What are his supporting reasons? Quote directly from the essay for support.
Do you agree or disagree with his position? Explain.
1. Brainstorm a list of words or phrases that come up when you think about argumentative topics related to your major (or issues in education) that you want to know more about. You may need to do a preliminary Google search or look around a database like Opposing Viewpoints to gather more ideas. Don't censor yourself. "The exercise will also work well if you work on it over several days. You'll be amazed at how much information you can generate" (Ballenger 27).
(Make sure you have reviewed the Essay 3 prompt and at least the first couple of lessons of the Unit 3 content so that you have a good understanding of the assignment: keep in mind what this paper is not: it is not just an exploration of why you are interested in a particular job or major, nor should it simply be a comparison/contrast between two jobs, two majors, nor an outlook of whether or not there are jobs out there in your field, etc.).
2. "Review your list. Look for a single item in any column that seems promising. Ask yourself these questions: Is this something that raises questions that research could answer? Are they potentially interesting topics? Does this get at something I've always wondered about? Might it open doors to knowledge I think is important, fascinating, or relevant in my life?" (Ballenger 27). Circle the item.
3. "Spend five minutes or so listing what you know about your topic already" (Ballenger 41).
3. "Now spend 15 or 20 minutes brainstorming a list of questions about your topic you'd like to answer...make this list as long as you can; try to see your topic in as many ways as possible. Push yourself on this; it's the most important step" (Ballenger 41). For the first part of this discussion assignment (your original response), post five (5) of these questions. Also identify your major and briefly explain how learning more about this topic might be beneficial for someone in that field. If you have not declared a major yet or are a dual-enrollment student, etc., remember that then you must choose an argumentative topic that relates to issues in education.
4. For your peer response, choose one's student's post and "add a question you would like answered about that topic that's not on the list, and select the one question on the list you find the most interesting" - and why (Ballenger 41).
Writing with Authority
One of the goals of many research projects is to have students write with authority and confidence.
For this discussion post:
1. Locate a subject you are already an expert in—a video game, a hobby, a sport—and then list at least two specific sources (of any sort - i.e. websites, articles, books, etc.) you would refer someone to who wanted to learn about that topic. What do these sources provide and why are they good sources?
2. Now start a discussion about the kinds of authority you should try achieve through research. What kinds of sources should you be using for your research paper - and why?
Topic Presentation
(Can only be completed after you have chosen a topic and developed some focused knowledge of it).
For your original post, make a brief presentation to the class on your topic:
"Rather than simply report everything you've learned about your topic...focus on what you've learned so far that most surprised you and why. Or present the most common misconceptions about your topic and why they miss the mark. Or provide some background about why the question you're exploring is important and share some of the answers you've discovered so far. If your topic has a personal dimension, tell the story, and share how your research has helped you understand your experience differently" (Ballenger 70).