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ᨬᐰḄSATᦻ⚪86⍝1.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.3)Assignment:Istheopinionofthemajority-ingovernmentorinanyothercircumstances—apoorguide?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.2.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.3)Assignment:Iscreativityneededmorethaneverintheworldtoday?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.3.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

1assignmentbelow:(2005.3)Assignment:Arepeoplebetteratmakingobservations,discoveries,anddecisionsiftheyremainneutralandimpartial?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.4.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.3)Assignment:Isapersonresponsible,throughtheexampleheorshesets,forthebehaviorofotherpeople?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.5.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

2assignmentbelow:(2005.5)ᦻ᪾Ifyouthinkthatwhatyoudoisyourownbusiness,youarewrong.Inthisworldyourconductaffectsnotonlyyoubuttheconductofotherpeopleaswell.Ifyoubehaveinawaythatisconsideredunacceptableandotherpeoplecopyyourbehavior,youareresponsiblefortheconsequences.AdaptedfromMargaretBanning,''LettertoSusan^^ᦻ᪾Evenscientistsknowthatabsoluteobjectivityhasyettobeattained.It'sthesameforabsolutetruth.But,asmanynewsreportershaveobserved,theideaofobjectivityasaguidingprincipleistoovaluabletobeabandoned.Withoutit,thepursuitofknowledgeishopelesslylost.Adaptedfrom“FocusingOurValues/5NiemanReportsᦻ᪾Giventheimportanceofhumancreativity,onewouldthinkitshouldhaveahighpriorityamongourconcerns.Butifwelookatthe

3reality,weseeadifferentpicture.Basicscientificresearchisminimizedinfavorofimmediatepracticalapplications.Theartsareincreasinglyseenasdispensableluxuries.Yetascompetitionheatsuparoundtheglobe,exactlytheoppositestrategyisneeded.ᦻ᪾Wemustseriouslyquestiontheideaofmajorityrule.ThemajoritygrinnedandjeeredwhenColumbussaidtheworldwasround.Themajoritythrewhimintoadungeonforhisdiscoveries.Whereisthelogicinthenotionthattheopinionheldbyamajorityofpeopleshouldhavethepowertoinfluenceourdecisions?AdaptedfromJamesA.Reed,"MajorityRule^^Assignment:Dopeopledependonwork—whetheritisajob,schoolwork,orvolunteerwork—todeterminewhattheirdailyactivitiesandinteractionswithothersshouldbe?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.6.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.5)

4Assignment:Doesprogressdependonpeoplewithnewideasratherthanonpeoplewhoseideasarebasedonthecurrentwayofdoingthings?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.7.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.5)Assignment:Arepeopleafraidtospeakoutagainstauthority,whethertheauthorityisanindividual,agroup,oragovernment?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.8.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.5)

5Assignment:Doesworryingtoomuchaboutotherpeople'sopinionspreventusfromseeingthingsclearly?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.9.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.6)ᦻ᪾Weareafraidthatourcauseisunjust,orthatitisunclear,orthatitistooinsignificanttojustifythehorrorsofaconfrontationwithAuthority.Wewillendurealmostanyinconveniencebeforeundertakinghead-on,I'm-here-to-tell-youcomplaint.AdaptedfromWilliamF.Buckley,Jr.,“WhyDon'tWeComplain??,ᦻ᪾:Thereisnoprogressunlesssomeonecomesupwithanewway

6oflookingatthings,oftryingthingsthathaveneverbeendoneorthoughtofbefore.Wecannotmoveforwardbylookingbackwardtooldcustomsandpastexperience.Therecanbenoadvancementorimprovementunlesstherearepeoplewholookforwardinpursuitofthenewanduntried.ᦻ᪾It'seasytoseewhy-asidefromtheincomeitprovides—havingajobissodesirableinourculture.Workworksforus.Itstructuresourtimeandimposesarhythmonourlives.Itgetsusorganizedintovariouskindsofcommunitiesandsocialgroups.Andperhapsmostimportant,worktellsuswhattodoeveryday.AdaptedfromJoanneB.Ciulla,TheWorkingLifeᦻ᪾:Alonewecanaffordtobewhollywhateverweareandtofeelwhateverwefeelabsolutely.Withotherswearebusywonderingwhatdoesmycompanionseeorthinkofthis,andwhatdoIthinkofit?Theoriginalimpactofourfeelingsgetslostorreduced.AdaptedfromMaySarton,TheRewardsofLivingaSolitaryLife

7Assignment:Domemorieshinderorhelppeopleintheirefforttolearnfromthepastandsucceedinthepresent?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.10.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.6)Assignment:Dopeopleputtoomuchemphasisonlearningpracticalskills?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.11.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.6)

8Assignment:Shouldschoolshelpstudentsunderstandmoralchoicesandsocialissues?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.12.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.6)Assignment:Donewspapers,magazines,television,radio,movies,theInternet,andothermediadeterminewhatisimportanttomostpeople?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.13.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.10)ᦻ᪾Manypersonsbelievethattomoveuptheladderofsuccessand

9achievement,theymustforgetthepast,repressit,andrelinquishit.Butothershavejusttheoppositeview.Theyseeoldmemoriesasachancetoreckonwiththepastandintegratepastandpresent.AdaptedfromSaraLawrence-Lightfoot,I'veKnownRivers:LivesofLossandLiberationᦻ᪾Themedianotonlytransmitinformationandculture,theyalsodecidewhatinformationisimportant.Inthatway,theyhelptoshapecultureandvalues.AdaptedfromAlisonBernstein,''ArtistsThriveonFreedomandFreedomThrivesontheArts^^ᦻ᪾Mostofourschoolsarenotfacinguptotheirresponsibilities.Wemustbegintoaskourselveswhethereducatorsshouldhelpstudentsaddressthecriticalmoralchoicesandsocialissuesofourtime.Schoolshaveresponsibilitiesbeyondtrainingpeopleforjobsandgettingstudentsintocollege.AdaptedfromSviShapiro

