Plenary Assignments

There have been unexpected changes made in the plenary paper assignments that have planned.  One of our speakers, Akiva Goldman (the screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind), has withdrawn.  Thus, a planned plenary session has been removed from us.  This late cancellation has thrown our planning into a morass.  Since we had planned to have five topics from which you would be able to select four (one of which must be the Museum of Tolerance visit) as subjects for your attention, we have a problem.  Thus, we will be compelled to change the plenary paper assignments accordingly.  There will be three (not four) papers to be submitted. 

Required of all:  Museum of Tolerance

Write a paper of no more than five pages using materials gathered from the speakers, exhibits, or displays at the Museum of Tolerance.  In your paper address these matters:

I.    There are groups in our society who submit that the Holocaust never occurred.

1. Some of these people argue that Holocaust and the ravages of war are not really separable.  Others rely on interesting definitions of “reality” to justify their positions as their own legitimate social constructions.  To what extent is arguing about the proposition of the Holocaust’s existence an example of a verbal or factual dispute?

b.      By examining (particularly) the Holocaust Section of the Museum of Tolerance, the special lecture, and related materials, what forms of evidence could you find to settle the matter?  In your examination, consider these matters:  what varieties of evidence were provided to you?  When tests covered in class are applied, how sound was the evidence you were provided?

II.  The Museum provides materials (especially in the Tolerancenter) to identify the status of human rights abuses throughout the world, including the exploitation of women and children, and the threat of terrorism.  Defenders of governments that tolerate such activities frequently sometimes argue that Western objections are a form of intolerance to their cultures and ways of life.  What position do you take on such matters?  Use information gathered from the Museum of Tolerance visit).

Select any two from the following:

1.   Plenary Assignment on the Michael Berenbaum's Presentation

In Michael Berenbaum’s presentation and in the preparatory reading materials, the nature of Holocaust language and argument was presented.  By relying on both the oral presentation and the essay by Cohen and Mense-Flohr, please write a 2-4 page paper on the topic of this presentation “package.”

Please consider the following topics:

     ·        The definition of the issues:  evaluate the clarity of the subjects
          presented to explain what holocausts are.

·        Evidence:  completeness and quality of evidence.

·        Refutation:  what methods were used to respond and rebut the opposing positions, such as they were considered.

 2.   Select an essay from any of the following sections from Social Justice in a Diverse Society by Manning and Trujillo and complete a “close analysis” of an essay in the section.

·    Racism (pp. 90 through 118)

·    Sexism (pp. 119 through 141)

·    Homophobia (pp. 181- 210)

For close analysis, make sure to include identification of warranting connectives, assuring terms, evaluative terms and rhetorical devices.

3.   Select an essay from any of the following sections from Social Justice in a Diverse Society by Manning and Trujillo and complete a “deep analysis” of an essay in the section.

·    Racism (pp. 90 through 118)

·    Sexism (pp. 119 through 141)

·    Homophobia (pp. 181- 210)

For deep analysis make sure to dissect the chief arguments advanced, arrange subarguments, and identify suppressed premises.