Issue Dialogue

Writing Assignment 2 – Issue Dialogue
Due date: Wednesday, February 24, 11:30 p.m.
Length: 800 or more words, approximately 3 ½ pages, not including the Works Cited
Format: MLA, Issue dialogue format as illustrated in attachment, heading, page numbers, appropriate title, Works Cited, in-text citations
Points: 100 points
Submission: Name your file beginning with your last name:
Last name_ English 102_essay 2
After stretching your critical thinking skills by analyzing your view and an author’s view on education, you are ready to advance to the next stage of analysis by discovering the complexities (or questions) of an issue. The uncritical mind sees an issue as having only two sides- for and against. But, the critical mind stops and considers other views, solutions, implications, and subtleties.
Purpose: Analysis should always spring from a careful examination of a given subject. Part of developing a meaningful analysis is to explore the complexities of the subject. For this reason, you do not always need to state your thesis as a definitive argument that shows how you feel in no uncertain terms. Instead, it is often desirable to show your ambivalence about your position as long as you are clear about why you feel this way. Understanding some of the complexities of an issue can be done through an issue dialogue, where you will, in the most objective mindset possible, consider an issue from two different points of view.
Topic:
1) Select a current issue or policy you find interesting or important. **
2) Use the CCBC Library Database to research two or more differing views of the policy or issue. Limiting your search to magazines and newspapers can be helpful. DO NOT USE WEBSITES. For example, you may choose Democratic and Republican viewpoints. Or you may choose two viewpoints within the same political party. This means a minimum of two sources, but you may use more. – one source for the issue and one source against the issue.

** Do not use abortion, gun control, death penalty, legalization or medical use of marijuana, or gay marriage.

3) Compose a dialogue, which is a conversation between two people – much like a play. The two views are “FOR” and “AGAINST”. I am looking for a deep, or in depth, consideration of of the issue or policy, not just superficial, common, factoids. In fact, the dialogue does not have to be nicely wrapped up or resolved. This is more about revealing subtle details of the issue.
4) As you compose this dialogue, you will need to consider the information from all your sources in addition to your own experience and knowledge.
5) Continue by writing a dialogue in which you take both sides seriously by fully considering the merits of each viewpoint. This is not an argumentative essay!
6) How did your own position change as you considered other points of view? What possible compromises did you come to?

Organization:
Write a multi-paragraph issue dialogue where you
1) Introduce your topic
2) Present a dialogue between two differing views
3) Use your sources (with in-text citations, of course) as paraphrases or summaries
4) Conclude by responding to question 6 above and closing the circle. Include a Works Cited page for the sources and in-text citations

This is not an argumentative or five-paragraph essay!