Critical Inquiry Project

Question 1: Marijuana is often called a “gateway drug” that leads to other addictions such as alcohol, nicotine, and “harder” drugs. However, several states in the US have legalized marijuana for medical use and a few for recreational use in small quantities. If you were a police officer in the United States, would you advocate legalization? Is marijuana really a gateway drug? What could the long-term effects of legalization be?

Step 1: Select a topic and begin research

1. Select one of the four Discussion Questions above.

This assignment will be a 5 paragraph essay ranging from 800-1200 words and will be submitted via Blackboard. You will choose 1 of the 4 Discussion Questions presented in Week 10 (Task 6.11.1) to write about and conduct research. Incorporate at least 3 academic sources. Your essay and sources should all be cited according to APA style.

1. Open a document in MSWord or Google Docs to use for notes.
2. Write a list of search terms.
3. Write a list of any good web sites that you think would help (e.g. open source intelligence sites).
4. Begin your search. Use advanced Search and Google Scholar.
5. Copy / paste links to web sites that look interesting.
6. Make notes next to the links about the contents.

Step 2: Collect five or more high-quality sources

1. Download copies of the best sites to read offline.
   1. Look for PDF download links.
   2. Look for PRINT buttons and save as a PDF.
   3. Right-click and choose print or save as.
   4. Be sure that you can find the web site again later for writing your APA references!
2. Read your sources carefully.
   1. Look for bias, facts, and opinions.
   2. Check the authority of the writer.
   3. Check the facts presented.
   4. Think about how the ideas fit in a larger framework of Security Science.

CILO 1 Rubric CILO 1 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
1.1 Identification
No points of information identified.
One relevant point of information identified.
Multiple relevant points of information identified
…and linked together to support a central statement or question
…with a framework for inquiry stated (i.e. an indication of the structure of the response). 1.2 Differentiation No distinction between fact and opinion made. Distinction made once. Distinction made routinely …and source of opinion/ fact explained …and fact/ opinion used to develop an idea appropriately.
CILO 2 Rubric CILO 2 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
2.1 Position
No position stated.
Position stated inconsistently.
Position stated consistently throughout essay
…and amplified with supporting claims
…and succinctly restated to achieve closure. 2.2 Support No evidence is provided. One piece of evidence is provided that is properly cited and relevant to the position. Several pieces of evidence are provided that are all properly cited and relevant to the position …and are drawn from multiple, cross-disciplinary sources …and relate to both sides of the position.
CILO 3 Rubric CILO 3 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
3.1 Bias
No critique provided.
One dimension of bias identified.
Multiple dimensions of bias identified
…and explained
…and guidance on how best to interpret the source/ argument provided. 3.2 Accuracy No critique provided. Claims checked against once source. Claims checked against multiple sources …that are independent …and accepted as being of high reliability. 3.3 Authority No critique provided. State authority of one source. State authority of all sources used …and compare sources’ overall reliability based on authority …and describe context in which each source is valid.
CILO 4 Rubric CILO 4 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
4.1 Conventions
No syntactic variety.
Uses a limited range of sentence patterns and cohesive devices.
Uses a full range of sentence patterns and cohesive devices
…and incorporates in text citations and academic register
…and shows sophistication in fluency of expression 4.2 Cogency Ideas are obscured or hard to discern. Ideas are clear …and logically coherent …and provide focused, relevant, explanation and support to the argument …and frame the argument within the context of a broader discourse.