Assignment: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay - Part I
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 parts.
In Part I of the assignment, you will first read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes: "The Believing Game and How to Make Conflicting Opinions More Fruitful". Next, you will review the ProconWebsite in order to gather information. Then, you will engage in prewriting to examine your thoughts.
(Not required) 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 of the approved topics from the Procon Website and state your position on the issue.
2. From the ProconWebsite, identify three premises (reasons) listed under either the Pro or Con section - whichever section opposes your position.
3. For each of the three 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 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.
Synthesizing and Writing
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 ProconWebsite 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 page paper in which you:
1. State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment.
2. Identify three premises (reasons) from the Proconwebsite that support your position and explain why you selected these specific reasons.
3. Explain your answers to the believing questions about the three premises opposing your position from the Proconwebsite.
4. Examine at least two 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.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.