POSITION paper on the book (Guns, Germs &Steel):

In writing a (2 to 3 page) position paper, you have to take a STAND on the book. For this book, answer this question: was it useful or not useful. By useful, can you use the ideas and evidence in the book to better understand diversity and discrimination.

A position paper requires an argument - which means presentation of evidence (a. from the book - cite page number; AND b. from experience - could also be a news story, cite the source) for your position.

For example, If the book was useful, here is why it was useful - here is the evidence the author presented that makes it useful, here is how it comports with my experience).

If the book was not useful, here is why it was useless - here are the kinds of evidence the author presented and this is why it is meaningless when compared to my own experience. The goal of this paper is to allow you to develop your own analyses and understanding of diversity and discrimination.

Your understandings allow you to "make sense" of something you observe in the world. An understanding is not a "feeling," it is an insight that is predicated on some evidential basis.

POSITION PAPER (Guns, Germs & Steel): Using ALL the journals up to this point, how does Diamond's analysis reshape your thoughts on diversity and discrimination? As you examine your perceptions, what adjustments do you need to make in order to accommodate McNeill?

NOTE using Stallings, you are solving the "big picture" (chapter 3) - and beginning to answer the question "what am I trying to prove?"