10ᦻ᪾Icannotcomprehendthosewhoemphasizeorrecognizeonlywhatisuseful.Iamconcernedthatlearningforlearning'ssakeisnolongerconsidereddesirable,thateverythingwedoandthinkmustbedirectedtowardthesolutionofapracticalproblem.Moreandmoreweseemtotrytoteachhowtomakeagoodlivingandnothowtoliveagoodlife.AdaptedfromPhilipD.Jordan,"TheUsefulnessofUselessKnowledge”Assignment:Issuccessinlifeearnedordopeoplesucceedbecausetheyarelucky?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.14.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.10)Assignment:Issociety'sadmirationforfamouspeoplebeneficialor

11harmful?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.15.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.10)Assignment:Doweliveinatimewhenpeopledonotengageinseriousthinking?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.16.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.10)Assignment:Shouldpeoplemakemoreofanefforttokeepsomethingsprivate?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestaken

12fromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.ᦻ᪾Thisisatimeforshallowness.Seriousnessissorarethesedaysthatwetendtomakeallkindsofallowancesforthosewhoonlyseemtopossessit.Inthisway,shallowideasarenotrecognizedforwhattheyare,andtheyareincreasinglymistakenfordeepthoughts.AdaptedfromMargaretTalbot,t4ThePerfectionist”ᦻ᪾Nowadaysnothingisprivate:ourculturehasbecometooconfessionalandself-expressive.Peoplethinkthattohideone'sthoughtsorfeelingsistopretendnottohavethosethoughtsorfeelings.Theyassumethathonestyrequiresonetoexpresseveryinclinationandimpulse.AdaptedfromJ.DavidVelleman,"theGenesisofShame^^ᦻ᪾1.CelebritieshavethepowertoattractUcommunities^^oflike-mindedfollowers;theyprovideanidentitythatpeoplecanconnecttoandcalltheirown.Celebritiesaretrusted;theystandforcertainideasandvaluestowhichfollowerscanexpressallegiance.AdaptedfromWilliamGreider,WhoWillTellthePeople?2.Admirationforcelebritiesisoftenaccompaniedbycontemptfor

13“average“people.Aswefocusonthefamous,otherpeoplebecomelessimportanttous.Theworldbecomespopulatedwithafew“somebodies^^andanexcessof“near-nobodies.”AdaptedfromNormanSolomonandJeffCohen,WizardsofMediaOzᦻ᪾1.Successinlifeislargelyamatterofluck.Ithaslittlecorrelationwithmerit.Andinallfieldsoflifetherehavealwaysbeenpeopleofgreatmeritwhodidnotsucceed.KarlPopper,PopperSelections2.AsColinPowellsaid,"therearenosecretstosuccess.Don'twastetimelookingforthem.Successistheresultofpreparation,hardwork,andlearningfromfailure.^^AdaptedfromBarryFarber,''SellingPoints”17.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.11)

14Assignment:Shouldourperceptionsofbeautybeinfluencedbytheperceptionsofbeautyofotherpeople?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.18.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.11)Assignment:Ispraisingothers,evenifthepraiseisexcessiveorundeserved,anecessarypartoflife?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.19.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.11)

15Assignment:Isconflicthelpful?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.20.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.11)Assignment:Hastheacquisitionofmoneyandpossessionsreplacedmoremeaningfulwaysofmeasuringourachievements?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.ᦻ᪾Whatexplainsourincreasingobsessionwithmoneyandthethingsitcanbuy?Itseemsasthoughtheacquisitionofmoneyisgraduallyreplacingrealmeasuresofsuccess,suchasintegrity,honesty,skill,andhardwork.AdaptedfromAlanDurning,"LimitingConsumption:TowardaSustainableCulture^^

16ᦻ᪾Conflictisnotnecessarilybad,anditdoesnotnecessarilyindicateafailedinteraction.Itisasignal,amessagethatsays,"Thingsaren'tworkingaroundhere.We'vegottodosomethingdifferent."Thus,conflictcanbeacatalyst-amotivatingforce-encouragingpeopletointeractandcommunicateinwaysthataremoresatisfying.Conflictcanactuallybenefitpeoplebypushingthemtomakenecessarychanges.AdaptedfromBeverlyPotter,FromConflicttoCooperationᦻ᪾Therearesituationswhereflatteryismandatory:Thebrideisalwaysbeautiful.Ifwelookatsomeone'sartwork,weareobligedtosaysomethingcomplimentarytotheartist.Ifwevisitsomeonewithanewbaby,wearerequiredtosaytheinfantiscute.Insuchsituations,tosaynothingisinterpretedasrudeness.Wecomplimenteachotherbecauseweunderstandthatflatterymakesliferunsmoothly.AdaptedfromRichardStengel,You'reTooKind:AbriefHistoryofFlatteryᦻ᪾Beautyisnotaqualityinpeopleorinobjectsthemselves.It

17existsinthemindthatperceivesthoseobjects,andeachmindperceivesbeautydifferently.Toseekrealbeauty,insomeabsolutesense,ispointless.Whereonepersonseesbeauty,anothermayevenseetheopposite.Forthisreason,wealloughttoacceptourownperceptionsofwhoorwhatisbeautiful,andnotbeinfluencedbytheperceptionsofothers.AdaptedfromDavidHume,“OftheStandardofTaste”21.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.12)Assignment:Areleadersnecessarilypeoplewhoaremostcapableofleadership?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.22.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

18assignmentbelow:(2005.12)Assignment:Isknowledgeofthepastnolongerusefulforustoday?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.23.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.12)Assignment:Isitnecessarytolimitorputrestrictionsonfreedomofthoughtandexpression?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.24.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2005.12)

19Assignment:Dothebenefitsofscientificandtechnologicaldevelopmentscomeatthecostofundesirablechangestopeople'slives?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.ᦻ᪾Progressislikelytoslowdownoncescienceandtechnologyhavemetourbasichumanneeds.Newdevelopmentsinscienceandtechnologywillnotcontinuetoproducemoresocietalbenefits.Infact,thepromisethatscienceandtechnologywillcontinuetobenefitusisincreasinglydoubtfulwhensomanyindividualsfindtheirliveschanginginwaystheycannotcontrolandindirectionstheydonotdesire.AdaptedfromDanielSarewitz,''SocialChangeandSciencePolicy”ᦻ᪾Thefreeexpressionofthoughtsandopinionsisoneofhumanity'smostpreciousrights.Everycitizenmustbeabletospeak,write,andpublishfreely,providedthatheorsheisheldaccountablefortheabuseofthislibertyincasesdeterminedbythelaw.

