Philosophy

Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology

Writing Group Exercise on Arguments

(Notes on the importance of group exercises.) 

Group Work Summary: In groups, discuss your individual essay's argument. 

Step 1 (ten or so minutes): Individually, write your argument on a piece of paper.  As best you can, distinguish your argument's conclusion (your thesis) from your premise (what you use to support your thesis).  If you don’t have an argument in mind, invent one.  (This should be at least two sentences long, but should not exceed six or more sentences.) 

    (If you already have an argument in mind, spend this time listing out different ways you could support your thesis, or come up with possible objections to either your thesis or support for your thesis.) 

Step 2 (ten or so minutes):  In groups, discuss your individual arguments, in turn. 

Step 3 (one minute): In the same groups, put today's date, your group member's names, and "Arguments Group Exercise" on a sheet of paper. 

    If you find yourself done with early, please come up with a question or two (e.g., one question about the reading for this essay, and one about the essay itself) for me to answer in front of the whole class. 

Step 4 (ten or so minutes):  In your original (pre-group) seats, we collectively discuss the fruits of our labor.  Did you change your argument?  Did you abandon your argument?  Did you strengthen your argument?