Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Spring Semester 2013
UNIV.1212, 107
Assignment 2
Assignment 2: Debating a topical issue in the KSA involving
claims and rebuttals.
HASSAN ALQATARI
Written
report
Individual
10%
201102989 section 101
DUE DATE: Week 7—hand in hard copy in class and post on Bb by 4.55 on Tuesday 19 March
Note: IDs – both university registration number + number on attendance roster
1. AIMS
1) See Syllabus: Debating a topical issue in the KSA.
2) The aim of this second assignment is to give you further systematic practice in using the
main elements in constructing an argument: claim/premise/conclusion + rebuttal, evidence,
support, informal logical presentation, and presentation in summary analytical form.
In this connection note the definition of an argument from the opening of the Introduction to
A Rulebook for Arguments: “’to give an argument’ means to offer a set of reasons or
evidence in support of conclusion” (p. xi).
3) Relevant references/documents: (1) syllabus readings; (2) instructor’s documents (for
“Assignment 1” + “Logic of Argument” [on Bb under Course Documents]).
4) You should also draw upon and put to use any skills and/or concepts you have acquired from
the other courses you’ve taken – or are currently taking – as part of the Core Curriculum, e.g.
writing and research, professional development.
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2. GRADING: 10%
3. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
CRITERIA
Assessment Rubric for Individual Written Report
Presentation
Layout, titles, headings/subheadings, spacing, use of 1
bold and italics.
Argument
sequence
Use of given schema with no parts missing. Claim 2
and counter-claim correctly formulated. Premises
linked not just juxtaposed.
Validity of
argument
Coherent set of reasons offered in support of 3
claim/conclusion. Evidence relevant in support of
conclusion. Clear connections between premises and
Logic of argument
Mechanics
SCORES
between premises and conclusions.
Claim and counter-claim logically presented substituting X 2
and Y each and their implications respectively, adding Z
for
the
premises
(reasons
in
support
of
claim/counter/claim).
Punctuation, spelling, and capitalization are correct; 2
no copying; full sentences even if bullets used;
assignment guidelines followed.
TOTAL
10
4. COMPONENTS OF ARGUMENT
1) Topic: Issue area / Issue
1. Issue area: Entertaining area in Saudi's society
2. Issue: opening cinemas in Saudi Arabia , and why not there are no cinemas here .
2) Point(s) of departure
1. There are not a lot of entertaining things to do in KSA
2. most countries have cinemas even poor countries, so why not here ?
3) many people want to have, at least they don’t have to go Bahrain to watch
4) Questions

What to do with cinemas here ?
2

Why people want to have cinemas here ?

Why some people don’t want to have cinemas ?
5) Claim
1. I believe that cinemas in KSA should be available and open
2. I believe that my claim is factual and it's real, we should face it , we are a modern country
, so why don’t we have cinemas here .
6) Premises
First of all in Saudi Arabia we don’t have a lot of entetingng things to do, we don’t have
skating on artificial ice and many things, so why don’t we have cinemas ? other reason most
countries have , and we should be no different between them. Other thing if some people find it
really not nice to have cinemas here , simply they don’t have to go to it .
7) Conclusion

I think we should have cinemas here, at least to spend our free time going to cinemas, and
if someone doesn’t like just they don’t have to go .
8) Counter-claim

For some people they think that cinemas shouldn’t be open and available in KSA
9) Premises : for some people they think the movies that are shown in the cinemas are with
some sexual parts , and its prohibit for them to watch, other reason some want cinemas
closed during the pray time, so they can't mange the times of movies and time of praying.
And the last reason is cinemas can't be mixed genders , and its known that cinemas are mixed
genders, girls and boys in the same room .

Rebuttal

About the sexual parts it can be removed therefore it is ok to watch the whole movie
without these parts

About the pray , its simple, whoever wants to pray, they can go and pray during the
movie but without stopping it

About mixed genders, they can open cinemas with separate rooms , for males and
females
10) Conclusion
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I think because of the reasons I mentioned cinemas should be opened in KSA, I believe
There are a solutions for all of these counter claims, it just some people makes it harder and
more complicated .
11) Logical presentation
1. Present your argument in logical form using X, Y, and Z and 1, 2, 3 etc (see instructor’s
handout posted on Bb under Course Documents).
2. Given a situation (represented by X), what can be done? Eg. Y should/can be done. And
why should Y be done? Because of reasons Z1, Z2 etc.
3. You should represent both you claim and counter-claim logically.
12) Vocabulary

List with the meanings any Arabic words used in constructing your argument.
Length: None specified. You should use all the subheadings above. To save time cut and paste
the main subheadings of the “Component of Argument” above and you write in your response
under these subheadings where there a numbered subheadings or bullets.
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