English

Choose one of the sets of essays from They Say, I Say listed below. Summarize both of the arguments (“they say”), explain how the authors agree and disagree, and craft your own well-argued response (not just free-flowing opinion) to the issues the two essays raise (“I say”). Make sure you include a naysayer to show possible objections to your argument, and address the “so what?” factor: why does this issue matter?

Charles Murray, “Are Too Many People Going to College?”

Sanford J. Ungar, “The New Liberal Arts”

Paul Krugman, “Confronting Inequality”

Brandon King, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold”

SHERYL SANDBERG, “Lean In: What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?”

BELL HOOKS , “Dig Deep: Beyond Lean In”

In addition to the general writing criteria that is applicable to all of the papers in this course (introduction and conclusions, focus, audience, thesis, organization, development, language, grammar and mechanics, proper citation of outside references), this paper will be graded on the following criteria:

· The ability to summarize both arguments accurately and fairly;

· The ability to synthesize the two arguments. How are they similar? How are they different?

· The ability to enter a conversation with a clear, coherent and well-supported argument of one’s own.

This assignment connects to these University Outcomes of Writing: Relate content to an audience, to develop and organize material, to construct fluent sentences using standard grammar, mechanics and references.