paper #2 (due 2/6/13) after reading chapter 7 in the textbook ("arguing a position"), read...

Paper #2 (due 2/6/13)

After reading Chapter 7 in the textbook ("Arguing a Position"), read David Crystal's article, "2b or Not 2b?" (pp 745-53 in your textbook). Take notes as necessary to identify the author's main idea and supporting claims and evidence.

Write a paper of 400-800 words in which you respond to Crystal's article by taking a position about something he says. You might simply agree or disagree with Crystal's main claim, or you could take one of his claims and say something about it. Include the name of the author and the title of the article somewhere in your paper. Cite page numbers (in MLA format) for any words or phrases that you quote, but do not create a Works Cited page unless you also cite outside sources. (If you include additional sources, then you do need to include a Works Cited page. For word-count purposes, the title and Works Cited page do NOT count toward the 400-800 words allowed.)

Assume that you are writing for a reasonably educated reader who is at least somewhat familiar with texting, but who might not send or receive texts frequently.

Know your genre.

Typical features of a position paper:

It states an explicit position.

It responds to something someone else has said or done.

It supplies appropriate context about the issue or action.

It explains why the topic matters.

It offers reasonable evidence to support the position.

It considers multiple perspectives.

It appeals to specific values.

When [author] says X, he/she is wrong.

When [author] says X, he/she is right.

We should do X.

We should not do X.

We should choose X over Y or Z.

X is a bad idea.

X is a good idea.

X is a better idea than Y or Z.

What does a statement of your position look like?

When [author] says X, he/she is wrong.

When [author] says X, he/she is right.

Some people say we should do Y. Because they [fail to consider something / have inappropriate values / use poor reasoning], we should instead do X.

Some people think X. X is a bad idea.

What does a response to someone else look like?

In Forum A, [author] puts forth Theory X.

A particular situation has arisen. Some people say we should do X in response to the situation.

Something has happened, and it has created a problem. Some people think the cause of the problem is X.

What does context look like?

This author’s claims matter because people are likely to do X in response to those claims.

The solution we choose will affect us in the following ways: […].

If we choose the wrong course of action, the result will be […].

What does a statement of importance look like?

A fact:

The report says that students care about ethics. Actually the report says that “55% of the people who responded to the survey said that ethics are ‘somewhat important’ or ‘very important.’” In other words, 45% of the people who responded said that ethics are ‘somewhat unimportant” or ‘not at all important.’”

A competing claim:

The author cites Professor Smith as says that X will lead to Y. Professor Jones, however, says that X will lead to Z – and Jones has more experience in this area than Smith.

What does evidence look like?

In terms of safety, having a GPS on every bus might be an improvement, so parents support it. But GPS devices monitor bus speed and location, making bus drivers feel that they aren’t trusted, so the drivers generally oppose GPS devices. The school board says that the devices are too expensive, so they also oppose having a GPS on every bus.

Smith says that behavior X can be dangerous. In certain circumstances, Smith is right. But in other circumstances, the behavior might actually be helpful.

Smith says X, but Jones says Y and Parker says Z. We need to examine all three claims.

What do multiple perspectives look like?

In terms of safety, having a GPS on every bus might be an improvement. But GPS devices are expensive, so we have to weigh the cost against the potential benefit.

Choice X has certain short-term benefits, but we also need to consider possible long-term effects.

Smith says that X will reduce our personal freedom, but that’s a price we must pay to increase our collective freedom as a society.

What does an appeal to values look like?

What does a position paper look like?

Introduction: Grabs reader’s interest , announces the topic, and maybe explains why it matters

Body: Provides context, explains the initial issue in greater detail if necessary, presents relevant evidence, considers various perspectives and values

Conclusion: States a position based on the evidence and values

paper #2 (due 2/6/13) after reading chapter 7 in the textbook ("arguing a position"), read...

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