Discussion - Are You Listening?

Listening is a vital part of communication, especially in customer service. Unfortunately, many businesses do not take the time to listen to their customers.

For this week's discussion, describe a time when you felt like you were not being listened to and, as a result, your needs were not being met. How did it make you feel? How did you react?

Based on your experience, what are some practical things you would recommend that businesses implement to improve the listening skills of employees when communicating with customers?

Discussion - Why Avoid Fallacies?

For your initial posting this week, provide an example of fallacious reasoning, either your own or someone you know. Explain why the reasoning was fallacious (questionable premise, suppressed evidence, or invalid inference) and what the result of that reasoning was.

For your follow up posting, choose a classmates instance of fallacious reasoning and provide possible ways to identify and avoid the fallacy.

Discussion - A Literary Adventure

The written word has had an impact on the human condition for centuries. We have all been touched in some way or another by literature. This week, you will take a literary journey by searching the Internet for the pieces below. In addition to reading the story, you should find out something about the author of your chosen piece as well. After making your choice, come back and share your impressions of the story and explain how it contributes to our discussion of the Humanities.

Choose one of the following options (or find a piece of literature of your choosing to report on):

"A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner

"Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid

"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin

"Exodus" by James Baldwin