Compare and contrast the Russian KGB agent’s description of how the Russian government might go about brainwashing its population to what you feel is occurring today in America.

Story:

In 1985, a former Russian KGB agent gave an interview describing how the Russian government goes about brainwashing its own population. The four phases are demoralization, destabilization, crises, and normalization.

In the first phase, the educational system is weakened and the population is fed useless information until it no longer is able to assess the facts.

Destabilization involves undermining the economy, foreign relations, and the national defense system.

The crises phase is brought about by a sudden, unexpected, imminent threat.

In response to the crises, the government puts in place emergency measures after which follows the normalization process, which affirms and institutionalizes the new status quo.

Assignment (read this section carefully):

For this final requirement, be careful not to jump to conclusions. This assignment challenges students to go beyond using only System-1 thinking. Use your critical thinking skills and be sure to consider all the possibilities. Be sure to address the following in your answer:

analyze the alternatives
describe foreseeable consequences
identify duties and ethical principles that are relevant

Submit a two (2) page paper responding to the prompts below. You must follow the provided template. Failure to follow the provided template will result in a zero grade on this assignment.

You must incorporate four quotes and/or paraphrases from our textbook, but the paper must not be made of entirely of quotes and paraphrases. You only use quotes and paraphrases to support your original ideas. Do not use any other resource beyond the textbook.

 

 

Introduction:
Write one sentence which summarizes your answer to the following:

Are there similarities or differences to how the Russian government might go about brainwashing its population and what you feel is occurring today in America?
Then, write a three-sentence summary of the story you read regarding the Russian Government and how this may or may not be similar to what occurs in the United States.

Follow this three-sentence summary with one sentence which is your thesis statement. The thesis statement will indicate if the U.S. Government is ethically responsible to provide/not provide education and full/accurate news and information to its citizens. You will begin your thesis statement with ONE of the following – depending on what you think:

Unlike the Russian Government, the U.S. Government is ethically responsible to provide . . .
Similar to the Russian Government, the U.S. Government is not ethically responsible to provide . . .

Body:
Answer/complete the following prompts for the body of your paper.

Is it the American government’s ethical responsibility to provide for the education – to include developing strong critical thinking skills – of the American people? Why or why not?
a (Your argument will be seven-to-eight sentences in one paragraph. Include a quote/paraphrase from our textbook and be certain to relate the quote/paraphrase to your analysis.)

Map your argument. See below for further mapping instructions.
a (Attach your maps to the end of your paper, after the Reference Page.)

Is it the American government’s ethical responsibility to ensure the American population has access to full and accurate news and information? Why or why not?
a (Your argument will be seven-to-eight sentences in one paragraph. Include a quote/paraphrase from our textbook and be certain to relate the quote/paraphrase to your analysis.)

Map your argument. See below for further mapping instructions.
a (Attach your maps to the end of your paper, after the Reference Page.)

Compare and contrast the Russian KGB agent’s description of how the Russian government might go about brainwashing its population to what you feel is occurring today in America.

This means you will use your arguments regarding ethical responsibility from above to describe the similarities and differences between the Russian government’s role in educating and informing its population to what occurs today with the American government’s role in educating and informing its population.
a (Your comparison will be seven-to-eight sentences in one paragraph.

Your contrast will be seven-to-eight sentences in a separate paragraph. Include a quote/paraphrase from our textbook supporting your comparison. Include a quote/paraphrase from our textbook supporting your contrast. Be certain to relate the quotes/paraphrases to your analyses.)

Conclusion:

Re-state your thesis statement. Then, write a three-to-four sentence summary of your paper contents.

Reference Page

In APA formatting, the Reference Page is the last page of a paper. It is on its own page; do not combine your Reference Page with the same page on which your paper ends.

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