how often do you try to resist biases toward your own point of view?

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To complete this assignment, you will first read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes: “The Believing Game and How to Make Conflicting Opinions More Fruitful” by clicking HERE (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.

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.

To complete this assignment, you will write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

  1. State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment 1.1., which you submitted in Week 2.
  2. Identify (3) three premises (reasons) from the Procon.org website that support your position and explain why you selected these specific reasons.
  3. Explain your answers to the “believing” questions about the three (3) premises opposing your position from the Procon.org website.
  4. Examine at least two (2) types of biases that you likely experienced as you evaluated the premises for and against your position.
  5. Discuss the effects of your own enculturation (meaning your own upbringing and experiences) or group identification that may have influenced your biases.
  6. 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 these 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.
  • 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.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date.

Below is what I have already turned in, the professor said this about my paper ” This paper is on the right track .  The challenge is mainly around the Believing Game questions, where you need to really get into the perspective of an opposing viewpoint.  Your paper, however, is more an exploration of the issue of banning books.  What you needed to do was to, in essence, try to support an opposing viewpoint.  Doing this helps you to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of your own viewpoint.” So it will really need to show an opposing viewpoint.

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Running Head: Banned Books

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Banned Books

The American Library Association banned books containing sexual content, offensive language in a writing as well as unsuitable books to certain generation, from libraries following demand to do so by citizens. The survey carried on 60% of the interviewed persons were for this idea. The idea of banning certain books from the libraries is of great advantage to the young generations in the United States (Wachsberger, Karolides, Sova & Bald, 2011).  This is because the parents now have influence on which materials their young ones are using for studies. It is socially unethical to introduce young ones to study materials about drug abuse as well as sexual issues. Thus this shall curb immorality among the youths.

The parents can have influence on the materials read by their kids but not what others study. If one shows no interest in a certain book they should bar the access of such by their children without affecting others. A negative attitude towards a book should not lead to its exclusion from the libraries. This helps the authors of such books to gain a market of their works. The banned books have proved to be of great help to some people. For example the book titled Growing Up provide answers to kids on the expectations of life as they become mature in the future. This turns to be helpful in the sense that one for example understand the history of the country (Bily, 2012). Books are said to be entryway to life and studying them help to gain empathy. This implies that reading them help in understanding of various aspects of life such as peers and responsibilities in the today’s society. One is able to work with their age mates rather than being personal (Astruc, TotalBoox & TBX, 2013).

It is clear that banning certain books on the basis of its content has proven to be costly. Some children are not able to access these books in the library because their parents advocated for their removal yet they could have helped in solving the stressing issue they go through.

References

Bily, C. A. (2012). Banned books. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.

Wachsberger, K., Karolides, N. J., Sova, D. B., & Bald, M. (2011). Banned books. New York, NY: Facts on File.

Astruc, R. J., TotalBoox,, & TBX,. (2013). Banned Books. Dreamspinner Press