The process of “joining a conversation” involves much more than simply voicing one’s opinion about a topic. Indeed, if we wish to say something genuinely informative—whether in everyday conversation or in formal academic research—we first need to discover what has already been said about the subject being discussed. We can do this in many ways: by reading, by observing, by asking questions, by listening. (You've already done this with your exercise for the most part.) These are often routine activities, but when we deploy them toward a specific research goal, they position us not only to gather information, but also, potentially, to say something new. Toward these ends, your aim in this assignment will be to build on the inquiry you began for Exercise I and compose an informative essay in which you report on a public issue. You will not be “taking a side” per se; instead, you will compose a well-balanced essay that helps readers deliberate about the topic in a conscientious and responsible way. Part of the skill, here, will be in showing that you possess the ethos of a writer who has done adequate background research and is able to present it in a clear and non-biased manner (as much as that is possible). The topic itself should 1) be relevant to a general audience, and 2) be compelling enough to invite debate among members of your audience. Please consider the following as you undertake this assignment.
Mission Principles
Identify a public issue that interests you; <--You've done this already.
Write down several reasons why the issue should be of interest to others; <--This too.
Conduct a preliminary search of your issue using web-based resources;
Gather approximately 4-5 sources related to your issue;
Summarize each source and make notes about the various situations in which they are embedded (e.g., authors, audiences, genres, contexts, etc.).