Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part I
Prewriting
Due Week 2 and worth 30 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 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”. 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 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:
a. What’s interesting or helpful about this view?
b. What would I notice if I believed this view?
c. In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?”
1 Select one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website and state
your position on the issue.
My topic of interest is the school uniforms, because I am of the opinion of encouraging students to wear school uniform. The school management should encourage the wearing of school uniform among the students to prevent crime acts in the school and create a favorable environment for learning process. Also, wearing uniform among the students bring about equality. This act enables students to focus on their education and reduce the
costs incurred by parents to purchase bundles of clothes for their children.
From the Procon.org Website, identify three (3) premises (reasons) listed under
either the Pro or Con section – whichever section opposes your position.
o School uniforms restrain students from expressing themselves.
o It encourages conformity among the students.
o Additional costs are incurred parents and guardians to buy school uniforms, and
hence it violates the philosophy of free education.
PHI 210 Assignment Question 2. For each of the three (3) premises (reasons) that oppose your position on the issue, answer these “believing” questions suggested by Elbow:
School uniforms restrain students from expressing themselves.
What’s interesting or helpful about this view?
It is not true that students wearing uniform cannot express themselves. On the contrary, students can have different kinds of hairstyles, positive attitudes and a better chance to excel in their academic majors.
What would I notice if I believed this view?
I would notice that I don’t have a sufficient knowledge regarding the subject of freedom. Ordinarily, school uniforms do not infringe the freedom of expression.
In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?”
School uniforms do not restrict the students from expressing themselves. There are various ways of expressions that are not limited to dress codes. In this sense, the above idea is false and unrealistic.
It encourages conformity among the students.
What’s interesting or helpful about this view?
This view is helpful because it encourages compliance with laws and regulations adopted by the board of management.
What would I notice if I believed this view?
Wearing of uniforms encourage conformity and not individuality. Individuality arises from the personalities, and thus school uniform has nothing with the student’s personality
In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?”
The belief that school uniform bring about individuality is absurd. Clothes are different, but the individual makes the clothes.
Additional costs are incurred parents and guardians to buy school uniforms, and hence it violates the philosophy of free education
What’s interesting or helpful about this view?
The interesting part of this view is that the buying of school uniforms does not compromised the philosophy of free education. Empirically, parents would prefer buying uniforms for their
children to subscribing regular uniforms i.e., paying uniform expenses alongside the tuition fees. This preference is attributed to more savings by the parents.
What would I notice if I believed this view?
If I believed this view, I would notice that indeed school uniforms are quite costly than normal attires.
In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?”
Under no circumstance is the statement above true. Nothing comes free in this world apart from the gifts of nature. Therefore, every parent must strive to provide school uniform for their children. The good part of it is that school uniforms are no longer expensive.