Course 6 Beginning of Week 7

This week, we are going to focus on when it is proper to disagree with an author. I guess it is a free country and you can agree or disagree with anyone for any reason you like, but generally it is best to be able to give legitimate reasons for disagreeing with an author.

If you want to disagree with an author or lecturer, you should be able to show his deficiencies in one of four areas:

First, you might show where the author is uninformed. He may be missing some crucial information, and if he (or she) had it, he might change his mind and agree with you.

Second, you might show where the author is misinformed. The information he is using to make his conclusions may be inaccurate.

Third, you might show where the author is underinformed. He may have part of the information you have, but he may not have all the information he needs to make a proper conclusion.

Fourth, you might show where the author is illogical. His steps in reasoning may not seem to follow each other.

This week, pick out one assertion an author or lecturer makes in one of your books or lessons. If you disagree with his statement, tell why by pointing out one of the four things mentioned above. If you don't wish to disagree with any of the statements you come across this week. Pick out one, and tell us in which way (using one or more of the four items listed above) you think someone might want to try to disagree with one of those statements. (You don't have to think the critic will be successful in tearing down your author's statement, just try to hazard a guess as to what approach someone might take in order to disagree with your author.)