lndd: communication paper 3 pages due dec.12th

COMM 297FA / The Folklore of Alcohol Opinion Paper Assignment

Length: Variable Percentage of Final Grade: Due Date:

The purpose of this assignment is to express your opinion regarding the cultural practices of alcohol and to support your assertions with relevant evidence.

There is no single way to accomplish this assignment. Two options are offered below. If you have an idea that differs from them, please contact Professor Gencarella.

The project should take 5-10 hours of research and writing.

Group opinion papers are permitted, but students must consult with Professor Gencarella to obtain permission and guarantee fair and consistent requirements of time and length.

Instructions

Option A

Students should compose a paper drawing upon and in conversation with public statements from policy think tanks such as:

https://www.rstreet.org/issue/alcohol-policy/

http://www.drinksreform.org/

Students may also respond to policy papers available at organizations listed on the following site:

http://www.ctr4bewell.com/id59.html

Students may also respond to other opinion pieces published in reputable newspapers, journals, magazines, or online sites. These may include sites which are written for audiences outside of the United States but that would be applicable here or to the student’s home country. As an example, see this opinion regarding binge drinking in the United Kingdom:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16466646

If students need assistance in selecting a statement that would provoke a fitting response by their political, moral, and personal interests, please consult Professor Gencarella.

In their response, students should express whether they agree or disagree with the specific published statement from a think tank, which should be clearly identified. The point of the paper, especially if students agree, is twofold: first, to express a personal opinion; second, to extend or respond to the original statement by providing examples and additional information.

Option B

Students should compose an opinion paper based on a topic that interests them; no formal response to a previous public statement is necessary, but students must justify in their paper why this issue matters to a greater public.

Students may address local, national (such as the drinking age), or international issues (such as the availability of certain alcohol in global markets).

Although this is an expression of personal opinion, it should be rhetorically sophisticated. Students may opt for any writing style from the very personal to the very impersonal. All assertions, however, should be supported with examples (including relevant personal examples) and / or information culled from legitimate sources.

Students may employ humorous, comedic, or ironic styles in this paper.

Students may express opinions about culinary matters, but they should not write papers that serve as advertisements or public relation campaigns. For example, students should not write papers simply expressing an opinion that one brand of alcohol tastes better than another brand, but they may write papers explaining why one brand deserves attention or success over other brands for historical, cultural, or political reasons.

Finally, students should clearly demonstrate an awareness of viable counter-statements to their opinion in this piece.