20AdaptedfromThomasPaine,RightsofManᦻ᪾Howvaluableishistoryforourgeneration?Onthesurfacethisquestionisnotaseasyasitoncemighthavebeen,forthereisawidespreadbeliefthathistorymaynolongerberelevanttomodemlife.Welive,afterall,inanagethatappearsverydifferentfromtheworldthatcamebeforeus.AdaptedfromStephenVaughn,"History:IsItRelevant?^^ᦻ᪾Weliketothinkthatifsomeonehas"therightstuff,"heorshewillnaturallyrisetothetop.Butitisn'ttrue.Inthatsamewaythatactingtalentdoesn'tguaranteestardom,thecapacityforleadershipdoesn'tguaranteethatonewillrunacorporationoragovernment.Infact,atleastinourtime,genuineachievementisnothighlyvalued,andthosewhoareskilledatachievinggreatnessarenotnecessarilythosewhoarereadytolead.AdaptedfromWarrenBennis,OnBecomingaLeader

2125.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.1)Assignment:Dopeopleaccomplishmorewhentheyareallowedtodothingsintheirownway?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.26.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.1)Assignment:Isitnecessarytomakemistakes,evenwhendoingsohasnegativeconsequencesforotherpeople?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.

2227.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.1)Assignment:Cananyobstacleordisadvantagebeturnedintosomethinggood?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.28.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.1)ᦻ᪾Anactor,whenhiscuecame,wasunabletomoveontothestage.Hesaid,"Ican'tgetin,thechairisintheway."Andtheproducersaid,“usethedifficulty.Ifit'sadrama,pickthechairupandsmashit.Ifit'sacomedyfalloverit."Fromthisexperiencetheactorconcludedthatinanysituationinlifethatisnegative,thereissomethingpositiveyoucandowithit.

23AdaptedfromLawrenceEisenberg,44CaineScrutiny”ᦻ᪾Idonotfeelterribleaboutmymistakes,thoughIgrievethepaintheyhavesometimescausedothers.Ourlivesare"experimentswithtruth,5,andinanexperimentnegativeresultsarelatleastasimportantassuccesses.IhavenoideahowIwouldhavelearnedthetruthaboutmyselfandmycallingwithoutthemistakesIhavemade.AdaptedfromParkerPalmer,LetYourLifeSpeakᦻ᪾AcolleagueofthegreatscientistJamesWatsonremarkedthatWatsonwasalways“loungingaround,arguingaboutproblemsinsteadofdoingexperiments.^^Heconcludedthat“thereismorethanonewayofdoinggoodscience.^^ItwasWatson'sformofidleness,thescientistwentontosay,thatallowedhimtosolve“thegreatestofallbiologicalproblems:thediscoveryofthestructureofDNA."Itisapointworthrememberinginasocietyoverlyconcernedwithefficiency.AdaptedfromJohnC.Polanyi,"UnderstandingDiscovery^^

24Assignment:Areallimportantdiscoveriestheresultoffocusingononesubject?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.29.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.4)Assignment:Isitbestnottochangeourideas,opinions,orbehaviors?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.30.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.4)

25Assignment:Isourabilitytochangeourselvesunlimited,oraretherelimitsonourabilitytomakeimportantchangesinourlives?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.31.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.4)Assignment:Whatdoyouthinkmotivatespeopletodotheirbest?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.32.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.4)

26ᦻ᪾Itiswidelybelievedthatpeopledotheirbestworkwhentheyarepromisedrewardsfortheirachievements.Ourschoolsandworkplacesoperateontheassumptionthatgoodworkoccurswhenpeoplearecompetingforgrades,money,orrecognitionfromothers.Intruth,theprospectofrewardsprovidedbyotherscaninhibitandlimitpeople'sdriveandcreativity.Peopledotheirbestworkwhenmotivatedfromwithinbytheirenjoymentofaparticularchallengeandtheirsatisfactionindoingsomethingwell.ᦻ᪾Ateenagerchallengeseverythingand,byforminghabitsofintellectualandemotionalindependence,makeshimselforherselfintoanadult.Inasimilarway,allpeoplecanlearnthebehaviorsthattheyneedtobecomethepeopletheywanttobe.Wecanallchangeourselves-ourbehaviors,ourgoals,ourrelationships—becauseourpotentialforchangeisunlimited.AdaptedfromRichardStiller,Habitsᦻ᪾Inconsistencyiscommonlythoughttobeanundesirablepersonalitytrait,andinconsistentpeopleareviewedasindecisiveandweakwilled.Ontheotherhand,firmcommitmenttoanideaorplanof

27actionisassociatedwithpersonalandintellectualstrength,stability,andhonesty.Thus,oncewehavemadeachoiceortakenastand,itisbestnottochange.AdaptedfromRobertB.Cialdini,Influence:HowandWhyPeopleAgreetoThingsᦻ᪾:Everyimportantdiscoveryresultsfrompatience,perseverance,andconcentration-sometimescontinuingformonthsoryears—ononespecificsubject.Apersonwhowantstodiscoveranewtruthmustremainabsorbedbythatonesubject,mustpaynoattentiontoanythoughtthatisunrelatedtotheproblem.AdaptedfromSantiagoRamonCajal,AdviceforaYoungInvestigatorAssignment:Shouldeachindividualdecidewhatandhowtolearn?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.

2833.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.5)Assignment:Arewefreetomakeourowndecisionsorarewelimitedinthechoiceswecanmake?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.34.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.5)Assignment:Wouldtheworldbeabetterplaceifeveryonealwaystoldthecompletetruth?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.

