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English 101
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OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS Please
note the following due dates:
6
Please print out the following steps for easy reference and check them off as
you complete them. To be successful,
it is CRITICAL that you complete all steps IN ORDER and complete each step
fully before continuing on to the next. ____1. First, please read Thinking Critically, pp. 78-89 (6a-6f) and Writing Argumentative Essays, pp. 89-95 (7a-7d). These sections will discuss what qualifies as sensible support for a position on an issue. In addition, it offers an overview of persuasion/argumentation. ____2.
Go to the S.C.C. Library Home
page. ____3. Click on Opposing
Viewpoints Resource Center (under Library Databases). ____4. If you are off-campus, enter your Student I.D.
number in the box where it asks for your library card number. Click Continue. ____5. Scan the many topics in both
columns. ____6. Pick several of topics of
interest, click on them, and explore each of them a bit. ____7.
For each topic you explore, see if you can find two opposing essays. Some Examples Under Alcoholism
you will find essays arguing that Alcoholism should be treated as a disease
(#1 and # 2) and essays arguing that Alcoholism is not a disease (#5). Under
Genetic Engineering you will find an essay entitled Genetic Engineering of Humans is Ethical (#1) and an essay
entitled Human Cloning Should Be Banned
(#2). Under Media
Violence you will find essays arguing that media violence has an effect
on human behavior (#2 and #4) and essays arguing that the evidence is
exaggerated or inconclusive (#5 and #6). You get the idea. ____8. Select one of the topics you explored (any
controversial topic of interest will do), find two essays that oppose each
other, and read them. ____9. Decide which side of the topic you will support
and defend. The side you take will be
the thesis of your essay. ____10. Think about reasons that support your position
(your thesis). Make a list of these. ____11. Think of the opposing side’s reasons for its
position. Make a list of these. ____12. Study carefully the student essay Taking
Shots: The Debate on Gun Control in Course Documents. ·
Note how the introductory paragraph introduces the issue
and identifies the audience. ·
Note the strong statement of position (the thesis) at
the end of the first paragraph. ·
Note that paragraphs #2 and #3 refute the opposing
side’s arguments. ·
Note that paragraphs #4 and #5 offer support for the
writer’s position. ____13.
Following the structure of the student example, pick two of the opposing
side’s reasons that you will refute (step 11). These will be the topics of paragraphs #2
and #3. ____14. Following the same example, pick the two
strongest points of support for your position (step 10). These will be the topics of paragraphs #4
and #5. ____15. Write your thesis sentence which is a clear
statement of your position on the issue. Below are some sample thesis
sentences—please note their style and content:
____16.
Next, write the persuasive, robust body paragraphs that will form the core of
your essay. Sequence your body paragraphs in the same order used in the student
example Taking
Shots: The Debate on Gun Control . (In Course Documents). Refer to step 12 above. Note: Have NO sources open in front of you when writing
these body paragraphs or you may become guilty of plagiarism. ____17. Return to the Opposing Viewpoints essay that supports your position (The one you
chose in step 9). Locate and highlight
specific quotes you could blend into your own body paragraphs to add support
and to make those paragraphs more persuasive. ____18.
Carefully read yet another time Working with Words
from a Source, (in Course
Documents). Look again at the
examples. ____19. Please
read Working with Words from
a Source once more to be sure you understand the difference between
what words are yours and what words are others, and how to credit the words
of others when you borrow them. ____20.
Dig out the rough drafts of your body paragraphs (step 16). BLEND some of the words from the sentences
you highlighted in step 17 into
the appropriate support paragraphs.
The goal is to make your supporting paragraphs stronger by adding
corroboration (support) from this outside source. Refer again to Working with Words
from a Source for guidance. EKeep the
quotations you will borrow small in number and short in words. ____21. Write your introductory paragraph. This paragraph should identify your
readers, clearly introduce the controversial issue to them, and establish its
importance (why should they care?). [Remember to place your
thesis statement at the end of this paragraph. (Make it the paragraph’s final sentence.) ____22. Write your concluding paragraph recommending
some action for your readers to take now that they agree with you. ____23. Collect all the paragraphs you have written and
stack them in the proper sequence. Add
any transitions your reader will need to move comfortably from one paragraph
to the next. CYou now have
built the rough draft of your essay, so take a break, relax, and celebrate
for a bit. When you feel appropriately
refreshed, go on to the next step.
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