Choose one ideological topic that is important to you and try to answer the following series of questions. You can choose any topic, provided that it does not fall within the scope of your education or profession. So if you are a dietitian, do not consider topics related to nutrition. If you are an ecologist, do not consider the problem of global warming. As a doctor, it is better to deal with global warming than with health, etc. 1. Is your view true because: a. you believe it is true without questioning its basis? b. you believe it is true because others believe so? c. you want to believe it is true? d. have you always believed it to be true? e. is it in your private or group interest for it to be true? f. do you have reliable knowledge on the subject?
Can you present arguments for your position in a clear and substantive manner? If so, write them down on a piece of paper and then think about how you can verify their validity.
Do you know the opposing side's counterarguments and are you able to refute each of them using hard data? If not, find a few of the most important ones and try to answer them in a concise and logical way.