Name: ___________________________

Teachers: ________________________
9th Grade Advanced Academic
Date: ____________________

Philosophical Chairs Preparation

Today we will bring to a close our discussions about shared human experiences, learning about
multiple perspectives, and identity. We want to come up with some conclusions we can make
about how to treat one another. We will do this by investigating two different approaches:
As human beings, it is most important for us to connect with each other through always
striving to recognize similarities and shared experiences.
As human beings, it is most important for us to broaden our points of view by always
striving to identify and understand others' unique perspectives and identities.
You will make an argument for both of these approaches to treating others. You must come up
with and explain four reasons that illustrate the argument.
You must include arguments or ideas conveyed in the texts we have reviewed in this class. The
texts we have discussed in class include:
Bread by Margaret Atwood
Persimmons by Li Young-Li
Raised By Women by Kelly Norman Ellis
The Odyssey by Homer
Who Am I? Think Again by Hetain Patel

Argument #1: As human beings, it is most important for us to connect with each other
through always striving to recognize similarities and shared experiences.
Reasoning
(I agree with this
statement because X,Y,Z
is true)

Reason 1

Reason 2

Reason 3

Reason 4

Support from Text

(What points, arguments,
reflections, or opinions do
the authors of our texts
make/have in relation to
this argument?)

Explanation
(Thoroughly explain how
your textual support is
evidence for your reason.
HINT: Go beyond the
surface-level meaning)

Argument #2: As human beings, it is most important for us to broaden our points of view
by always striving to identify and understand others' unique perspectives and identities.
Reasoning
(I agree with this
statement because X,Y,Z
is true)

Reason 1

Reason 2

Reason 3

Reason 4

Support from Text

(What points, arguments,
reflections, or opinions do
the authors of our texts
make/have in relation to
this argument?)

Explanation
(Thoroughly explain how
your textual support is
evidence for your reason.
HINT: Go beyond the
surface-level meaning)