Writing Workshop

Come to class prepared to discuss:

1. What is your topic for Essay 3?
2. Can you make your point without relying on outside statistics?
   I don't mean to ban all outside references, but I will ask you to approve them with me beforehand, since "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
3. What is the counter-argument?
   (Most people in the world are not evil; they think of themselves as good, rational people, who have weighed all the evidence and come up with the best answer. If their answer makes your skin crawl, or makes you want to scream, it's worth exploring. Seek out and ask a real, live human being who disagrees with you, listen to what they say, and fairly record what they think the issues are. You can still follow up with your own opinion, but it will be an informed opinion.)
4. Are there any attacks in your essay?
1. Unanswered questions ("What do they think they are doing?" "Do they really think that this will work?"  "I don't understand why anyone would think that way.")
   Question like this are great at riling up people who already agree with you, but in an academic setting, admitting that you are uninformed about your topic ("I don't understand why...") is not a persuasive approach.)
2. Biased language ("When wrinkled old hypocrites band together to crush the innocent pleasures of fun-loving youths..." "If irresponsible hooligans who think of nothing but today's illicit pleasure continue to disrespect the values that made America great...")
   Your task in this assignment is not to "win" the argument by making your opponent look evil or ignorant. Rather, your goal is to demonstrate that you can see multiple sides of a complex issue, including the best arguments in favor of a position you reject, and the weaknesses of the position you favor, while still taking a clear stand on that issue.
   

Beware of Hot-Button Topics

If your opinion fits on a bumper sticker, leave it there.

A three-page essay that chooses one or the other side of a long-standing division (such as abortion, gay marriage, or the drinking age) is not going to change anyone's mind.

Of much more value is an unpredictable essay:

My gay friend convinced me to be pro-life, because he pointed out that if scientists can isolate a genetic connection to homosexuality, couples who don't want a gay child may decide to abort a gay fetus. Initially I thought he was overreacting, but he said...

or

I'm an animal lover who is also an animal eater. My friend Sally is a strict vegan, who says I'm a hypocrite because of X and Y, but I respond to X by saying A and B, and I respond to Y by saying C and D.

(The examples I've provided are a little stiff in terms of phrasing, but my point at this stage is to emphasize the kinds of ideas that make good papers.)