2935.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.5)Assignment:Doesthesuccessofacommunity—whetheritisaclass,ateam,afamily,anation,oranyothergroup-dependuponpeople'swillingnesstolimittheirpersonalinterests?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.ᦻ᪾Youngpeopleshouldhavetherighttocontrolanddirecttheirownlearning-thatis,todecidewhattheywanttolearn,when,andwhere.Ifwetakefromsomeonehisorherrighttodecidewhattobecuriousabout,wedestroythatperson'sfreedomofthought.Wesay,ineffect,"youmustthinkaboutwhatinterestsandconcernsus,notyou."AdaptedfromJohnHolt,“TheRighttoControlOne'sLeaming^^ᦻ᪾Itisnotthatpeopledislikebeingpartofacommunity;itisjustthattheycareabouttheirindividualfreedomsmore.Peoplevalue

30neighborlinessandsocialinteraction-untilbeingpartofagrouprequiresthemtolimittheirfreedomforthelargergoodofthegroup.Butacommunityorgroupcannotfunctioneffectivelyunlesspeoplearewillingtosetasidetheirpersonalinterests.AdaptedfromWarrenJohnson,TheFutureIsNotWhatItUsedToBeᦻ᪾Certainlyanyonewhoinsistsoncondemningallliesshouldthinkaboutwhatwouldhappenifwecouldreliablytellwhenourfamily,friends,colleagues,andgovernmentleadersweredeceivingus.Itistemptingtothinkthattheworldwouldbecomeabetterplacewithoutthehand,perhapsthereissuchathingastoomuchhonesty.AdaptedfromAllisonKomet,“TheTruthAboutLying”ᦻ᪾Somepeopleclaimthateachindividualissolelyresponsibleforwhathappenstohimorher.Buttheclaimthatweoughttotakeabsoluteresponsibilityforthekindsofpeopleweareandthekindsoflivesweleadsuggeststhatwehavecompletecontroloverourlives.Wedonot.Thecircumstancesofourlivescanmakeitmoreorlessimpossibletomakecertainkindsofchoices.

31AdaptedformGordonD.Marino,UIthinkYouShouldBeResponsible;Me,PmnotsoSure”36.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.5)Assignment:Doesthetruthchangedependingonhowpeoplelookatthings?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.37.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.6)Assignment:Doesastrongcommitmenttotechnologicalprogresscausea

32societytoneglectothervalues,suchaseducationandtheprotectionoftheenvironment?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.38.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.6)Assignment:Areestablishedrulestoolimitedtoguidepeopleinreal-lifesituations?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.39.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.6)ᦻ᪾Thereisanoldsaying:"Apersonwithonewatchknowswhattimeitis;apersonwithtwowatchesisn'tsosure."Inotherwords,a

33personwholooksatanobjectoreventfromtwodifferentanglesseessomethingdifferentfromeachposition.Moreover,twoormorepeoplelookingatthesomethingmayeachperceivesomethingdifferent.Inotherwords,truth,likebeauty,maylieintheeyeofthebeholder.Adaptedfrom,GregoryD.Foster,"Ethics:TimetoRevisittheBasics^^ᦻ᪾Peopleareoftentoldtoobeytherules.Inreality,theserulesarenotpermanent:whatisrightatagivenpointintimemaybedeclaredwrongatanothertimeandviceversa.Theworldchangessorapidlythatrulesareout-of-datealmostassoonastheyarecreated.Peoplecannotrelyonestablishedguidelinestodeterminewhattheyshouldandshouldnotdo.AdaptedfromGregoryD.Foster,"Ethics:TimetoRevisittheBasics”ᦻ᪾Wemeasureourprogressasacivilizationbywhatweseeasadvancesintechnology,whichseemmoresignificantthansuchconcernsaseducationandtheconditionofthenaturalworld.Still,Iwouldprefertobeapartofacommunitythatjudgeditselfonthehappinessofits

34membersratherthanonthedevelopmentofnewtechnology.AdaptedfromThomasMoore,TheRe-EnchantmentofEverydayLifeAssignment:Isitsometimesbettertotakerisksthantofollowamorereasonablecourseofaction?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.40.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.6)Assignment:Dowetendtoaccepttheopinionsofothersinsteadofdevelopingourownindependentideas?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.

3541.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.10)Assignment:Dopeopleachievemoresuccessbycooperationthanbycompetition?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.42.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.10)Assignment:Isitimportanttoquestiontheideasanddecisionsofpeopleinpositionsofauthority?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.

3643.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.10)ᦻ᪾Sometimesitisnecessarytochallengewhatpeopleinauthorityclaimtobetrue.Althoughsomerespectforauthorityis,nodoubt,necessaryinorderforanygroupororganizationtofunction,questioningthepeopleincharge-eveniftheyareexpertsorleadersintheirfields-makesusbetterthinkers.Itforcesallconcernedtodefendoldideasanddecisionsandtoconsidernewones.Sometimesitcanevencorrectolderrorsinthoughtandputanendtowrongactions.ᦻ᪾Whilesomepeoplepromotecompetitionastheonlywaytoachievesuccess,othersemphasizethepowerofcooperation.Intenserivalryatworkorplayorengagingincompetitioninvolvingideasorskillsmayindeeddrivepeopleeithertoavoidfailureortoachieveimportantvictories.Inacomplexworld,however,cooperationismuchmorelikelytoproducesignificant,lastingaccomplishments.ᦻ᪾Itisraretofindanobjectiveandindependentviewpointonstyle,literature,politics,oranyothermatter.Manypeople'sopinionsareformedthroughtheirassociationswithothers.Itisournaturetoconform;conformityisaforcethatfewcansuccessfullyresist.Wegiveintothehumaninstincttogoalongwiththecrowdandtohaveitsapproval.

