Assignment 1.1: 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 (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:

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

The paper should follow the 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 MODEL:

Full Title of Paper Using Normal Capitalization Rules

Your Name

Instructor’s Name

Strayer University

Course Name
Repeat Full Title Here One Inch from Top of Page

[You are writing this first assignment as an outline only.]

I. Topic & YOUR POSITION: (one selected from www.procon.org)

II. Premises (reasons): Identify three (3) premises under the pro/con section that OPPOSE your position and complete the thoughts listed.

Premise 1:

What is interesting or helpful about this view is……
If I believed this way, I would notice…..
This idea might be true if…..

Premise 2:

What is interesting or helpful about this view is……
If I believed this way, I would notice…..
This idea might be true if…..

Premise 3:

What is interesting or helpful about this view is……
If I believed this way, I would notice…..
This idea might be true if…..

Please notice that this is double spaced with one inch margins using APA style title page and headings. This part is NOT to be written in essay form; you can simply download this document and insert your own information in the appropriate places.

References

List references in alphabetical order using APA style formatting; see tutorial for demonstrations.

General form:

Author. (Year). Publishing information.

Examples:

Kirby, G.R. & Goodpaster, J.R. (2007). Thinking: Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Milton, J., Jones, M. & Smith, T. (2010). Right ways of thinking. Historical Journal of Thought, 24, 225-229. Retrieved from www.historicaljournal.edu

Stonewall, U. (2012). Psychology and thought: Why you should think critically. New York: Penguin Books, Inc.

[PLEASE NOTE CAPITALIZATION OF ARTICLE AND JOURNAL TITLES AS WELL AS BOOK TITLEs; IN FACT, PLEASE NOTE ALL PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION—AND SEE TUTORIALS IN THE STUDENT CENTER FOR OTHER DETAILS.]

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Introduction

In the past, marijuana was dismissed as to having no medical benefit and this lead to congress passing laws that would make it illegal to be in possession of the item. However as time went by, it became more clear to researchers that the marijuana does have advantages when it is used for the medical purpose…..

APA

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