Essay

• Length: 1500-2500 words
• Value: 300 points
• Format: MLA
• Outside Sources (other than Mistakes Were Made): Required, at least 4

For essay 2, you will critically analyze both sides of an issue for examples of cognitive bias. Choose one of the following issues:

• Abortion
• Gun control/safety
• Same-sex marriage equality
• Climate change
• Immigration
• Intelligent Design/Creationism

The model for this kind of analysis is what authors Tavris and Aronson do on Debra and Frank’s relationship issues in Chapter 6 of Mistakes Were Made. Notice, for example, how the authors never try to conclude whose position is right or wrong. Likewise, your own essay should:

• fairly and accurately summarize both sides’ positions (approximately 1/3 of your essay’s total word count); your summary here should be as neutral as possible;
• identify and analyze examples of at least three kinds of cognitive bias on each side(approximately 2/3 of your essay’s total word count);
• conclude by pointing out possible strategies for resolution or by noting what would have to change—how the biases might be overcome—before resolution is even possible.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your essay’s task is NOT to adjudicate the issue itself or to argue for one side or the other of these controversial topics. Instead, your essay should analyze each side’s positions for examples of cognitive bias. Ideally, a reader of your essay will not be able to tell what your own personal position is on the issue. Choose a topic that interests you. You'll be working on this essay for weeks, so you should feel some connection to the material, some curiosity about the topic or even some experience with it (though that's not required because this essay is not a personal narrative). But don't feel like you have to already be an expert on the topic; that's what the research will help you with. But if a topic has zero interest for you, it will be harder to sustain the motivation to write your best essay.

• Don't be afraid of strong feelings about the topic. You probably noticed that the topics are controversial; that's deliberate. Part of the metacognitive challenge of this essay's writing process is to be able to put aside your personal feelings or opinions on a topic and analyze the cognitive biases on each side of the debate. As I say in the assignment: Ideally, a reader of your essay will not be able to tell what your own personal position is on the issue. 

Research

This essay requires at least 4 outside sources. But with literally millions of possible sources at your fingertips, how do you select credible, relevant sources that suit your essay's goals?