Assertion Journals The purpose of the Assertion Journal is to strengthen both your analysis skills and your critical thinking skills. Your job is to read the quotation given to you and perform several tasks.

First you will identify the writer’s claim. This means you will explain to your reader what the deliverer of the quotation is really saying. This will be an exercise in analyzing the words and their arrangement so as to understand the overall meaning. Look at the specific diction and syntax used by the writer. “You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." -Ayn Rand What is Ayn Rand’s claim?

Next, you will defend, challenge or qualify the statement. If you are defending the quotation, explain how the statement is correct. If you are challenging the quotation, explain how the statement is incorrect. If you choose to qualify the statement, you must explain why the statement is partially correct and incorrect. Do not only pick one side to write about each time. Vary your position for each quotation. For example, do not always defend the quotation.

Use specific examples and reasoning to support your explanation and arguments supporting, refuting or qualifying the quotation. The way to go wrong in this assignment is to be vague and not support your claims with specific evidence. DO NOT USE EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN LIFE. The majority of the time, personal examples only have a superficial connection to the quotation. Look to literature, history, science, philosophy and current events to illustrate what the quotation means.

Your responses will need to be at least one (1) page and no more than two (2) pages (typed) of polished, grammatically sound prose. Formatting counts. All papers must be in Times New Roman, 12 point font, double spaced. Use the template provided on school fusion. THIS IS NOT AN INFORMAL ASSIGNMENT JUST BECAUSE IT IS CALLED A “JOURNAL.”