Critical Thinking Project Guidelines

Grading Rubric

• Observe and interview a group of at least three people using (recreational use) the drug you have chosen to study. If you chose to study an illegal drug, you will have to find alternatives to direct observations (documentaries, first-person accounts, etc.) Please contact the TA to help locate appropriate alternative resources.
  • Describe the individuals and social setting in which the drug use is taking place. Compare these individuals to the data available on the demographics of drug users, and specifically users of the drug you have chosen to study (use MTF and NSDUH).
  • From research and/or observation specifically and clearly list and describe 5 subjective and 5 objective effects associated with this drug.  
  • Note and discuss how the dimensions of acute and chronic effects are relevant to the drug you are studying.  
  • Display the variety of factors involved in understanding a drug's effect.
  • What are the sociological characteristics of the group (group structure and dynamics: roles, status/position, norms, rituals, language, values, and patterns of interaction)? What part does the drug play in the group's interaction (this is a central concept!!).  Please note that sociological characteristics are different from social or demographic characteristics. 
  • Talk to at least 3 of the people you observed and summarize the opinions given on the following: How do the people you observed view their drug use? If the people use the drug individually, compare and contrast their individual use to group behaviors? What do they think about other drugs?
  • this section of your part 2 essay should contain your analysis of the observation and interviews, and should be approximately 250-500 words (1-2 pages).
• Continue your essay with a focus on drug policy
  • Discuss the claim, "America is a Drug Oriented Society." Do you agree or disagree? Why?
  • Discuss the various social policies concerning drugs and drug use (i.e., criminalization, decriminalization, legalization, and harm reduction). What are the pros and cons of these policies--relate to the drug you have chosen to study. What policy would be most effective in dealing with your drug?
  • Your summary discussion should be approximately 250-500 words. We want to see critical thinking. (1-2 pages).
• See the academic integrity statement and Turnitin information. Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA manuscript submission guide (local copy with web citation guidelines or a full version of the ASA Style Guide). 

Grading Rubric Scoring for this part of the project

• Your project should be saved as a MS Word (.docx) document and submitted via the assignment link ("Critical Thinking Project Part 2") in Module 4 found in our Canvas course site.

General Evaluation Criteria for Written Work and Critical Thinking

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