5- pages essay. counter argument. Instructions attached
CounterArguments, Rebuttals, AND
Concessions Assignment
FALL 2020
TASK
This is a simple assignment intended to help you reinforce your understanding of how to credibly respond to those who might disagree. This creates ethos or credibility for you as a writer.
Write a 5-plus page essay. Introduce and summarize the issue and then, in the form of a counter argument, respond to that perspective with concessions or rebuttals. You will be asked to do a small amount of research for this assignment.
This assignment is worth up to
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5 points. There is no Reflection due for this assignment.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 9 Watch Video: Adichie CN.
The Danger of a Single Story
. TED Talk [Internet]. 2009. Retrieved from:
Discuss credible sources
HW: Watch Video on Counter arguments; Start thinking about finalizing your topic and what kinds of sources you might need; be ready to talk about on Sept. 11
Sept. 11 Introduce Assignment; Discuss video and counter arguments; Breakout rooms for discussing issues and your thoughts about sources
HW: Commit to your topic begin looking for sources; work on counter argument exercise—this is just practice
Sept. 14 What is paraphrase? Quick review of documentation.—MLA. Sign up for a conference
HW: Work on paraphrase and documentation exercises. Do not turn these in but if you are having trouble with them, make an appointment and go to the Writing Center! Try to prepare an outline for us to discuss during your conference
Sept. 16 Conferences
HW: Wordiness Exercises which are found on Canvas in the Resources folder. If you have trouble with these, go to the Writing Center; begin writing!
Sept: 18 Conferences
HW: Wordiness Exercises which are found on Canvas in the Resources folder. If you have trouble with these, go to the Writing Center; begin writing!
Sept. 21 Conferences
HW: Wordiness Exercises which are found on Canvas in the Resources folder. If you have trouble with these, go to the Writing Center; begin writing!
Sept. 23 NO CLASS—WRITING DAY—Get your rough draft finished and ready for Peer Review
Sept. 25 First Peer Review
HW: Revise
Sept. 28 Final Peer Review
HW: Revise; TBA
Sept. 30 Counter Argument Assignment Due
INTRODUCTION
To be a good citizen is to be an informed one. This means we need to understand ALL sides of an issue. Then, as writers, we must learn how to address our views in an intelligent, balanced and persuasive way. Usually, this means by using credible sources to back up what we believe and stand for.
For this assignment, you will address an issue that is front and center in the news, for example, Donald Trump and the police’s approach to the crisis revolving around the Black Lives Matter movement. Obviously, this could be a long assignment—it isn’t, and I expect we will see books on this historical period of our country in the future.
There are many angles to any issue. For example, regarding BLM, you may want to focus on long standing racism in the country, freedom to protest, the role of police in our communities, President Trump’s role, corporations trying to play a role, police reform, etc. However, you may choose another topic that resonates for you.
You are expected to read and become more informed to better understand how polarized your issue is. You will be expected to find 3-4 credible sources on your own.
NOTE: Do not approach this assignment by concerning yourself with my beliefs, rather focus on telling me about yours. Again, I do not grade you on your opinions but on how well you express them.
Here are some images in the media over the summer. Images can also illicit emotion (pathos) and have effects on its audience. How do you respond to these images?
A protestor during a Black Lives Matter gathering in Lafayette Park, June 7, 2020
photo by Robin Bernstein
President Trump speaking to the press after protests in Washington D.C.
and around the country.
photo from NY Times
A giant “Black Lives Matter” mural painted on a street in Washington D.C. (Source: CNN)
YOUR PAPER SHOULD DEMONSTRATE
· That you can rite a cohesive 5+ page essay
· That you can summarize the issue
· Opposing views of your argument and then concede or rebut those views.
· You understand and can correctly utilize either MLA or APA (your choice)
· That you used the information below to help organize your paper.
· A correctly formatted Works Cited or Reference page with a list of the sources used in your paper. This should be on a separate page at the end of your essay.
· Number all pages
DELIVERABLES
Your paper should be submitted in the Assignment section of Canvas
NOTE: Read all the documents in this folder as they contain information that will help you with this assignment and could be on your quiz.
GETTING STARTED
Read the assigned essays in your folder and decide what you want to write about. Here are a few “ideas” if you focus on BLM. Again, you can use another topic but I am using this one as an example.
· Police violence
· Historic precedent of institutionalized racism in this country
· Police Reform
· The profiling and death of black citizens in this country
· President Trump’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement
· The right to peaceful protest
· Protests during Pandemic
· Anything else that is related to this issue that inspires you to learn more
Decide what you think about this topic and begin to do research on your own. Again, you need a minimum of 3-4 credible sources.
1. Write a summary of the issue as you understand it.
2. Look at all sides of the issue, not just yours.
3. Choose sources that you have determined are credible. We will discuss in class.
After you inform yourself about your issue, anticipate your reader’s objection(s), one at a time.
After you are happy with your summary:
· Explain the opposing view(s).
· Counter by conceding (accommodating) or refuting (Yes, but or No…)
use sources
· Find another opposing view.
· Counter by conceding (accommodating) or refuting (Yes, but or No…)
· Etc.
Again, your paper should have 3 or more counter arguments and concessions/rebuttals.
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