Analyze two public apologies and address how these apologies either do or don’t admit fault by weakening their position.

Formal Essay Prompt

So far, we’ve looked at various public apologies and read the essays/articles “All Apologies” by Eula Biss, “I’m Sorry, I’m Not Apologizing, OK?” by Deborah Tannen and “Choose Your Own Public Apology” by Teddy Wayne.

For your second formal essay, choose two public apologies that we reviewed in class, or one that you found for homework, and answer the following question:

In her article, Tannen writes: “Why are we so reluctant to just say, ‘I'm sorry’--and say it like we mean it? Because admitting fault weakens our position.”

Analyze two public apologies and address how these apologies either do or don’t admit fault by weakening their position. Consider: Are these public apologies effective apologies? Are they non-apologies or “sorry-not-sorry” apologies? And do they truly say “I’m sorry” or are they reluctant to?

I’m Sorry, I’m Not Apologizing, OK?” by Deborah Tannen

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/apr/16/local/me-51587

“Choose Your Own Public Apology” by Teddy Wayne.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/11/24/opinion/contributors/26wayne-graphic.html