The argument presented in the prompt assumes that the objective of a discussion of controversial topics is to change someone’s core beliefs. On the contrary, a discussion is, at its core, an open exchange of information in which both parties have the opportunity to express their respective opinions and listen to opposing views. Discussions are both teaching and learning opportunities in which one’s core beliefs may be challenged, but not necessarily changed.
However, the opportunity to hear an opposing point of view allows someone to fully explore whether or not they have considered all facets of not only their beliefs, as they relate to the topic being discussed, but also their belief system. By engaging with another person with the objective of changing their beliefs, a person is not engaging in a discussion at all. In fact, one could characterize that as a lecture. Furthermore, core beliefs are built over time through experiences, such as discussions with those that we disagree with. Therefore, people can and do change their beliefs.
The author of the prompt fails to recognize a discussion as an opportunity to both teach and learn. To accomplish this, one must be open-minded and willing to fully engage in the discussion. Often, it takes an opposing view to force oneself to examine the essence of their beliefs. Many beliefs are built as an emotional response to a situation, rather than a logical interpretation of the complexities surrounding the issue. In an open discussion with respectful parties, one can begin to unravel their beliefs and logically examine them on their merits. In doing so, you also allow your belief system to be challenged, which can catalyze a re-examination of your beliefs and the experiences that shaped those beliefs, allowing you to understand your thought-process before committing to an idea or feeling.
Whether or not a person with a contrasting view changes their mind is of no consequence. If you avoid conversations with those that have contrasting views, then you are susceptible to surrounding yourself with only those people that agree with you. By doing so, you forego the benefits of an open discussion and may create an environment conducive to “groupthink”. Groupthink is an environment in which individuals surround themselves with only those people that agree with their views.3
Any individuals that disagree with the group consensus are ultimately shunned. Groups that suffer from groupthink fail to see the validity in contrasting views and can end up escalating their commitment to an unhealthy or unproductive goal because their objectives are never challenged.
Unfortunately, it is evident that the author of the prompt sees the objective of a discussion as an opportunity to change someone’s core beliefs. That is not the case. In fact, that viewpoint contradicts the true nature of a discussion and fails to see the benefits of engaging with someone with contrasting views.
- The following is a memorandum from the business manager of a television station Over the past year our late night news program has devoted increased time to national news and less time to weather and local news During this period most of the complaints 58
- Understanding the past is of little use to those in current positions of leadership 66
- The best leaders are those who encourage feedback from the people whom they lead Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take In developing and sup 66
- The city of Winston has two large department stores Namen and Roscoe Namen is known for its high end designer fashions while Roscoe is known for more affordable fashion options Both Namen and Roscoe are each considering opening another store in the gr 50
- Undergraduate students majoring in Business or in the Sciences should not be required to take any courses in the Humanities since those courses won t benefit their future careers 50
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 3, column 92, Rule ID: WHETHER[7]
Message: Perhaps you can shorten this phrase to just 'whether'. It is correct though if you mean 'regardless of whether'.
Suggestion: whether
...of view allows someone to fully explore whether or not they have considered all facets of not ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 7, column 1, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “Whether” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...re committing to an idea or feeling. Whether or not a person with a contrasting view...
^^^^^^^
Line 7, column 1, Rule ID: WHETHER[7]
Message: Perhaps you can shorten this phrase to just 'Whether'. It is correct though if you mean 'regardless of whether'.
Suggestion: Whether
...re committing to an idea or feeling. Whether or not a person with a contrasting view change...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, but, furthermore, however, if, may, so, then, therefore, in contrast, in fact, such as, on the contrary
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 17.0 19.5258426966 87% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 8.0 12.4196629213 64% => OK
Conjunction : 16.0 14.8657303371 108% => OK
Relative clauses : 16.0 11.3162921348 141% => OK
Pronoun: 49.0 33.0505617978 148% => Less pronouns wanted
Preposition: 75.0 58.6224719101 128% => OK
Nominalization: 10.0 12.9106741573 77% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2504.0 2235.4752809 112% => OK
No of words: 476.0 442.535393258 108% => OK
Chars per words: 5.26050420168 5.05705443957 104% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.67091256922 4.55969084622 102% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.11690799639 2.79657885939 111% => OK
Unique words: 217.0 215.323595506 101% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.455882352941 0.4932671777 92% => More unique words wanted or less content wanted.
syllable_count: 772.2 704.065955056 110% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.6 1.59117977528 101% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 6.0 6.24550561798 96% => OK
Article: 6.0 4.99550561798 120% => OK
Subordination: 2.0 3.10617977528 64% => OK
Conjunction: 2.0 1.77640449438 113% => OK
Preposition: 9.0 4.38483146067 205% => Less preposition wanted as sentence beginnings.
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 22.0 20.2370786517 109% => OK
Sentence length: 21.0 23.0359550562 91% => OK
Sentence length SD: 57.8557625151 60.3974514979 96% => OK
Chars per sentence: 113.818181818 118.986275619 96% => OK
Words per sentence: 21.6363636364 23.4991977007 92% => OK
Discourse Markers: 4.95454545455 5.21951772744 95% => OK
Paragraphs: 6.0 4.97078651685 121% => OK
Language errors: 3.0 7.80617977528 38% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 12.0 10.2758426966 117% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 5.0 5.13820224719 97% => OK
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 5.0 4.83258426966 103% => OK
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.395341520681 0.243740707755 162% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.126898344542 0.0831039109588 153% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0904436358355 0.0758088955206 119% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.224068144644 0.150359130593 149% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0735559139034 0.0667264976115 110% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 14.2 14.1392134831 100% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 50.16 48.8420337079 103% => OK
smog_index: 8.8 7.92365168539 111% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 11.5 12.1743820225 94% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 13.23 12.1639044944 109% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 8.39 8.38706741573 100% => OK
difficult_words: 112.0 100.480337079 111% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 14.5 11.8971910112 122% => OK
gunning_fog: 10.4 11.2143820225 93% => OK
text_standard: 15.0 11.7820224719 127% => OK
What are above readability scores?
---------------------
Rates: 66.67 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 4.0 Out of 6
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Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.