37AdaptedfromMarkTwain,uCom-poneOpinions”ᦻ᪾Isuspectthatlikemanypeoplewhowatchtheirdiet,exerciseregularly,andchecktheweatherreportbeforeleavingthehouse,Iamalittletooconcernedwithcontrollingwhatcan'tbefullycontrolled.IknowIamdoingthesensiblething.ButIsometimesthinkthatthemorerecklessamongusmayhavesomethingtoteachtherestofusaboutfreedom.Perhapsthereissomethinggoodabouttakingchancesagainstourbetterjudgments.AdaptedfromMelvinKonner,“WhytheRecklessSurvive”Assignment:Doestruelearningonlyoccurwhenweexperiencedifficulties?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.44.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

38assignmentbelow:(2006.10)Assignment:Candeception-pretendingthatsomethingistruewhenitisnot-sometimeshavegoodresults?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.45.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.11)Assignment:Doweputtoomuchvalueontheideasoractionsofindividualpeople?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.46.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.11)

39Assignment:Canbooksandstoriesaboutcharactersandeventsthatarenotrealteachusanythinguseful?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.47.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.11)Itiswrongtothinkofourselvesasindispensable.Wewouldlovetothinkthatourcontributionsareessential,butwearemistakenifwethinkthatanyonepersonhasmadetheworldwhatitistoday.Thecontributionsofindividualpeopleareseldomasimportantorasnecessaryaswethinktheyare.ᦻ᪾:Manypeopledenythatstoriesaboutcharactersandeventsthatarenotrealcanteachusaboutourselvesorabouttheworldaroundus.Theyclaimthatliteraturedoesnotofferusworthwhileinformationabout

40therealworld.Thesepeoplearguethatthefeelingsandideaswegainfrombooksandstoriesobstruct,ratherthancontributeto,clearthought.AdaptedfromJenniferL.McMahon,“TheFunctionofFiction”ᦻ᪾Wedon'treallylearnanythingproperlyuntilthereisaproblem,untilwemakeamistake,untilsomethingfailstogoaswehadhoped.Wheneverythingisworkingwell,withnoproblemsorfailures,whatincentivedowehavetotrysomethingnew?Weareonlymotivatedtolearnwhenweexperiencedifficulties.AdaptedfromAlaindeBotton,HowProustCanChangeYourLife:NotaNovelAssignment:Canpeopleachievesuccessonlyiftheyaimtobeperfect?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.48.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

41assignmentbelow:(2006.11)Assignment:Dosuccessandhappinessdependonthechoicespeoplemakeratherthanonfactorsbeyondtheircontrol?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.49.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.12)Assignment:Arepeoplemorelikelytobeproductiveandsuccessfulwhentheyignoretheopinionsofothers?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.50.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

42assignmentbelow:(2006.12)Assignment:Isitbetterforpeopletoberealisticoroptimistic?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.51.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.12)ᦻ᪾Inmanycircumstances,optimism-theexpectationthatone'sideasandplanswillalwaysturnoutforthebest—isunwarranted.Inthesesituationswhatisneededisnotanupbeatviewbutarealisticone.Therearetimeswhenpeopleneedtotakeatough-mindedviewofthepossibilitiesofsuccess,giveup,andinvesttheirenergieselsewhereratherthanfindreasonstocontinuetopursuetheoriginalprojectoridea.AdaptedfromMartinE.P.Seligman,LearnedOptimism

43ᦻ᪾Inordertobethemostproductiveandsuccessfulpeoplethatwearecapableofbeing,wemustbewillingtoignoretheopinionsofothers.Itisonlywhenwearecompletelyindifferenttoothers'opinionsofus—whenwearenotconcernedabouthowothersthinkofus——thatwecanachieveourmostimportantgoals.ᦻ᪾Everybodyhassomechoice.Peoplearealwaysblamingtheircircumstancesforwhattheyare.Idon'tbelieveincircumstances.Thepeoplewhogetoninthisworldarethepeoplewhogetupandlookforthecircumstancestheywantand,iftheycan'tfindthem,makethem.AdaptedfromGeorgeBernardShaw,Mrs.Warren'sProfessionᦻ᪾"Nooneisperfect."Therearefewamonguswhowoulddisagreewiththisfamiliarstatement.Certainthatperfectionisanimpossiblegoal,manypeoplewillinglyacceptflawsandshortcomingsinthemselvesandothers.Yetsuchbehaviorleadstofailure.Peoplecanonlysucceediftheytrytoachieveperfectionineverythingtheydo.

44Assignment:Isitimportanttotrytounderstandpeople'smotivationsbeforejudgingtheiractions?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.52.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2006.12)Assignment:Ishappinesssomethingoverwhichpeoplehavenocontrol,orcanpeoplechoosetobehappy?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.53.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.1)

45Assignment:Shouldpeopletakemoreresponsibilityforsolvingproblemsthataffecttheircommunitiesorthenationingeneral?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.54.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.1)Assignment:Isitmoreimportanttodoworkthatonefindsfulfillingorworkthatpayswell?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.55.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.1)ᦻ᪾Mosthumanbeingsspendtheirlivesdoingworktheyhateand

46workthattheworlddoesnotneed.Itisofprimeimportancethatyoulearnearlywhatyouwanttodoandwhetherornottheworldneedsthisservice.Thereturnfromyourworkmustbethesatisfactionthatworkbringsyouandtheworld'sneedofthatwork.Incomeisnotmoney,itissatisfaction;itiscreation;itisbeauty.AdaptedfromW.E.B.DuBois,TheAutobiographyofW.E.B.DuBois:ASoliloquyonViewingMyLifefromtheLastDecadeofItsFirstCenturyᦻ᪾Manypeoplebelievethatourgovernmentshoulddomoretosolveourproblems.Afterall,howcanoneindividualcreatemorejobsormakeroadssaferorimprovetheschoolsorhelptoprovideanyoftheotherbenefitsthatwehavecometoenjoy?Andyetexpectingthatthegovernment—ratherthanindividuals—shouldalwayscomeupwiththesolutionstosociety'sillsmayhavemadeuslessself-reliant,underminingourindependenceandself-sufficiency.ᦻ᪾AbrahamLincolnsaid,"Mostpeopleareaboutashappyastheymakeuptheirmindstobe."Inotherwords,ourpersonallevelofsatisfactionisentirelywithinourcontrol.Otherwise,whywouldthesameexperiencedisappointonepersonbutdelightanother?Happinessisnotanaccidentbutachoice.

47ᦻ᪾Itiseasytomakejudgmentsaboutpeopleandtheiractionswhenwedonotknowanythingabouttheircircumstancesorwhatmotivatedthemtotakethoseactions.Butweshouldlookbeyondaperson'sactions.Whenpeopledothingsthatweconsideroutrageous,inconsiderate,orharmful,weshouldtrytounderstandwhytheyactedastheydid.Assignment:Iseducationprimarilytheresultofinfluencesotherthanschool?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.56.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.1)Assignment:Isitbettertochangeone'sattitudethantochangeone'scircumstances?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.

