Adrian Bassett

WRIT 1301.02
Proposal Final Draft
May 5th, 2016
Choosing a Side
After gathering the information from my profile and ethnography about Texans and
Texan culture, I learned many things. However, one thing stood out to me and I admired was this
specific trait that most Texans have. Along with their proud attitudes, they have a strong opinion
on what they like or how they feel about certain subjects. They rarely ride along the middle of
any argument or topic. They are strongly on one side and have an opinion on things that might
not necessarily impact them directly. Their strong opinions only wanted to make me learn more
about how and why they are so willing to voice their opinion and are able to have these strong
opinions.
My whole family might be stubborn, but we usually ride the fence on most issues. We
dont really have a strong opinion on most things especially if they dont really concern or affect
us. We were just stubborn on whos turn it was to wash the dishes or do some other small chore.
I grew up for the most part this way. I didnt really have a strong opinion on anything or a real
political view until coming to Texas and seeing how they usually have a strong opinion and lay
heavily on one side of a topic.
When taking Texas government this semester, it really hit me how strong some of these
peoples opinions and how strongly they got about the side they agreed with. I remember the
topics we discussed and there was a lot of people who were either on the pro or con side when
we had group discussions. I always sat in the middle, could see both sides, and couldnt really

choose a side. While pretty much everyone else in the class had these strong opinions and would
get a little heated if someone might have not seen their side or agreed with them. At first, I was
really new to this idea of everyone having such strong opinions and how intense it got when they
really wanted someone to see their side and agree with them. It was somewhat surprising and eye
opening.
Personally, I dont really agree with almost forcing someone to see your side of the
argument or getting angry if they might not see your side. However after a while, I began to
appreciate more how these people could have such strong opinions and be able to pick a side
quickly. I felt like I was just taking the easy route when riding along the middle because I
couldnt really pick a side or really didnt care enough or know enough about the topic. Being a
new Texan and discovering these people who had opinions on pretty much anything you asked
them about, I want to adapt more of this attitude. I dont want to lose myself and lose being able
to see both sides, but I want to be able to pick sides and feel more strongly about one side of an
argument and topic without pushing my belief on someone who might not agree.
I want to recommend this way of thinking to people like me who always ride along the
middle of most arguments. Be more assertive on what side of the argument or topic you are on
and be decisive without shoving your belief onto everyone who might not agree. Dont lose too
much of your open-mindedness and ability to see both sides because being able to accept other
peoples views on the argument is a strong attribute. It helps when working with others and
learning to compromise for a bigger picture or to please everyone.
For those people like me, there are benefits to becoming more assertive with your opinion
and picking a side of an argument or topic. Being decisive and knowing where you lie on certain
topics make you seem aware and you know enough to make an informed decision on that

subject. It can also help you think quick on your feet and adjust to situations fast. Being able to
decide on a certain side is also helpful in your everyday life.
Choosing your side on a topic or argument can make you seem more aware what might
be happening on around you and more knowledgeable on that certain topic. Usually when you
are asked to pick a side its political or a policy. Being able to pick a side and talk about makes
you seem more aware of the policies and political events that are going on around you. You will
also seem informed about that subject because you can make a decision and back it up with the
information you know. Since you have reasons on why you feel a certain way about that topic, it
shows you have some background knowledge on it.
While keeping your ability to see both sides, you can adjust fast in case you see
something on a side you dont agree with anymore or didnt know before and now dont agree
with that certain new information. You can adjust and adapt your opinion on that subject. You
will also be able to adjust to new information and adjust or adapt to it. If someone gives you new
information, it might change your opinion . You can quickly re-think about what side you were
previously on and what side you might be taking now. This trait could also be applied to problem
solving which is a good trait to have whether youre in school or out in the work field.
Choosing both sides can also help you in your everyday life. There are multiple times
where my friends and I were going out to eat and we all have that indecisive personality trait. We
would just say oh no. you pick and go back and forth saying that to each other until someone
finally picks or we arent hungry anymore. Im sure this has happened to the people with the
same way of thinking, rides the middle, and doesnt really have strong opinions. Well having
those strong opinions and being able to decide quickly can help in these situations. This decisive

trait isnt just helpful in professional classroom or work environments. It could help just in
everyday decisions that need to be made.
I also want to recommend my way of thinking to some Texans. Keep that ability to
choose a side and stick with it. Keep that ability to be able to voice your opinion and feel
strongly about one side. Dont lose those attributes, but also see the other peoples way of
thinking and their views. Be considerate towards people with different views without losing your
own. You can still feel strongly about a subject and lean heavily on a side without becoming
angry because they might not agree with you. Learn that not everyone is going to agree with you
and thats okay. Just accept and understand their side and where they might be coming from.
They dont and shouldnt change your opinion and you shouldnt try to change theirs.
Keeping an open mind and being able to see other peoples points of view is another
really strong attribute to have. It can help be more compassionate towards others, strengthen your
ability to compromise with others, and see the world in a different light. Keeping an open mind
and seeing other peoples views is a good trait to have when you are in a classroom or
professional setting. It can also help just in your everyday life. There are many ways where an
open mind can be useful tool.
Keeping an open mind can help you become more compassionate towards others. You see
their views and where they have might come from. You see why they might think that way so
you become more compassionate to their way of thinking or their situation. You see things in
their eyes which is a really good trait to have. You dont feel like you have to agree with them or
they have to agree with them. You just see their side and accept that is they way they might think.
For example, someone people might think that they because of a situation they have had or the

way the grow up. Those events frame the way that person thinks and its not necessarily the way
you might think, but you can accept that with an open mind.
Keeping an open mind and seeing other peoples views can also help you compromise
with others. You see their points of views and dont feel so strong about your opinion so you can
let it go easy. You might be able to change or be able to go with someone elses idea because you
see how their idea might also be beneficial to the situation. You wont waste time arguing about
how you want your idea to be used or how you think youre idea is the best. Instead, you both
might compromise and fit the needs of everyone.
Seeing the world in a different light is also a plus by keeping an open mind and seeing
other peoples views. By keeping an open mind and seeing others views you see things in
different perspectives. By accepting other peoples perspectives and seeing their situations that
might have got them to think that certain way, you open your eyes to what they might have gone
through. You see your world in different perspectives. You might see how one thing impacted
you positively, but impacted another negatively. You see other peoples perspectives on different
topics and how they affected them. You can be able to judge a situation from many different
perspectives after seeing how different people have these different opinions. It can open your
eyes to a world you might have not thought of before.
The balance of indecisiveness, open-mindedness, decisiveness, and strong opinions is the
key. I suggest people who are like me, indecisive and open-minded, to become more decisive and
have stronger opinions. Adopt that those Texan traits without losing yourself in the process. I
also suggest for Texans, decisive and strong opinionated people, to take one more of an
indecisive and open-mind way of thinking. Dont lose your ability to have strong feelings
towards one side of an argument, but keep an open mind to other peoples perspectives and dont

become angry if they might not agree with you. Make sure to keep true to yourself, but allow
room for growing and learning.

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