EDU 6003 Journal Assignments

This assignment is to read and think critically and analytically. The aim of the assignment,
beyond becoming familiar with some educational criticism, is to give you a chance to
demonstrate your ability to analyze and evaluate a point of view philosophically.
The assignment could be of two forms.
In the first form, you examine an article, say a letter to the editor, and do a critical analysis of
the writer’s thesis and argument.
In the second form, you are going to write a critical analysis of a contemporary issue in
society.

A. First form
The first thing you should do in the report is to outline, briefly but comprehensively, the point
(s) of view the author is proclaiming.

a. Lay out the purpose of the writer in writing the article in the first paragraph. It
should begin with something like this: In this article the writer attempts to ….. . Do
not ramble unnecessarily.

b. Summarize the article by writing the 'moves' or the arguments the author claimed
or made to attain his objective. This would only require one or two paragraphs
depending on the nature of the arguments. Use your own words based on your
understanding. Do not attempt to quote en bloc directly from the article. If
necessary, you might quote short phrases. For example, “To reach his point, the
writer argues that ….,” or “Firstly, the writer argues that ….” Or “to support his
case, the writer argues that ….”.

Then (secondly) you should analyze and assess the point of view as being “sound” or
“unsound” or somewhere between. To say from the point of view of philosophy that an
argument (a structured discourse) is “sound” or “unsound” is to refer to its factual basis, the
adequacy of its premises, its logical flow, and so on. But if it will help further, the following
are some questions you might pose to yourself and your audience as a means for analyzing
and evaluating your work philosophically.

1. Does the argument (the article or the author) deal with a significant issue, rather than
one that is trivial or frivolous?

2. Is the analysis and are the proposals “realistic” – that is, are they factual and true to
life rather than speculative and fanciful?

3. Is the discussion descriptive and/or prescriptive?

4. Is the issue to be resolved a factual, a conceptual or value matter?

5. Is the argument (the article or the author) consistent throughout; the points clearly
made; and do the conclusions follow from the evidence and analysis that is given?

6. What assumptions explicit or implicit, underlie the author’s discussion?

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7. Is the view that is taken a “synoptic” one – that is, one that brings many ideas together
rather than treat issues as if they were singular and / or connected?

8. One philosopher says that knowing the truth involves three things: (a) knowing what a
statement means, (b) knowing the right way to verify it, and (c) having good evidence
for believing it. Does the argument (the article or the author) deal with one or more of
these (which ones?) or with all of them? To what degree, then, is the article “true”?

9. Does the author show clearly what ends (aims or purposes) he/she seeks, and are the
means for realizing those ends logically related and clearly demonstrated?

Finally (thirdly), make a judgement about the reading. Is it a well-grounded (factual) and
sound (logical) argument? Are you persuaded by it? Would you be willing to act on it?
What consequences, intended or unintended, might come from acting on it? Do you think it
would achieve the aim it seeks, and at a worthwhile cost?

B. Second form

Think of an educational issue or problem in Malaysia or other countries that has been
reported and discussed in the mass media.

a. Write a critical analysis of the issue as though you are writing a letter to an editor
of a local paper. Bear in mind the points stated in A above so that you would
avoid making the mistakes yourself.

b. Begin your analysis by stating your purpose of writing and a description of the
moves to reach your goal.

c. Elaborate your arguments for each move. Are they convincing or persuasive
enough?

d. Reaffirm your stand on the issue. Reread your work to ensure there is coherence
and no inconsistency.

March 20, 2019

© Rosnani Hashim