Informal Opinion Essay (Ioe)

INFORMAL OPINION ESSAY (IOE)

DUE DATE:  Consult the course schedule for due DATE. FOCUS  Pro or Con FORMAT:  For or Against  typed (typical essay formatting)  not both  2-3 pages in length (longer than typical journal)  Apply the “ESSAY BASICS” o title, introduction, thesis statement, conclusion, clear organization  SUPPORT your argument: o make a Claim & support it with reasons, examples, anecdotes, sense details, metaphors/similes o perform and incorporate NO RESEARCH!  PROOFREAD! o While this is “informal,” I nevertheless expect you to proofread for grammar and spelling errors.

TOPIC :  PRO-CON: Argue FOR or AGAINST an issue. o make a strong claim (THESIS = Topic + Main Idea + Support)  Choose one of the contemporary debatable, researchable (“hot-button”) topics o one that appeals to your interests o we may be using this for later assignments, so choose wisely STRUCTURE o for ideas, look at the topics covered on Opposing Viewpoints  Headers . go to the database, linked through our library’s site  Title (For or Against) . < http://depts.luzerne.edu/library / >  Introduction w/ Thesis  Argument #1 . or, look at the list below  Argument #2  Argument #3 (most important) ESSAY:  Conclusion  “INFORMAL” o as in no research o not as in poor writing, slang, or other informalities  “OPINION” o make a Claim concerning your topic & support it . For example, what is your opinion regarding abortion or health care reform or immigration? . argue for or against – we should or we should not  no research - just your organized, well-worded ideas on the topic  “ESSAY” ASSIGNMENT OBJCTIVES o follow the tenets of the “Essay Basics”  narrow a broad subject to a focused topic . esp. re: set up & organization  engage in a structured academic, reasoned  Title, Introduction (concluding w/a Thesis Statement), argument  Body (1 reason per para.), Conclusion  make a claim & support it with appropriate, o proper headers on each page relevant grounds no cover/title page  successfully apply the Essay Basics o  proof read for grammar  Draft, proofread, revise, and submit your essay.  follow directions well o submit to Turnitin.com  utilize the Tii.com tool . nothing should be flagged since this is your opinion o AND o submit to Dr. H. . I grade hard copies only - not electronic copies from Tii.com or email RHETORICAL PROSPECTUS

1. What is your thesis?  your claim, thesis, position

2. What is your purpose?  your aim, goal, object  what you want to accomplish  your Aim of Argument (inquire, convince, persuade, mediate)  SO WHAT?!

3. Who is your target audience?  your readership  their qualities, traits, opinions, stance on this issue  your relationship with your readership/audience

4. What is your subject matter?  obligated by your thesis  what you need to research

5. What are your prospective sources?  cursory, preliminary research o not to be included in the IOE o to be used in a later assignment  possible Web sites, magazines, documents  databases (Opposing Viewpoints)

6. What is your Organizational Plan?  Outline o order of support, reasons o “emphatic order” – “best” for last OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS: Topics

