This assignment will help you understand the power of alternative arguments and points of view by showing you how to formulate and explore alternative positions. (The whole assignment, which has two parts, should be no more than two double-spaced pages long.)
Part 1-The Game
Play the Believing/Doubting Game with ONE of the assertions listed below:
- Nighttime is more fun than daytime.
- The Christmas holiday season is the best time of the year.
- Facebook is a good way to make new friends.
- Cats make the best pets.
When you Believe an assertion, you agree, support, illustrate, extend, and apply the idea.
When you Doubt an assertion, you question, challenge, rebut, and offer counter reasons and counter examples to the assertion.
To generate your ideas, spend ten minutes listing points for Believing and then ten minutes listing points for Doubting the assertion, for a total of twenty minutes. Then use your ideas to write one believing paragraph and one doubting paragraph.
Part 2-Reflection
Write a reflective paragraph in which you assess the extent to which the believing and doubting game extended or stretched your thinking. Particularly, answer these questions:
- What was difficult about this writing activity?
- To what extent did it make you take an unfamiliar or uncomfortable stance?
- How has the game helped you see multiple sides of an issue?
Due: Friday, February 7