1. Discuss this week’s readings’ personal relevance to you. (At least 150 words)
Include at least one quote from each of the readings in your discussion.
The following questions might give you some ideas for your discussion. You’re not required to address them.
· Have you thought about the issues raised in the readings before? If so,
o Are they important to you? Why or why not?
o What is/was your view on them?
o Have your views on these issues changed over time? Why or why not?
o Have your views on these issues affected any choices you’ve made? Explain.
o Have you had a memorable debate about these issues with someone you know? Describe it.
· Did the readings give you a new perspective on the issues they raise? Explain.
· Did the readings make an idea seem more credible or reasonable than you’d previously thought? Explain.
· If you’ve never thought about these issues before,
o Are you interested in thinking about them further now that you’ve done the readings?
o Are these issues similar or related to other issues that you have thought about?
o Do you see the value of thinking about these issues?
2. Map one of the following passages, each of which is an edited version of passages from one of the assigned readings. Come up with your own premise objection or inference objection to the argument you mapped. Add your objection to the map.
a) Passage 1
b) Passage 2
3. Properly cite the readings you discuss.
Put any quotes in quotation marks and then cite the author.
When you paraphrase an author of a reading, cite them.
If you paraphrase or quote an author in your map, you can put the citation in a note next to your map.
Include a “Works Cited” section (even if there’s only one entry in it).
4. Choose one of your classmates’ Original Posts and do both of the following:
a. Respond to your classmate’s discussion of the readings’ personal relevance. (At least 50 words)
Your response should do at least two of the following:
· Offer advice
· Pose a question
· Acknowledge a similar experience
· Provide an alternative point-of-view
b. Respond to your classmate’s map
This response should do at least one of the following:
a. Defend the reading by mapping a premise objection or an inference objection to your classmate’s objection. And, if possible, add layers of reasons to support your objection. Your argument should contain at least two claims, divided between one or more layers.
b. Support your classmate’s objection by mapping a reason in support of it. And, if possible, add layers of reasons to support your reason. Your argument should contain at least two claims, divided between layers.
c. Explain, in writing (not a map), why you think your classmate’s map might misinterpret the argument from the reading. Quote from a relevant part of the text, explain the quote, and use your explanation of the quote to support your interpretation of the reading. (At least 50 words)
d. Suggest a revision of one or more premises of your classmate’s argument. This revision should do two things:
· it should be “in the spirit” of your classmate’s argument and
· it should have some advantage over the original version of your classmate’s premise. For example, it might be easier to support or harder to object to.
(At least 50 words)
5. The day after the Original Post is due, I’ll post maps of both passages. Looking at the differences between your maps and mine, reply to your original post with thoughts about what you initially got wrong, what you initially got right, and questions about my maps. If you’re not persuaded that I’ve correctly mapped the arguments, you’re encouraged to say why.
(At least 50 words)