Essay

Taking a Side

So far this semester, our essays have been getting us thinking about ourselves and the world around us in new ways. The first essay was about analyzing ourselves, while the second essay was about analyzing something we encounter on a day to day basis. The third essay will involve the analysis of a point of view, where you pick a side in a debate and argue your position.

Select an issue with at least two sides to it that you encounter on a regular basis. It can be something as big as mounting international tensions or something as personal as your preferred brand of soda. The important thing is that there are at least two sides to the debate, and that you can sustain a discussion for the entire essay. You must be persuasive and argumentative in this discussion, and must support your point of view with sound reasoning and concrete examples. Do not simply assert your opinions and let them stand alone; prove your points. Bias is unavoidable, so you must be aware of your biases and use them constructively.

Requirements:

· A strong thesis statement that makes clear what issue you are addressing, what side you are taking, and why.

· A properly used counter-argument.

· 12 point font, double spaced, Times New Roman

· 4-6 pages

Please let me know via email by Wednesday what topic you’ll be writing on. Because of their excessively controversial and sensitive nature, there are a couple of topics I’d like you to avoid. Please no arguments about abortion, the death penalty, gay marriage, or marijuana legalization.

First Draft Due 4/15, at least 3 pages

Final Draft Due 4/29

Some potential topics for this essay:

· The current political climate.

· Any of the propositions on the ballot that aren’t against the above rules.

· The value of a university education.

· Your favorite brand of soda.

· The best/worst novel written by a favorite author.

· The best/worst movie, game, etc.

· The value of popular culture.

· The cause of the obesity epidemic.

· The value of professional sports.

· The enduring existence of the American Dream.

· The best tech company currently active.

· The root causes of the Civil War.

· Why Pluto should or shouldn’t be a planet.