Philosophy 5: Critical Thinking and Composition

Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology

Writing Group Exercise on Synthesis Reflections  

(Notes on the importance of group exercises.) 

Group Work Summary: In groups, brainstorm possible syntheses. 

Step 0 (five minutes):

List the possible topics from the peer-reviewed articles your found so far, or would like to find, that you could use in your final essay. 

List the possible topics from the Delbanco, Socrates, Descartes, Alexander, Russell, and Brentano readings that you could use in your final essay, starting with the most likely and ending with the least likely. 

Step 1 (ten minutes):  In groups, share your lists. 

Step 2 (ten minutes):  In groups, brainstorm with each other on how you could creatively fulfill the final essay prompt given each group member's particular lists. 

Step 3 (ten to twenty minutes):  In your original (pre-group) seats, we collectively discuss the fruits of our labor.