To prepare for this portion of the dialog, the video Epigenetics located at http://www.youtube.com/v/Xjq5eEslJhw?version=3
The Nature vs. Nurture debate has been going on for centuries. The discussions experts currently have about these two influences on human development is now an “and” not an “either/or” one as science has demonstrated that each of us is the product of both our genetic makeup and the environment in which we develop. Despite this, both professionals and lay persons still hold differing perspectives on which influence has the greatest impact.

Discuss  your perspective on the relative influence of heredity and environment–that is, which do you think has the greatest influence of the two after viewing the video above and reading this week’s assigned learning material–and how your view differs or is similar after reading the assigned material vs. before.

Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part I
Prewriting
Due Week 2 and worth 30 points

When looking for information about a particular issue, how often do you try to resist biases toward your own point of view? This assignment asks you to engage in this aspect of critical thinking by playing the “Believing Game.” The Believing Game is about making the effort to “believe” – or at least consider – the reasons for an opposing view on an issue.

The assignment is divided into two (2) parts.
In Part I of the assignment (due Week 2), you will first read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes: “The Believing Game and How to Make Conflicting Opinions More Fruitful” at http://www.procon.org/sourcefiles/believinggame.pdf. Next, you will review the Procon.org Website in order to gather information. Then, you will engage in prewriting to examine your thoughts.
Note: In Part II of the assignment (due Week 4), you will write an essay geared towards synthesizing your ideas.

Part I – Prewriting: Follow the instructions below for this prewriting activity.  Use complete sentences and adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
1. Select one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website and state your position on the issue.
2. From the Procon.org Website, identify three (3) premises (reasons) listed under either the Pro or Con section – whichever section opposes your position.
3.For each of the three (3) premises (reasons) that oppose your position on the issue, answer these “believing” questions suggested by Elbow:

1. What’s interesting or helpful about this view?
2. What would I notice if I believed this view?
3. In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?”

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:

• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
• Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Identify the informal fallacies, assumptions, and biases involved in manipulative appeals and abuses of language.
• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.

Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part II
Synthesizing and Writing
Due Week 4 and worth 100 points

When looking for information about a particular issue, how often do you try to resist biases toward your own point of view? This assignment asks you to engage in this aspect of critical thinking.

The assignment is divided into two (2) parts.
For Part I of the assignment (due Week 2), you read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes, reviewed the Procon.org Website in order to gather information, and engaged in prewriting to examine your thoughts.
* Remember that in the Week 2 Discussion, you examined the biases discussed in Chapter 2 of the webtext.

In Part II of the assignment (due Week 4), you will write a paper to synthesize your ideas.
Part II – Writing
Write at three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
1. State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment 1.1.
2. Identify (3) three premises (reasons) from the Procon.org website that support your position    and explain why you selected these specific reasons.
3. Explain your answers to the “believing” questions about the three (3) premises opposing your position from the Procon.org website.
4. Examine at least two (2) types of biases that you likely experienced as you evaluated the premises for and against your position.
5. Discuss the effects of your own enculturation or group identification that may have influenced your biases.
6. Discuss whether or not your thinking about the topic has changed after playing the “Believing Game,” even if your position on the issue has stayed the same.

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:

• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
• Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

You must follow these submission guidelines:

• Submit the essay to Turnitin.com and then submit the originality report and final essay with any needed revisions to Blackboard.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Identify the informal fallacies, assumptions, and biases involved in manipulative appeals and abuses of language.
• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.

Need APA format with title and reference page. No plagiarism.  Please follow assignment instructions.  This is a two part assignment.

  Assignment 3: Review Paper—Draft of Literature Findings

Evaluate the evidence. Create a draft of the findings of the articles you have selected and how they contribute to our knowledge of this problem. Be sure to address each of the following items in your draft:

1.  Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each piece.
2.  If the articles talk to each other (that is, if they support or contrast with one another), explain how and why.
3.  What does the evidence tell us?
4.  Is there another possible explanation you can think of?  Based on what you have read, what is your hypothesis?  In other words, what is your explanation for the findings?
5.  How can you refine your question or topic even further, now that you have described the findings?

Your draft should be double-spaced and in 12 point, Times New Roman font with normal one-inch margins, written in APA style, and free of typographical and grammatical errors.  It should include a title page with a running head and a reference page. The body of the paper should be at least 5-6 pages in length. Submit your paper to the M2: Assignment 3 Dropbox by Wednesday, June 22, 2016.

You will submit your Review Paper next week, so be sure to incorporate the feedback you receive from your instructor on this assignment into your final paper for next week. You may also want to review the following documents that are available in the Doc Sharing area of the course:

• A sample literature review,
• a PowerPoint document illustrating how to set up your word processor for APA style
• a “Guide for Writing a Literature Review”

If you have any questions about your paper, contact your instructor by posting in the Questions for the Professor or Problems & Solutions areas of the course.

Suppose you are an I/O psychologist, working as a consultant, and you have been invited by a government agency to provide a training program for 20 middle-level managers on one of the following topics of your choice: communication skills, leadership skills, or teamwork skills. The broader mission of the government agency is to conduct research and to help address important issues through applied, scientific research.

These managers were assigned to the training because they were recently promoted to leadership roles, and most lack the “soft skills” needed to perform their role as a team leader, despite being highly proficient in their fields. The managers are highly educated, holding a minimum of a Master’s degree, with many holding PhDs, or the equivalent, in various science and engineering fields. The average age is 45 years old.

Design a one-day training program, based on this description, making assumptions when necessary to fill in the details. You should choose at least two different training methods, explaining why you chose each for this training topic and audience. Set learning objectives, and then provide a description of your training program, including how you would design, administer, and evaluate the training.