To get started on this assignment, take some time this week to find an opinion article. Both Fox News and CNN have opinion sections, but you can branch out to many other major publishers. Please avoid obscure sources or tabloid articles that aresensational in a lurid or vulgar way. You can also stretch an article into an opinion by responding accordingly. I like NPR because there are articles on food and beverage, entertainment (yep, that's fair game here), and sports.
The article featured in this picture (
https://time.com/3450144/behind-the-cover-are-you-mom-enough/
) is on 'attachment parenting'. Interesting and
controversial
stuff will help you feel invested. Find a topic that peeks your interest!
Persuasive/Point of View Essay (Opinion Piece)
[CONTEXUALIZATION]
The first essay will be a standard persuasive essay. For this assignment, each student will be writing in response to a topic from anopinionarticle (hailing from a reputable source) of the student’s choosingTHAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY PUBLISHED NO, LATER THAN TWO YEARS AGO. When a writer demonstrates the construction of a persuasive argument, it is important to specify the topic and show that it is relevant to its audience. The point of this essay is to get the reader to see the author’s point of view. Students may write about a topic that has two opposing sides or a topic that is multidimensional. Think of this type of writing as writing in response to another author and that author’s opinions. Consequently, it is perhaps easier tocontradictthe selected opinion article.
[RHETORICAL SITUATION]
The student will need to establish several things in this assignment for it to work:
- The first lines of the student’s paper (in the Introduction and post hook) need to begin with the topic and context of another author’s text or the opinion being discussed.
- Also in the Introduction, the student needs to end with a thesis statement that must be either aclaim of policy(which usually uses either “should” or “ought to”) or avalue claim.
Supportfor the student’s claim needs to be attached to the thesis. The support can be connected to the claim by using a transitional word like “because,” “since,” or “inasmuch as.” See below for example.
- Throughout the essay be sure to engage in the other author’s text. The student needs to tie her argument to somethingby quoting and paraphrasingthe other author. Otherwise, persuasive arguments can become tangents lacking purpose.
- Lastly, remember that writing in a critical thinking course means regarding the terms, tools, and rhetorical devices learned in the course.
Structuring the essay (required):
- Introduction: Have a hook. Contextualize the article and its topic, and then have a thesis statement with‘support’.Thesis Example:Although some Americans believe flag desecration should be illegal (ßcounter argument), such symbolic speech should be protected (ßclaim of policy) since The First Amendment to the United States Constitution would be under threat if legislation seeks to highly regulate patriotic statements. (ßsupport)
- Body: have a topic sentence for each body paragraph and focus on arguing based on the support claim(s). As well,incorporate quotes from the other article(s), which either oppose or further support the student’s claim of policy.
- Conclusion: restate the thesis and sum up the main points. Be sure to leave the reader with an idea ofhow to resolve the issue.
[LOGISTICS]
This essay needs to be a minimum of 2 pages, in 12 pt. font/Times New Roman, and in MLA format. Please use parenthetical citations in the essay for quotations and ideas that are not your own (see the Purdue Owl webpage for examples). Students are welcome to incorporate research; however, this essay isNOTa research assignment. It is important that the writer backs claims with evidence that is either logic or fact based.I predominately want to see the students’ own ideas.