Description
Directions: Respond to 3 of the following 7 prompts. Answers should be in typewritten essay format. There is no set length requirement, but good answers are usually about 300 words (1 double-spaced page) each. This is a take-home exam, so you are welcome to use any resources available to you, but be sure to include proper citations.
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1. (a) Discuss a time when somebody tried to change your mind or you tried to change somebody elses mind. (b) What did this experience teach you about the nature of belief and doubt? Explain.
2. (a) Discuss a social, religious, or political belief you hold. (b) In what ways is your belief justified, and can you think of any reasons to doubt it?
3. (a) Discuss the obstacles to critical thinking covered in the course. (b) What strategies could you use to overcome those obstacles? Explain.
4. (a) Summarize John Stuart Mills ideas on free speech with reference to On Liberty. (b) What do you think of Mills argument? Explain.
5. (a) Find at least three examples of fallacious arguments in the media (newspapers, magazines, television, radio, social media, etc.). Provide a brief summary of each of the arguments you found. (b) Identify the fallacy in each of the three arguments, including a definition of the fallacy.
6. (a) How can you identify somebody as an expert? When should you trust and when should you doubt an experts opinion? (b) Do you trust experts? Why or why not?
7. (a) In what ways can claims made in the news, advertisements, and other media be misleading, biased, or otherwise untrustworthy? Give examples. (b) How can you avoid being misled by such media and ensure you are making decisions based on reliable information? Explain.
