Rainy Day Class Discussion

1.

Lazere defines primary certitude as a “psychological term for the mindset of people who are fixed in absolute beliefs so dogmatically, without recognizing their own bias, that they cannot bear to have their beliefs questioned or doubted” (Lazere 126).  This term is exemplified in Bouie’s Criminal Justice Racism article through the study he discusses.  In the study, the participants are given skewed statistics which support racism and prejudice.  Dunn, a character from the article, ended up shooting and killing a black man because he felt threatened and was made a “victim.”  His own thinking led to his actions.

Partisan viewpoint was also exemplified.  Similarly, it is a perspective that sides with others.  Since the participants in the aforementioned study which Bouie wrote about were given faulty statistics, their viewpoints were shifted towards the viewpoints of the people conduction the study and manipulating the participants.

2.
     I think, after reading Corbett and Eberly, that one’s success in writing or arguing in the public can only be achieved by knowing and understanding and acknowledging one’s audience.  The beginning of their chapter when they show two contrasting letters to the editor was a huge eye-opener for me as far as this unit.  They explain that the author of the first letter wrote with hope.  Rather than listing her grievances, she asked that her issue be resolved in a timely fashion.  She did not ‘tear down’ any institution or individual.  The second letter is written without hope.  The author complains and writes nasty things to his audience.  His letter ends up focusing on his own personal views rather than resolving the initial issue/complaint.

     McDonald emphasized the point that it is not about tearing an opponent’s argument down in order to prove your point’s “rightness,” but rather to understand both viewpoints and finding a way to learn from each other.  The first author in C/E’s chapter does that.  She writes to her opponent explaining her side and leaves room for their explanation.  Author number two leaves no room for learning.