ENGLISH 201C Leone

TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM Idols Self Evaluation

WRITING PROMPT
Identify and explain in three deductively written paragraphs three unconscious patterns of
behavior or examples of habits of mind that demonstrate your own idol-based reasoning from
one or more of the four idols: Idol of the Tribe-based reasoning, Idol of the Cave-based
reasoning, Idol of the Marketplace-based reasoning, and/or Idol of the Theater-based reasoning.
CRITERIA
With deductively structured and developed paragraphs, respond to the above prompt by analyzing
two or more examples per idol as evidence of a pattern of your own idol-based reasoning. You may
write up to two fully developed paragraphs per idol. Please consider the deductive paragraph
structure we have discussed in class by stating, developing, and defending your claims about how
idols or tendencies of thinking have affected your reception or expression of ideas with analysis of
examples that illustrate a pattern of your own idol-based reasoning. Consider examples of your own
tendencies of thinking in English 201C primarily but you may also consider other instances of how
idols of your own were obstacles to the reception or expression of ideas in moments that could have
been new learning opportunities if not for your idol-based reasoning. Since this is an open book &
notes exam, consider referencing passages from the three pages of definitions on Francis Bacons
Four Idols to justify your response. Your response will be evaluated on how effectively and accurately
you demonstrate your understanding of idol-based reasoning and how effectively you identify and
analyze relevant personal examples of these tendencies or habits of unconscious thinkingin short,
the soundness and validity of your arguments that should prove how your thinking has been affected
by two of the four idols.
TIPS: INDUCTIVE REASONING BEFORE WRITING YOUR RESPONSE
How have idols affected your own critical thinking? Consider this very carefully before responding,
especially since idol-based reasoning is unconscious, not conscious this takes a great deal of selfreflection, one of the most important skills to have as a critical thinker. Consider how your own
tendencies (or idols) of thinking may have affected how you may have received outside ideas from
others and/or affected how you may have expressed your own ideas verbally and/or in writing. Here is
a checklist of tips to consider as you prepare your response to the above prompt:

To assist and to prepare for an answer before you write your response, read over the passages on
Bacons Four Idols again, and then brainstorm examples of what may have been your own idolbased reasoning for each one of the idols and how these idols or tendencies of thinking affected
your expression of your own ideas or your reception of others ideas.
Do not mistake a singular decision or action as idol-based reasoning consider patterns of
unconscious thinking that may have affected your work in English 201C; your work as a college
and/or high school student; your interpretation of reading materials and/or assignments; your
reception of ideas expressed by parents, family members, friends, enemies, neighbors, party-goers,
instructors or students in your classes; and your reception of ideas expressed in such media
sources as TV or movies, documentary films, advertising, newspaper articles, op-ed articles, etc.
Compile a list of examples before continuing on to plan and write deductively-reasoned and
deductively-structured paragraphs in response to this prompt question.
Identify the best examples based on how they may represent a pattern of thinking or habit of mind.
Be sure to explain how each of the examples you choose are part of a larger pattern of thinking or
habit of mind and use each example to help you prove your own claim that your thinking is
affected by idol-based reasoning based on the idol definition.

DUE: Mon., Dec. 15th Three typed deductively-reasoned paragraphs that are fully-developed

ENGLISH 201C Leone

TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM Idols Self Evaluation

with anecdotes of moments of your own idol-based reasoning with a cover page labeled FINAL.