Question Details

CRTH 10 Week 4 Study Room
STUDY ROOM Forum Assignment  
In this study room the class will work together to solve a fictional problem. And, we will practice identifying and distinguishing reality and value assumptions along the way.
FIRST POST 
View the first seven minutes of this TV Episode, Blue Bloods.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/630497#i0,p1,d0
Then, in your first post, answer the following questions:
1) Identify two unstated value assumptions in the first 7 minutes of this Episode. Be specific and clear, e.g. 'the passengers in the subway car are innocent'. 
2) Identify two reality assumptions one might use in addressing the following issue: 'who killed the victim on the park bench?'.
3) Then, form a hypothesis (conclusion/claim) about who killed the victim on the bench and identify at least two reality assumptions that support your hypothesis. This will involve constructing an argument. Your hypothesis will be the conclusion. The reality assumptions will be the evidence. And, value assumptions may be relevant here, too.
•	Think about whether or not you used 'deductive reasoning' in reaching your conclusion, that is, deducing your conclusion from assumptions about the facts, or used 'inductive reasoning', that is, built a case for a hypothesis using evidence--aiming to support the claim that something is 'probably true'. You may have used both techniques. Can you distinguish the difference?
•	OPTIONAL: This television show is fictional, of course. And, hence, even though as an exercise we can analyze evidence and issues presented to us, strictly speaking, the issues or questions are 'pretend', and we are not attempting to 'prove' anything. In fictional contexts like this, we should be sensitive to the 'rules of the game', so to speak, which include suggestions and general assumptions--which are at the whim of writers. Are there any other interesting suggestions or assumptions in the first 7 minutes of this episode? Later in the class we will study how to analyze media for suggestion. But, if you would like to take a stab at this, please do. And, if you identify an assumption or suggestion in this context, try to form an argument. What can we infer from these assumptions using inductive and deductive argument techniques.
Remember: this is an exercise. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Engage these questions with your classmates and practice your skills. If you make a mistake, correct it. And learn.
SECOND POST
Respond to another student's post. Let's work on the hypothesis and argument.Try to dialogue and solve this problem with ONLY THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE FIRST 7 MINUTES identifying key assumptions. This may involve EVALUATING the arguments of other students. So, consult the handout Basics of Argument Evaluation for guidance if you need it.