Introduction
This page is representative of all assignment pages in the course. In the left column is a list of required readings or lectures for the week, additional resources, and course objectives. In this column you will find an introduction to the week's concepts, descriptions of tasks to be done, as well as guest lectures, assessment rubrics, and anything else I think might be of help.
If there's anything you don't understand or can't access, get in touch with me immediately. I cannot help you if I don't know there's a problem.
You are expected to incorporate ideas from the readings and lectures into your discussion posts, as well as any writing tasks. When you visit the discussion threads, you may also find additional prompts, readings, and instructions. These should also be considered as you engage in the discussion with classmates. Use the assessment rubric(s) at the bottom of the page as checklists.
We're going to take this first week to consider why we take the positions we do. That means a look at how values and experiences impact our willingness to even consider a particular argument position.
Task 1a - Personal Introduction
Post a bit about yourself in a reply to the Week 1 1a discussion thread. Be sure to change the subject of your reply to your last name + 1a. (see About Naming Conventions) You'll see my post as an example in the 1a discussion thread. Feel free to post links to or to upload photos so we can see what you look like. :)
IMPORTANT: The personal introduction must be completed within 24 hours of the official beginning of class. If a registered student does not post a personal introduction on time, I will consider that person a NO-SHOW and give that person's space in the class to someone else.
Task 1b - Discussion: World Views and Personal Values
Argument as a form of learning may be a new idea for some of you, especially since there is so little argument for the purpose of understanding modeled by leaders in our nation. In fact, we often seem almost unable to effectively support even strong positions. This inability to articulate and support our positions is seen in the frequently used phrases, "we'll agree to disagree" or "everyone is entitled to an opinion." What that usually means is..." I think I'm right, and you think you're right, but I'm not willing to consider your position, and you're not willing to consider my position, so we'll just drop the subject."
While it is true that everyone is entitled to an opinion, does that mean that all opinions are equal? The short answer is no. Opinions based exclusively on personal values may lack sufficient factual information to convince someone who has a different value system. It's vitally important to understand the difference between concrete, factual support and gut-level reactionary support.
The way we see life -- whether we are generally happy, sad, angry, gregarious, introverted, guided by faith, rebellious, a people pleaser, etc. -- develops over time based on our personal experiences. Those experiences and the way we respond to them help to develop our personal value systems. Together our values and the way we see the world have a profound effect on the way we receive and react to arguments. For instance, in this election year there will be many people trying to convince us to side with them on candidates or propositions. If one says, "This argument comes from a Democrat," or "This argument comes from a Republican," what would be your immediate response? A lot of people have a visceral reaction to common political labels, such as conservative, progressive, Democrat, and Republican. Their reaction has less to do with facts than emotion. Even careful thinkers can be blinded by their preconceived values. If we examine the way we commonly think and react, we are better prepared to make more effective choices.
Please read the assigned chapter, articles, and lectures, and view the guest lectures before getting started on this discussion. The more informed you are, the easier it will be to engage with the ideas of others.
Guest lecture: Seeing the world as it isn't
Guest lecture: I have a Dream!
Please view this speech at this site:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
Task 1c - Subject Proposal
NOTE: You are only required to make one post in this discussion thread. However, it would be a good idea to connect with others who have chosen the same subject area. Also, this post can be revised if the score is less than 22 points.
It's never too early to get started on the final project in a course, especially one you will be working on throughout the semester, so we're going to start right now. This is essential because major tasks in the class focus on different aspects of the final project topic. As you develop those tasks, you are also developing ideas and content for the final project.
Process
- Read the 1c Assessment Rubric at the bottom of this page.
- Read the Final Project page.
- Choose a subject from the options provided.
- Identify an issue within the subject area that you want to research.
- Develop a debatable question related to that issue.
- Do enough preliminary research to get a sense of the issue debate.
- Make a preliminary claim about the issue.
- Explain why you are making the claim.
- Post your response in the Wk1 - 1c discussion thread.
- Post a copy of 1c as an attachment in the Week 1 assignment folder.
1c Example
This task (1c) does not have to be long, but it does need to be thoughtful, and it does need to be set up in proper MLA format.
NOTE: I will be using marijuana reform for examples throughout the course. This means that NO ONE ELSE can use any topic related to marijuana.
Here's an example of how 1c might be completed:
Name
Class & Task ID
Date
of submission
Subject: Marijuana reform
Debatable Question: Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use?
Preliminary Claim: Marijuana should be legalized for recreational use.
Why I think this way:
One of my core values is that people should be as free as possible to make choices, even if those choices are not necessarily good ones, as long as they do not hurt others. It's true that marijuana use is not especially good, but it does have some value both medically and recreationally. Also, I do not believe it is as dangerous as some other drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. As long as it is not provided to children or youth, and as long as the person using marijuana does not cause harm to any other person, then there should not be a law that puts someone at risk of prison just for using marijuana. I also believe that our government should not be investing so much in trying to control all types of behavior. There are too many laws that place unreasonable restrictions on adult choices. Marijuana use should be legalized, taxed, and regulated the way alcohol and tobacco are regulated; the primary difference is the change should be done at the federal level rather than individual state levels.
