joining the conversation and formulating an arguement
you are to join the conversation and engage with one of the texts we read in this unit. These include:
Kwame Anthony Appiah’s chapter “Kindness to Strangers” from his book Cosmopolitanism
James Garvey’s Chapter “Responsibility” from his book The Ethics of Climate Change: Right and Wrong in a Warming World
A topic explored in either the 7 Billion Others website or the Radiolab
Your paper should respond only to one topic/author, not more than one!
As you conduct your research,
Consult Google Scholar to see what others have written on the topic you’ve chosen.
Building your argument:
Based on the assigned readings in this unit and your research, compose a paper of about 800-words in which you agree, disagree, modify, extend, or in some other way
engage with the ideas of the text you have chosen (Appiah’s, Garvey’s, or something from the the 7 Billion Others website or the Radiolab podcast).
What are possible difficulties with implementing some of the ideas that Appiah, Garvey, or the speaker in the 7 Billion Others website or the Radiolab podcast suggest?
What are the opportunities for positive change? Feel free to offer a critique, an alternative solution, a complication to the problem, or a case for optimism in your
discussion! 🙂
Be sure to identify the author and title of the work to which you are responding.
Clarify the main idea or set of ideas that you will be responding to from the author’s essay (use quotations as well as explanations to clarify their point).
Cite your sources in the text and in a Works Cited page in accord with MLA style.
Compose a thesis for your own stance in relation to the author to whom you are responding. For example, you might try one of the following formulas:
According to author X in essay Y, Z is the case; however, a consideration of A, B, C reveals that ideas E and F must be addressed if Z is to work.
While author X in essay Y, offers a strong case for Z as a solution to problem M, a consideration of A, B, C reveals that E is a better solution to the problem.
In essay X by author Y, Z is presented as a response to issue M. A further consideration of A, B, C reveals that author Y’s idea Z can extend to issue N as well.
You get the point. There can be endless variations on this formula.
Use the advice given in Habits of the Creative Mindto respond (with “and,” “but,” and “or”).
Use the advice given in Habits of the Creative Mindto do your “heavy lifting” from your sources and build your own perspective on the issue.
Draw on your additional research to back up your claims. Cite this research in your work.
Consider counter arguments and address evidence or points that might at first appear to contradict your point of view.
Offer a wrap up conclusion to your argument that answers the question “so what?”
Length: About 800 words
