Quick Write

What are some problems or issues that would benefit from us researching and writing about them?

Research Argument Topics

These are very general topics to consider. For our project, we will be arguing for positive change. The issues or problems can be from the list below.

  • Legalize Drugs
  • Rap Lyrics promote sexism
  • Gun Laws
  • Universal Health Care
  • Planned Parenthood
  • Death Penalty
  • Miss Information
  • Protesting
  • Freedom of Speech
  • Gas taxes
  • Border Wall
  • Make drugs illegal
  • Marijuana Laws
  • Trump
  • Same-sex marriage
  • Trans Bathrooms
  • Free College
  • Trains vs Autos
  • Animal Testing
  • Participation Trophies
  • Prostitution should be legal
  • Homework is good or bad?
  • Try minors as adults
  • Driving age raised
  • Drinking age lowered
  • Paternity Leave

Graff “Hidden Intellectualism” (264)

In the article “Hidden Intellectualism,” Gerald Graff argues that schools should encourage students to write about subjects that interests them. While passion about a subject does not necessarily mean they will write well about it, they can benefit from reflective and analytical writing about subjects they care about.

Nonacademic subjects can be “more intellectual than school” (267).

What does he mean by intellectual here? Look at paragraph 10 on page 267.

Real intellectuals turn any subject, however lightweight it may seem, into grist for their mill through thoughtful questions they bring to it, whereas a dullard will find a way to drain the interest out of the richest subject (265).

Do you agree with this statement? Why?

  • Who is his audience?
  • What is his purpose?

Give me the student anytime who writes a sharply argued, sociologically acute analysis of an issue in Source over the student who writes a life­less explication of Hamlet or Socrates’ Apology (270).

intermission

Logos

  1. Evidence, S.T.A.R.
    • Sufficient
    • Typical
    • Acceptable
    • Relevant
  2. Rhetorical Questions
  3. Signposts
    • Transitions and connections
  4. Pre-buttals
    • Anticipate objections and answering

Famous Arguments

Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream Speech

Is his speech successful?

How does he build Ethos?

Where does he use Pathos?

Identify uses of Logos.

The Danger of a Single Story

Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells a story about how she found her authentic voice and warns against a single story.

Where did she use Ethos, Logos, and Pathos? How persuasive is she?