Topic: Assignment: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay
Paper details:
In Part II of the assignment, you will write an essay geared towards synthesizing your ideas. As author E.M. Forster said, “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?”
Part II – Synthesizing and Writing: Now that you have examined your thinking about an issue by pre-writing about your ideas in Part I –
Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
1. Present an argument on an issue by stating your conclusion and identifying your premises. In other words, you will state your position (your conclusion) on the topic you selected and give three reasons (your premises) for why you believe as you do.
2. As we saw in Part I of the assignment, the Believing Game is “believing” what you don’t believe – in other words, trying to agree on some aspect of a view that you disagree with or oppose. Describe your reactions to your answers to the “believing” questions based on each of the three (3) premises you identified from the procon.org Website that are opposed to your position.
3. The Doubting Game is “doubting” what you do believe – in other words, trying to disagree with some aspect of a view that you agree with. Describe your reactions to your answers to the “doubting” questions based on each of the three (3) premises you identified from the procon.org Website that are in agreement with your position.
4. Examine at least three (3) types of biases that you likely experienced when you read the premises (reasons) for and against your position on the topic. (Note: Refer to the specific types of biases discussed in Chapter 2 of the Webtext.) Self-serving bias, Anchoring bias, Expectation bias, Hindsight bias, Confirmation bias
5. Describe whether or not your position on the issue has changed. Indicate whether your premises (reasons) for supporting the issue or not supporting the issue have changed. Explain why or why not.
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.