4857.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.3)Assignment:Isitmorevaluableforpeopletofitinthantobeuniqueanddifferent?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.58.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.3)Assignment:Isitbesttohavelowexpectationsandtosetgoalswearesureofachieving?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.59.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

49assignmentbelow:(2007.3)ᦻ᪾Itiseasytoimaginethateventsandexperiencesinourliveswillbeperfect,butnomatterhowgoodsomethingturnsouttobe,itcanneverliveuptoourexpectations.Realitynevermatchesourimaginations.Forthatreason,weshouldmakesureourplansandgoalsaremodestandattainable.Wearemuchbetteroffwhenrealitysurpassesourexpectationsandsomethingturnsoutbetterthanwethoughtitwould.ᦻ᪾Fromthetimepeopleareveryyoung,theyareurgedtogetalongwithothers,totryto"fitin."Indeed,peopleareoftenrewardedforbeingagreeableandobedient.Butthisapproachismisguidedbecauseitpromotesuniformityinsteadofencouragingpeopletobeuniqueanddifferent.Differencesamongpeoplegiveeachofusgreaterperspectiveandallowustomakebetterjudgments.ᦻ᪾Ifwearedissatisfiedwithourcircumstances,wethinkaboutchangingthem.Butthemostimportantandeffectivechanges-inourattitude—hardlyoccurtous.Inotherwords,weshouldworrynotabouthowtoaltertheworldaroundusforthebetterbutabouthowtochange

50ourselvesinordertofitintothatworld.AdaptedfromMichaelHymers,"Wittgenstein,PessimismandPolitics^^ᦻ᪾Theeducationpeoplereceivedoesnotoccurprimarilyinschool.Youngpeopleareformedbytheirexperienceswithparents,teachers,peers,andevenstrangersonthestreet,andbythesportsteamstheyplayfor,theshoppingmallstheyfrequent,thesongstheyhear,andtheshowstheywatch.Schools,whilecertainlyimportant,constituteonlyarelativelysmallpartofeducation.AdaptedfromMihalyCsikszentmihalyi,^EducationfortheTwenty-FirstCentury^^Assignment:Dowereallybenefitfromeveryeventorexperienceinsomeway?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.60.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

51assignmentbelow:(2007.5)Assignment:Shouldmodernsocietybecriticizedforbeingmaterialistic?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.61.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.5)Assignment:Canknowledgebeaburdenratherthanabenefit?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.62.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.5)

52Assignment:Isitalwaysbesttodetermineone'sownviewsofrightandwrong,orcanwebenefitfromfollowingthecrowd?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.63.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.5)ᦻ᪾Wedonottakethetimetodeterminerightfromwrong.Reflectingonthedifferencebetweenrightandwrongishardwork.Itissomucheasiertofollowthecrowd,goingalongwithwhatispopularratherthanriskingthedisapprovalofothersbyvoicinganobjectionofanykind.AdaptedfromStephenJ.Carter,Integrityᦻ᪾Knowledgeispower.Inagriculture,medicine,andindustry,for

53example,knowledgehasliberatedusfromhunger,disease,andtediouslabor.Today,however,ourknowledgehasbecomesopowerfulthatitisbeyondourcontrol.Weknowhowtodomanythings,butwedonotknowwhere,when,orevenwhetherthisknow-howshouldbeused.ᦻ᪾Materialism:it'sthethingthateverybodylovestohate.Fewaspectsofmodernlifehavebeenmorecriticizedthanmaterialism.Butlet'sfaceit:materialism-acquiringpossessionsandspendingmoney-isavitalsourceofmeaningandhappinessinourtime.Peoplemaycriticizemodernsocietyforbeingtoomaterialistic,butthefactremainsthatmostofusspendmostofourenergyproducingandconsumingmoreandmorestuff.AdaptedfromJamesTwitchell,"TwoCheersforMaterialism^^ᦻ᪾Everyeventhasconsequencesthatarepotentiallybeneficial.Wemaynotalwaysbehappyaboutanexperience,butweshouldatleastgaininsomewayfromit.Forexample,theworldwidegasolineshortageintheearly1970'screatedmanyhardshipsbutinspiredeffortstoconserveenergy.Whetherthegainsarelargeorsmall,thereissomethingpositive

54orusefulforusineverythingthathappenstous.Assignment:Docircumstancesdeterminewhetherornotweshouldtellthetruth?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservation.64.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.6)Assignment:Arepeoplemorelikelytobehappyiftheyfocusongoalsotherthantheirownhappiness?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.65.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.6)

55Assignment:Isthereavalueincelebratingcertainindividualsasheroes?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.66.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.6)Assignment:Havemodernadvancementstrulyimprovedthequalityofpeople'slives?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.67.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.6)

56ᦻ᪾Theadvancementsthathavebeenmadeoverthepasthundredyearsormorearetoonumeroustocount.Buthastherebeenprogress?Somepeoplewouldsaythatthevastnumberofadvancementstellsuswehavemadeprogress.Others,however,disagree,sayingthatmoreisnotnecessarilybetterandthatrealprogress—inpolitics,literature,thearts,scienceandtechnology,oranyotherfield-canbeachievedonlywhenanadvancementtrulyimprovesthequalityofourlives.ᦻ᪾Heroesmayseemold-fashionedtoday.Manypeoplearecynicalandseemtoenjoydiscreditingrolemodelsmorethancreatingnewonesorcherishingthosetheyalreadyhave.Somepeople,moreover,objecttotheveryideaofheroes,arguingthatweshouldnotexaltindividualswho,afterall,areonlyfleshandblood,justliketherestofus.Butwedesperatelyneedheroes—toteachus,tocaptivateusthroughtheirwordsanddeeds,toinspireustogreatness.AdaptedfromTPsychologyTodayT,“HowToBeGreat!WhatDoesItTakeToBeAHero?^^ᦻ᪾Peoplearehappyonlywhentheyhavetheirmindsfixedonsomegoalotherthantheirownhappiness.Happinesscomeswhenpeoplefocusinsteadonthehappinessofothers,ontheimprovementofhumanity,on

