Assignment 1.1 Conflicting Viewpoints Essay

 

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. 

In this assignment, 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 .  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.
 

 Follow the instructions below for this 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 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:

• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.

Criteria

Unacceptable
Below 60% F

Meets Minimum Expectations
60-69% D

Fair
70-79% C

Proficient
80-89% B

Exemplary
90-100% A

1. Select one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website and state your position on the issue.
Weight: 20%

Did not submit or incompletely selected one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website; did not submit or incompletely stated your position on the issue.

Insufficiently selected one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website; insufficiently stated your position on the issue.

Partially selected one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website; partially stated your position on the issue.

Satisfactorily selected one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website; satisfactorily stated your position on the issue.

Thoroughly selected one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website; thoroughly stated your position on the issue.

2. Identify three (3) premises under either the “Pro” or “Con” section from procon.org.
Weight: 30%

Did not submit or incompletely identified three (3) premises under either the “Pro” or “Con” section  from procon.org.

Insufficiently identified three (3) premises under either the “Pro” or “Con” section from procon.org.

Partially identified three (3) premises under either the “Pro” or “Con” section  from procon.org.

Satisfactorily identified three (3) premises under either the “Pro” or “Con” section under “Con” from procon.org.

Thoroughly identified three (3) premises under either the “Pro” or “Con” section “from procon.org.

3. Provide answers to the “believing questions” for the three (3) premises that disagree with your own position.
Weight: 40%

Did not submit or incompletely provided answers to the “believing  questions” for the three (3) premises that disagree with your own  position.

Insufficiently provided answers to the “believing questions” for the three (3) premises that disagree with your own position.

Partially provided answers to the “believing questions” for the three (3) premises that disagree with your own position.

Satisfactorily provided answers to the “believing questions” for the three (3) premises that disagree with your own position.

Thoroughly provided answers to the “believing questions” for the three (3) premises that disagree with your own position.

4. Use complete sentences and adhere to standard rules of English  grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling. Follow APA Style format.
Weight: 10%

Did not complete the assignment or had more than 9 errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 8-9 errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 6-7 different errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 4-5 different errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 0-3 different errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

no reference except for the procon.org website on the specific page noted above