 Abortion  Genocide  Same sex marriage  Plastic surgery  Adoption  Global warming  School violence (teens)  Affirmative action  Globalization  Sex education  Full inclusion  AIDS (Disease)  Gun control  Sexual behavior (special needs  Alcoholism  Hate crimes  Slavery reparations students)  Animal  Health care reform  Smoking  Affirmative action experimentation  Health insurance  Social security  Euthanasia  Animal rights  Homelessness  Stem cells  Prescription drugs  Assisted suicide  Homosexuality  Suicide  Gun control  Athletes  Human rights  Teenage pregnancy  Education: music,  Bioethics  Illegal immigrants  Teenage sexual art, health, or sex  Biological weapons  Internet behavior ed.  Birth control  Iraq  Terrorism  No Child Left  Capital punishment  Islamic  United States Behind (death penalty) fundamentalism foreign relations  Gays in military  Censorship  Juvenile drinking  Violence  DADT  Child abuse  Juvenile drug abuse  War crimes  Organic/synthetic  Church and state  Juvenile offenders  Welfare reform food  Civil rights  Lowering Legal  Women  Animal rights  Cloning Drinking Age  Women's rights  Animal testing  Creationism  Media violence  Working women  Vivisection  Crime  Medical care  Recent topics:  Free speech  Death  Medical ethics  Gulf Disaster: Gulf,  The Internet  Divorce  Mental disorders off-shore, deep  Fracking  Domestic violence  Mental health drilling  Unions  Driving while  Middle East  Drilling in shale  OBL death intoxicated  Minimum wage  Sexting  Egyptian & other  Drug abuse  Narcotics  Texting (WD) ME Revolutions  Drug traffic legalization  Helmet laws  Libya  Drugs and athletes  National security  Spanking children  NFL lockout  Eating disorders  Nuclear weapons  Corporal  Head hits (NFL,  Education  Nutrition punishment NHL), catcher  Elderly  Oceans  Health care reform crashes (MLB)  Emigration and  Outsourcing  Rape shield laws  Medicinal Marj. immigration  Patriot Act 2001  Water boarding  SSM  Employment  Political corruption  Terrorism: civilian  Gambling/casinos  Endangered species  Pollution trials/military  Birth Control/Sex  Environmentalism  Population growth tribunals Ed/Abstinence  Euthanasia  Pornography  Terrorism:  Nutrition/Obesity  Evolution (Biology)  Poverty memorials  Renewable energies  Family  Prisons  Terrorism: Guant.  Smoking  Family relations  Race relations Bay  Cremation, cryo,  Feminism  Rape  Arizona law liquidification  Gambling  Religion  Deportation of  Suicide, PA  Gangs  Renewable energy illegals suicide  Genetic engineering  Right of privacy  Amnesty for illegals IOE Assignments:

I. Informal Opinion Essay II. Works Consulted page III. Annotated Bibliography IV. Researched IOE

RHETORICAL CONTEXT Opening:

 In discussions of subject X, one controversial issue has been______. On the one hand, ______argues ______. On the other hand, ______contends ______. Others even maintain ______. My own view is ______. o From They Say, I Say o side, proponents, opponents, advocates, supporters, backers, challengers  In discussions of alcohol, one controversial issue has been the legal drinking age (LDA). On the one hand, presidents at major universities have recently argued that the LDA should be lowered. On the other hand, MAAD have countered that lowering the LDA would be disastrous. Others even maintain that a lower LDA would increase DUI instances. Similarly, my own view is that the LDA should not be lowered because….

GENERAL CONTEXT:  What has been the debate on this issue before and after this piece was published?  What have people been saying/writing or arguing concerning this topic?  What stories have been in/on the news lately regarding this issue?  Recently, have there been any related court cases or rulings? Laws, speeches, protests, marches, bumper stickers, movies/documentaries, …?  What are the “sides” or positions on this topic? Who’s who?

INTRODUCTION:  Opening Generalization (introduce the subject/issue)  Side #1  Transition of Contrast (however, on the other hand)  Side #2  You, too, side with Side #2  Thesis: Topic (the issue)+ Main Idea (for or against) + Support (arguments/reasons/points) RESEARCHED IOE ESSAY

INTRODUCTION:  Remain objective (*) o No opinion o No bias, agenda  Introduce the issue o Recent events o Legal battles o Political races  Identify both sides o Opponents o Proponents  End with a Thesis Question (Should we/ Shouldn’t we?)

BODY:  SIDE #1 – o The main points/arguments raised by the side o In the Emphatic Order o One argument per paragraph Failure to cite =  SIDE #2 – Failure o The main points/arguments raised by the side o In the Emphatic Order o One argument per paragraph CONCLUSION:  Weaknesses (fallacies) of Side #1  Strengths of Side #2  SIDE #3 (*)

WORKS CONSULTED:  Proper MLA format  Alphabetical order  Reverse indentation