In this essay, you will be summarizing and responding to an article or essay with which you disagree.
1. First, choose an essay or article to read and respond to. The article should be substantial enough that you can pick it apart thoroughly - at least 1200 words. Browse the following databases:
Opposing Viewpoints Database: This database gathers together essays and articles on both sides of just about every issue you can think of. You can access it from the Gavilan Library homepage (www.gavilan.edu/library) or access directly with this link: http://ezproxy.gavilan.edu/login?url=http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC?locID=gilr66945
Note: If you are not on campus, you will need a library card to access this database. If you don't have a card, you can apply for one online, or you could go into the library on the main campus to get a library card immediately.
New York Times Editorial Archives: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/editorials/index.html
Washington Post Opinion Archives: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/opinions/
USA Today Editorial Archives: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/
Chicago Tribute Editorial Archives: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/
Los Angeles Times Editorial Archives: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/
San Jose Mercury News Editorial Archives: http://www.mercurynews.com/editorials
Your local paper's op-ed page is also a choice, as is any opinion piece that you might run across in a favorite magazine or news channel. You could also consider a multimedia source, such as an internet news magazine or a radio interview. If you would like to use another article or essay not in these databases, please clear it with me by sending me the link.
2. Pick a topic that you feel strongly about, and find an essay or article that argues the opposite point of view of what you believe.
3. Read your chosen essay (or listen to it if it is an audio recording) and think about what the author is saying. You should be able to identify the author's topic, thesis and supporting points. As a brainstorming exercise, you may want to make a list of the author's main ideas and your own response to them.
4. Organize your response to the author's point of view. What, specifically, do you disagree with? Where could you tear that argument apart? What are the logical fallacies presented? What points does the author fail to consider deeply enough? Does the author present any inaccuracies? Which of the author's supporting points will you respond to, and in what order? What evidence, examples, and experiences will you use to back up your own point of view?
5. Begin Writing. Typically, you'd begin your essay by introducing and summarizing in a page or so what the author's thesis and main supporting points are. You are not obliged to follow this pattern of organization, but somewhere in your essay you will need to provide a synopsis of the essay you've read, and a clear response to it.
In the body of your essay, explain why the author's point of view is misguided. You might focus on flaws in logic (name the fallacies if you can identify them!), underdeveloped supporting points, or faulty assumptions that the author makes. You should include your reasons for believing what you believe, and explain why, specifically, you disagree with this author on this point.As you respond, please include quotes from the article or essay with which you are disagreeing.
You can include other points or ideas that were not brought up in the essay you read, but which contribute to your own point of view. Your conclusion should refer back to the author whose points you are considering, and remind the reader again of just why this author is wrong, and why you are right.
6. Revise. Use the global revision checklist from your Hacker book, as well as the materials from Module 3.
7. Relax with your favorite beverage! Congratulations on finishing Essay #2.