this position
paper:
1. Continue your research—carefully select supporting evidence from credible sources to
help you develop a sound, logical case for your position.
2. Access the research guide in the Resources. Capella librarians developed the guide for
this trial course to help you find information and statistics that support your position.
Citing and Referencing Your Sources
As you research:
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Identify the most convincing evidence as well as key points representing the opposing
view.
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When you find sources you wish to use, decide whether to quote, paraphrase, or simply
refer to them.
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Create citations and references as you go so you do not lose track of your sources.
Proper attribution is a key academic skill: it allows your reader to locate your
sources and gives credit to those on whose ideas you have based your paper.
To correctly reference your sources, refer to the guidelines in Referencing APA Sources: The Big
Picture, from the APA Module, linked in the Resources. You may also use online citation
generators, such as Citefast. To use Citefast, select the APA tab under Create Your Citations,
enter the information in the fields, then copy and paste the citation generated.
Scoring Guide
Review the scoring guide located in Resources. At Capella, all assignments are graded based on
scoring guides like the one provided there.
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Although your position paper will not be graded, this scoring guide will help you
understand what you must include to successfully complete the assignment.
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To learn more about how coursework is graded at Capella in our GuidedPath learning
format, view Capella’s Grading Model, also located in the Resources.
If you have questions about this assignment, please contact your course facilitator.
Requirements
Your assignment should meet the following requirements:
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Written communication: Free of errors that detract from the overall message.
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Number of resources: Minimum of two resources, with citations and references
formatted according to APA style.
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Document type: Microsoft Word.
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Length of paper: 2–4 typed double-spaced pages, excluding the References page.
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Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
When you have completed your position paper, submit it as an attachment to this assignment.
Resources
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Stating Your Position Scoring Guide.
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APA Module.
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Academic Information Sources (Graduate).
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Research Guide – Masters.
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Example of an “A” Paper | Transcript.
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Citefast.
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Capella’s Grading Model | Transcript.
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Potential Topics for Position Paper [PDF].
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Position Paper Template [DOC].
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Courseroom Tour | Transcript.
Contemporary Issues in the Workplace
Contemporary Issues in the Workplace
Discussions are a way to share experiences and learn from one another. They allow you to give
and receive feedback and support, as well as engage in dialogue that will challenge, clarify, and
expand your understanding of course concepts.
Discussion Question
By now in this trial course you should have selected an article that addresses a current issue of
professional interest and read Facione’s essay, “Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts”
(linked in the Resources). Strive to apply the core critical thinking skills outlined in this essay as
you draft your discussion post.
Your post should include the following:
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Link or citation for your article so your classmates can access it as well.
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Brief synopsis of the article to provide some background on the issue.
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Description of your position on the issue and your rationale for adopting that position.
In academic courses you will typically post your first discussion by mid-week, by 11:59 PM
CST.
Response Guidelines
After you post your initial response to the discussion question, respond to at least one of your
classmates:
1. As you review your classmates’ contributions, look for differences and similarities in how
you approached the discussion and comment on those aspects.
2. If there is an area where you would like more insight, ask questions. The goal is to
engage in a thoughtful exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge.
To respond to a classmate’s post, click the Reply button in the message.
Resources
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Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
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Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts [PDF].
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Courseroom Tour | Transcript.

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