Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part II
Synthesizing and Writing
Due Week 5 and worth 100 points
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.
The assignment is divided into two (2) parts.
For Part I of the assignment (due Week 3), you read a critical thinking process: “The Believing Game and How to Make Conflicting Opinions More Fruitful” by Peter Elbow. , reviewed the Procon.org Website in order to gather information, and engaged in prewriting to examine your thoughts.
* Remember that in the Week 2 Discussion, you examined the biases discussed in Chapter 2 of the webtext.
In Part II of the assignment (due Week 5), you will write a paper to synthesize your ideas.
Part II – Writing
Write at three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment 1.1.
Identify (3) three premises (reasons) from the Procon.org website that support your position and explain why you selected these specific reasons.
Explain your answers to the “believing” questions about the three (3) premises opposing your position from the Procon.org website.
Examine at least two (2) types of biases that you likely experienced as you evaluated the premises for and against your position.
Discuss the effects of your own enculturation or group identification that may have influenced your biases.
Discuss whether or not your thinking about the topic has changed after playing the “Believing Game,” even if your position on the issue has stayed the same.
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.
Conflicting Viewpoints part 1
The selected topic is gun control. I support gun control. I believe that access to guns among general population should be restricted. This paper will utilize Elbow’s believing game to analyze the opposing side.
The website offers three opposing arguments for gun support. The first reason is that the right to own guns is granted by the U.S. Constitution. In particular, the Second Amendment the Constitution protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. This view is interesting because it traces the issue back to the time when the nation was created. If I believed this view, I would notice that our Constitution is very important for regulating our life. This idea might be true if we accept that guns are important for having a free state.
The second opposing argument is that being able to own a gun reduces public crime. The second reason is helpful because it demonstrates that gun controls laws are more dangerous for crimes than allowing gun ownership. If I believed this reason, I would notice that it is actually safer on the streets when everyone is allowed to own a gun. This reason might be true if we accept that these studies were rigid and valid.
The third opposing argument is that gun ownership increases people’s perception of safety. The third reason is interesting because it focuses on intangible things, such as people’s feelings and mood. If I believed this reason, I would notice that being allowed to own a gun makes people feel safe for their lives. This reason might be true under the conditions that owning a gun is the major way to protect oneself.
To sum up, applying the believing game to the three con reasons on gun control has increased my understanding of the opposing view.