English Essay

Chapters 1-9 of ​Everything’s an Argument​ throw a lot of ideas and concepts at the reader (you!). One of the key aspects of writing good argument is to be able to identify good argument as a reader first—and be able to respond to it intellectually with your own unique position on the issue at hand.

Using the essay by Stephen L. Carter in Chapter 7 (pages 281-284 ) as the basis for your own intellectual exploration, ​define your own position on the topic of modern analysis and interpretation of free speech​. ​Be sure to cite/quote Carter’s ideas​ in your own essay as you carve out a unique position on what 21​st​-century free speech looks like in society today.

Steps:

1. Choose your response position carefully. Don't settle on the first idea(s) that comes to mind. You want a position full enough to explore, not one you will quickly gloss over. So, choosing the “easiest” position here may not help you do the assignment very well. Just “mimicking” the writer isn’t going to be enough here, either. ​You need to define your own position​. 2. Make sure you have ans​wered the assignment prompt above directly ​with the proper depth of thought and analysis. AVOID first-person, “I” statements in this assignment: just state your position in the third person instead. Using the collective “we” or “us” in terms of society as a whole ​is​ acceptable, however. 3. Remember to challenge yourself to ​critically THINK ​about what you're writing. Do not merely SUMMARIZE the readings or the ideal of communication and friendship; analyze instead in terms of the response(s) requested above. Use examples from the readings themselves and other materials​ you’ve been exposed to prior to this class. Tips: 1. Remember to fully answer the prompt(s) above. Partial answers or vague answers will hurt your grade. 2. Proofread! Spell-check!! Grammar-check!!!

Specifics:

1. The required length is a minimum of ​800-1000 w​ords; there is no maximum length, although if you’re approaching 1,500 words, that’s probably a sign you’re writing too repetitively. If you are under this word-count minimum, I will mark your grade down at least one full letter grade.

2. All spelling, grammar and legibility standards apply. Please title your paper as well. Without a title, I will mark your grade down one full letter. 3. You will be graded on the​ Six Elements​ and how well the assignment meets the requirements above. Make sure you know the Six Elements by now and work to get critical thinking into this essay! 4. In either .txt,​ .doc or .docx formats​ ONLY. Please make sure you submit your essay in a file format I request; thank you. Generally, no late assignments are accepted, as noted in the syllabus