- As a Rogerian thinker, it is your task to consider all angles of an argument presented by one of the reading selections. Imagine for a moment that you are a lawyer, a negotiator, a therapist, or some other profession searching for common ground between two opposing viewpoints. Then, consider these questions.
Paragraph 1. Based on the readings or the thematic section, create a real-world scenario of two people being in a situation with varying perspectives on an issue. Present the characters, the ideas of the characters, and the disagreements as the foundation of the scenario. (The author of the selected reading may be one of the characters, or you may create your own characters.)
Paragraph 2. As a negotiator, it is important to understand each perspective. Identify the arguments that each party involved presents. Think of yourself as analyzing each position and evidence. Present this material to the reader. (Your ideas may originate from the readings, but they can also evolve from your ideas but based on the thematic section.)
Paragraph 3. Finally, in a third paragraph, identify possible common ground between the two characters. Imagine this common ground as not your viewpoint but the viewpoint between the character (or the writer) and another person arguing their point. Your job is to find common ground as part of the negotiation and deliver this information directly to the two characters. Remember both characters want to be satisfied with the outcome.
