Lesson 23 — Activity 1: Analyzing Ideas
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Lesson 23 — Activity 1: Analyzing Ideas
At work, as in any situation where we are dealing with other people, we are likely to come across situations where we do not necessarily agree with our employers, co-workers, or customers. In situations such as these, good communication skills are especially
important to solve problems in the workplace.
To know whether we have an issue that truly involves a conflict, we need to be sure that the seemingly conflicting messages are being sent and received accurately.
To analyze ideas, we need to look at how they are being communicated and if there are any barriers preventing them from being communicated clearly. If we receive the message successfully and understand it clearly, we can then look at whether we agree with it.
To know whether we have an issue that truly involves a conflict, we need to be sure that the seemingly conflicting messages are being sent and received accurately.
To analyze ideas, we need to look at how they are being communicated and if there are any barriers preventing them from being communicated clearly. If we receive the message successfully and understand it clearly, we can then look at whether we agree with it.
To analyze a message, we first need to decide whether it is expressing an opinion or a fact. We all have opinions and ideas about various issues, but we do not always base our opinions on the facts!
In situations where opinions differ, we are most likely to have problems with communication. This is because facts can be shown to be true by consulting experts or other resources, while opinions are based on people's beliefs and are not necessarily right or wrong.
When we want to determine if an opinion is reasonable or not, we can consider whether the speaker or writer can:
Sometimes a speaker or writer will try to support an opinion with unsound arguments. These are statements that may seem convincing if we do not look at them carefully.
An argument is not sound if the speaker or writer is:
In situations where opinions differ, we are most likely to have problems with communication. This is because facts can be shown to be true by consulting experts or other resources, while opinions are based on people's beliefs and are not necessarily right or wrong.
When we want to determine if an opinion is reasonable or not, we can consider whether the speaker or writer can:
- support his or her opinion with facts
- explain what is wrong with opposing or contrary facts or opinions
- base the opinion on believable or sound arguments
Sometimes a speaker or writer will try to support an opinion with unsound arguments. These are statements that may seem convincing if we do not look at them carefully.
An argument is not sound if the speaker or writer is:
- making a generalization (saying that his or her idea applies to more situations than the facts support)
- name-calling (embarrassing or making fun of people with different ideas)
- using loaded words (appealing to our emotions rather than the facts)
- presenting opinions as fact
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