Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part I
Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part I
Prewriting
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 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.
Grading for this assignment will be based on quality, logic / organization, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.
Points: 30
Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Prewriting
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 thewww.procon.orgWebsite and state your position on the issue.
Weight: 20%
Did not submit or incompletely selected one (1) of the approved topics from thewww.procon.orgWebsite; did not submit or incompletely stated your position on the issue.
Insufficiently selected one (1) of the approved topics from thewww.procon.orgWebsite; insufficiently stated your position on the issue.
Partially selected one (1) of the approved topics from thewww.procon.orgWebsite; partially stated your position on the issue.
Satisfactorily selected one (1) of the approved topics from thewww.procon.orgWebsite; satisfactorily stated your position on the issue.
Thoroughly selected one (1) of the approved topics from thewww.procon.orgWebsite; 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, mecha
Solution Preview
Gun control has become a controversial issue following the rise in gun violence in the country. In the U.S gun ownership per 100 people will be 88.8 guns. The gun control laws have been seen to have several loopholes that culprits will take advantage of. The gun culture can be derived from the past during the colonial period, the frontier days as well as the laws under the Second Amendment.
(617 words)