Assignment task:
TED talks the Neuroscience of Restoration Justice
Answer the following questions regarding the video above. Each response should fully address the question. Use specific examples in your responses.
Q1. What is the speaker's thesis? Is it stated in specific term or is the thesis vague? What is your initial reaction to the thesis? Do you feel as if you agree or disagree with the speaker at this stage?
Q2. It is helpful to establish the limits of your argument and what you are trying to accomplish through a concession statement. What is the speaker's concessio statement? What are the limits of the argument?
Q3. You should let your reader know your bias, but do not let that bias blind you to the primary components of good argumentation: sound, thoughtful evidence and respectfully and reasonably addressing opposing ideas. What are the speaker's biases? How are those biases addressed?
Q4. Facts are statements that can be proven using objective data. List three facts presented by the speaker.
Q5. Opinions are personal views, or judgments, that cannot be proven. List three opinions presented by the speaker.
Q6. To persuade a skeptical audience, you will need to use a wide range of evidence. Scientific studies, opinions from experts, historical precedent, statistics, personal anecdotes, and current events are all types of evidence that you might use in explaining your point. Discuss the evidence used by the speaker.
Q7. It is essential that you not only address counterarguments but also do so respectfully. What opposition statements does the speaker address? In what way are those statements addressed?
Q8. Make sure that your word choice and writing style is appropriate for both your subject and your audience. Describe the speaker's tone as well as its effectiveness.
Q9. In this TedTalk, the speaker touches on a number of issues that can be further developed into arguments of their own. List 4-5 topics that the speaker mentions that would be good topics for an argumentative essay. Don't respond to the speaker's thesis, as you will not be arguing for or against their stand. Consider 4-5 topics that the speaker mentions and that you would be interested in researching.