57somecourseofactionthatisfollowednotasameanstoanythingelsebutasanendinitself.Aimingatsomethingotherthantheirownhappiness,theyfindhappinessalongtheway.Theonlywaytobehappyistopursuesomegoalexternaltoyourownhappiness.AdaptedfromJohnStuartMill,TAutobiographyTᦻ᪾Itisoftenthecasethatrevealingthecompletetruthmaybringtrouble-discomfort,embarrassment,sadness,orevenharm-tooneselfortoanotherperson.Inthesecircumstances,itisbetternottoexpressourrealthoughtsandfeelings.Whetherornotweshouldtellthetruth,therefore,dependsonthecircumstances.Assignment:Dopeopletrulybenefitfromhardshipandmisfortune?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.68.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.10)

58Assignment:Isidentitysomethingpeoplearebomwithorgiven,orisitsomethingpeoplecreateforthemselves?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.69.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.10)Assignment:Canpeopleeverbetrulyoriginal?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.70.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.10)

59Assignment:Dopeopleachievegreatnessonlybyfindingoutwhattheyareespeciallygoodatanddevelopingthatattributeaboveallelse?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.71.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.10)ᦻ᪾Allpeoplewhohaveachievedgreatnessinsomethingknewwhattheyexcelledat.Thesepeopleidentifiedtheskillsthatmadethemspecial—goodjudgment,orcourage,oraspecialartisticorliterarytalent-andfocusedondevelopingtheseskills.Yetmostpeopleachievesuperiorityinnothingbecausetheyfailtoidentifyanddeveloptheirgreatestattribute.AdaptedfromBaltasarGracianyMorales,TheArtofWorldlyWisdomᦻ᪾Wevalueuniquenessandoriginality,butitseemsthateverywhereweturn,wearesurroundedbyideasandthingsthatare

60copiesorevencopiesofcopies.Writers,artists,andmusiciansseeknewideasforpaintings,books,songs,andmovies,butmanysadlyrealize,"It'sbeendone."Thesameistrueforscientists,scholars,andbusinesspeople.Everyonewantstocreatesomethingnew,butatbestwecanhopeonlytorepeatorimitatewhathasalreadybeendone.ᦻ᪾Apersondoesnotsimply"receive"hisorheridentity.Identityismuchmorethanthenameorfeaturesoneisbornwith.Trueidentityissomethingpeoplemustcreateforthemselvesbymakingchoicesthataresignificantandthatrequireacourageouscommitmentinthefaceofchallenges.Identitymeanshavingideasandvaluesthatonelivesby.AdaptedfromThomasMerton,ContemplationinaWorldofActionᦻ᪾Itisnottruethatprosperityisbetterforpeoplethanadversity.Whenpeoplearethrivingandcontent,theyseldomfeeltheneedtolookforwaystoimprovethemselvesortheirsituation.Hardship,ontheotherhand,forcespeopletocloselyexamine—andpossiblychange-theirownlivesandeventhelivesofothers.Misfortuneratherthanprosperityhelpspeopletogainagreaterunderstandingofthemselvesandtheworldaroundthem.

61Assignment:Shouldweadmireheroesbutnotcelebrities?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.72.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.11)Assignment:Doeshavingalargenumberofoptionstochoosefrommakepeoplehappy?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.73.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.11)

62Assignment:Isitalwaysnecessarytofindnewsolutionstoproblems?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.74.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.11)Assignment:Isthemainvalueoftheartstoteachusabouttheworldaroundus?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.75.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.11)ᦻ᪾Manypeopleconsiderthearts-literature,music,painting,andothercreativeactivities—unnecessarybecausetheyprovideuswith

63nothingmorethanentertainment.Yettheartsareextremelyvaluablebecausetheyhavemuchtoteachusabouttheworldaroundusandalsobecausetheyhelppeoplefindmeaninginlife.ᦻ᪾Weareoftenurgedtosolveproblemsbyignoringtraditionalapproachesandbyfindingsolutionsthatareinnovativeorunconventional.Weareencouragedtobecreativeandtotrustthatanewwayofthinkingwillyieldnewinsights.Butinnovationmaybeimpracticalandunnecessary.Thebestwaysoffixingproblemsareoftenthetried-and-trueways.ᦻ᪾Peopletodayhavesomanychoices.Forinstance,thirtyyearsagomosttelevisionviewerscouldchoosefromonlyafewchannels;todaytherearemorethanahundredchannelsavailable.Andchoicesdonotjustaboundwhenitcomestothemedia.Peoplehavemoreoptionsinalmosteveryareaoflife.Withsomuchtochoosefrom,howcanwenotbehappy?ᦻ᪾Havingmanyadmirersisonewaytobecomeacelebrity,butitisnotthewaytobecomeahero.Heroesareself-made.Yetinourdailylivesweseenodifferencebetween"celebrities"and"heroes."Forthisreason,wedepriveourselvesofrealrolemodels.Weshouldadmireheroes—peoplewhoarefamousbecausetheyaregreat-butnotcelebrities—peoplewhosimplyseemgreatbecausetheyarefamous.

64AdaptedfromDanielBoorstin,TheImage:AGuidetoPseudo-EventsinAmericaAssignment:Iscriticism-judgingorfindingfaultwiththeideasandactionsofothers—essentialforpersonalwell-beingandsocialprogress?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.76.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.12)Assignment:Dopeopleneedto"unlearn,"orreject,manyoftheirassumptionsandideas?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.

6577.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.12)Assignment:Shouldpeoplechooseoneoftwoopposingsidesofanissue,oristhetruthusuallyfound"inthemiddle"?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.78.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2007.12)Assignment:Doimagesandimpressionshavetoomuchofaneffectonpeople?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.79.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptand

66assignmentbelow:(2007.12)ᦻ᪾Allaroundusappearancesaremistakenforreality.Cleveradvertisementscreatefavorableimpressionsbutsaylittleornothingabouttheproductstheypromote.Instores,colorfulpackagesareoftenbetterthantheircontents.Inthemedia,howcertainentertainers,politicians,andotherpublicfiguresappearismoreimportantthantheirabilities.Alltoooften,whatwethinkweseebecomesfarmoreimportantthanwhatreallyis.ᦻ᪾Ourdeterminationtopursuetruthbysettingupafightbetweentwosidesleadsustobelievethateveryissuehastwosides—nomore,noless.Ifweknowbothsidesofanissue,alloftherelevantinformationwillemerge,andthebestcasewillbemadeforeachside.Butthisprocessdoesnotalwaysleadtothetruth.Oftenthetruthissomewhereinthecomplexmiddle,nottheoversimplifiedextremes.AdaptedfromDeborahTannen,TheArgumentCultureᦻ᪾Thefirstproblemforallofusisnottolearnbuttounlearn.Weholdontoideasthatwereacceptedinthepast,andweareafraidtogivethemup.Preconceptionsaboutwhatisrightorwrong,trueorfalse,good

