Homework Assignment #1

Part 1: Justify/verify that your topic fits into the public forum.

Public forum criteria

1.Some problem affects people collectively as well as individually.

2. Cooperative action is needed to address the problem.

3. The decision requires subjective judgment. It’s not obvious what should be done, and there’s not just one possible solution. There’s no way of knowing absolutely everything that needs to be known.

4. In spite of that uncertainty, a decision needs to be made.

Part 2: Crafting your thesis statement

Topic:

General purpose:

Specific purpose:

Thesis statement:

Issues:

Perspectives/sides of debate: