Analyzing Opinion Pieces--Project II

Analyzing Opinion Pieces

Our society debates multiple issues: the limits of free speech, the definition of life, health care, the most responsible plan for the economy, and numerous others. Few of these debates have only two sides. Most of them, however, affect how we live, which makes them interesting and important.

Many of these debates occur through writing, particularly via opinion pieces published in newspapers, magazines, and blogs. In order to be active, responsible citizens, people must be able to navigate these debates, figuring out where different writers stand and determining the major elements of their arguments. This assignment will help you gain this critical skill.

Task:
Below are the topics of several recent “Today’s Debate” columns in USA Today. “Today’s Debate” is a section of the editorial page that presents two columns arguing different positions on the same issue. Copies of all these articles are on our class blog at http://kiefersenglishcomp.blogspot.com

Same-sex Marriage—Proposition 8
Arms-Control—Russia and treaties
Middle East Politics—Trouble in Gaza
NFL—Football Dangers
Balancing State Budgets with Gambling

Select one pair of articles. Write an essay that compares and/or contrasts the strategies the authors use to construct their arguments, focusing on their use of logos, pathos, and ethos. You do not have to discuss all three strategies in your essay, but you will need to focus on a point of similarity and/or contrast between the articles.

Assume you are writing for the same audience as your response essays: an Honors high-school English class focusing on popular culture.

Purposes:
This assignment builds on the analytical, critical reading, and critical thinking skills we practiced with the last response essay, applying them to written texts. This essay will also introduce you to some of the common moves used to construct persuasive arguments, moves you can apply in your next major essay.

Hints:
This assignment is intended to help you learn how to break the articles apart, identify the strategies used to create them, and determine how those strategies further the writer’s purpose for his or her chosen audience. Use the same strategies for analysis that we practiced in class.
For this assignment, I want your analysis to emphasize the three major appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. You must use one or all of these terms correctly in your essay.

Assume that your audience has read the articles. As a result, you do not have to spend much time or detail summarizing them. A sentence or two giving the main points should be enough. However, you must draw on specific evidence from the articles to support your points. This means you should paraphrase and quote selectively.

I am willing to let you write about another set of articles that are not included in our textbook or USA Today . However, you must provide me the copy of the articles, and I must give you written permission. If you do not meet either of these criteria, your essay will not be accepted, and you will lose points from your portfolio.

Length: three pages (approximately 750 words)

Evaluation Criteria: I will use the criteria on the College Composition Student Information Sheet to evaluate your essay. You will earn a what-if grade for this assignment. You can also choose to revise it for your portfolio.

Assignment Steps (dates tentative):
· Oct. 2: Assignment distributed
· Oct. 9: Whole-class and group practice on text analysis. Select articles.
· Oct. 16: Invention work.
· Oct. 23: Catch-up/review as needed. Time to draft. Conferences: bring your rough draft for feedback.
· Oct. 30: Revision work on essay based on rough drafts. Prepare for workshop.
· Nov. 6: Deadline draft due by 5:00 p.m. today. Submit via gotprofkiefer@gmail.com email.