67orbadareembeddedsodeeplyinourthinkingthatwehonestlymaynotknowthattheyarethere.Whetherit'swomen'sroleinsocietyortheroleofourcountryintheworld,theoldassumptionsjustdon'tworkanymore.AdaptedfromGloriaSteinem,“ANewEgalitarianLifestyle”ᦻ᪾Allpeoplejudgeorcriticizetheideasandactionsofothers.Attimes,thesecriticismshurtorembarrassthepeoplereceivingthem.Othercriticismsseemtobeintendedtomakethecriticsappearsuperior.Andyetcriticismisessentialtooursuccessasindividualsandasasociety.AdaptedfromKenPetress,"ConstructiveCriticism:AToolforImprovement^^Assignment:Isthemostimportantpurposeoftechnologytodaydifferentfromwhatitwasinthepast?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.

6880.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.1)Assignment:Isitalwaysbettertobeoriginalthantoimitateorusetheideasofothers?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.81.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.1)Assignment:Istheeffortinvolvedinpursuinganygoalvaluable,evenifthegoalisnotreached?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.

6982.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.1)Assignment:Shouldpeoplealwaysprefernewthings,ideas,orvaluestothoseofthepast?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.83.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.1)ᦻ᪾Newnesshasbecomeourobsession.Noveltyismoreinterestingtousthancontinuingwithwhateveris"triedandtrue."Wediscardtheoldsowecanacquirethemostrecentmodel,thelatestversion,thenewestandmostimprovedformula.Often,wereplacewhatisusefuljustbecauseitisnolongernew.Notonlywithmaterialgoodsbutalsowithculturalvalues,wepreferwhateveristhelatesttrend.

70ᦻ᪾Oftenweseepeoplewhopersistintryingtoachieveaparticulargoal,evenwhenalltheevidenceindicatesthattheywillbeunlikelytoachieveit.Whentheysucceed,weconsiderthemcourageousforhavingovercomeimpossibleobstacles.Butwhentheyfail,wethinkofthemasheadstrong,foolhardy,andbentonself-destruction.Tomanypeople,greateffortisonlyworthwhilewhenitresultsinsuccess.AdaptedfromGilbertBrim,“Ambition”ᦻ᪾Itisbettertotrytobeoriginalthantomerelyimitateothers.Peopleshouldalwaystrytosay,write,think,orcreatesomethingnew.Thereislittlevalueinmerelyrepeatingwhathasbeendonebefore.Peoplewhomerelycopyorusetheideasandinventionsofothers,nomatterhowsuccessfultheymaybe,haveneverachievedanythingsignificant.ᦻ᪾Untilfairlyrecently,technologicalinnovationsandinventionswereintendedtoservebasichumanneedsordesires.Today,however,themostimportantandurgentproblemconfrontingusisnolongerthesatisfactionofbasicneeds.Theprimarypurposeofmoderntechnologyistosolvetheunintendedproblemscausedbythetechnologyofyearspast.AdaptedfromDennisGabor,Innovations:Scientific,Technological,and

71SocialAssignment:Isthereanyvalueforpeopletobelongonlytoagrouporgroupswithwhichtheyhavesomethingincommon?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.84.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.3)Assignment:Areorganizationsorgroupsmostsuccessfulwhentheirmemberspursueindividualwishesandgoals?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.85.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.3)

72Assignment:Shouldpeoplealwaysbeloyal?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.86.Thinkcarefullyabouttheissuepresentedinthefollowingexcerptandassignmentbelow:(2008.3)Assignment:Shouldpeoplealwaysbeloyal?Planandwriteanessayinwhichyoudevelopyourpointofviewonthisissue.Supportyourpositionwithreasoningandexamplestakenfromyourreading,studies,experience,orobservations.ᦻ᪾Winningfeelsforeverfabulous.Butyoucanlearnmorefromlosingthanfromwinning.Losingpreparesyouforsetbackandtragedymorethanwinningevercan.Moreover,lossinvitesreflectionandachangeofstrategies.Intheprocessofrecoveringfromyourlosses,youlearnhowtoavoidthemthenexttime.

73AdaptedfromPatConroy,MyLosingSeasonᦻ᪾Beingloyal—faithfulordedicatedtosomeoneorsomething—isnotalwayseasy.Peopleoftenhaveconflictingloyalties,andtherearenoguidelinesthathelpthemdecidetowhatorwhomtheyshouldbeloyal.Moreover,peopleareoftenloyaltosomethingbad.Still,loyaltyisoneoftheessentialattributesapersonmusthaveandmustdemandofothers.AdaptedfromJamesCarville,Stickin':TheCaseforLoyaltyᦻ᪾Organizationsorgroupsthatshareacommongoaloftenmentionteamworkastheirsecrettosuccessbyinsistingthatpeopleinthegroupworktogetherforthegoodoftheentiregroup.However,byrequiringeachindividualtoacceptthedecisionsoftheothersinthegroup,organizationsmaydiscouragetheexpressionofindividualtalent.Ultimately,agroupismostsuccessfulwhenallofitsmembersareencouragedtopursuetheirowngoalsandinterests.ᦻ᪾Sinceweliveinaglobalsociety,surelyweshouldviewourselvesascitizensofthewholeworld.Butinstead,peoplechooseto

74identifyandassociatewithsmallerandmorefamiliargroups.Peoplethinkofthemselvesasbelongingtofamilies,nations,cultures,andgenerations—orasbelongingtosmallergroupswhosemembersshareideas,views,orcommonexperiences.Allofthesekindsofgroupsmayofferpeopleafeelingofsecuritybutalsopreventthemfromlearningorexperiencinganythingnew.