Katie Zurich, Adjunct FacultyEnglish Adjunct ColloquiumApril 18, 2013

Sample Assignments from Reading Literature and Writing Argument

First Assignment/Activity

Chapters 1 and 2 focus on the qualities of an argument, with specific emphasis placed on critical thinking and inquiry. As an introduction to the course, and one another, I assign the following:

Consider ethos, pathos, and logos. Based on our definition, descriptions, and application of these rhetorical appeals, select three objects from your life that are debatable in nature. For example, consider an I-phone. Consider an argument that someone might present regarding an I-phone. You will share at least one of these objects, and create a dialogue that models critical inquiry. Aim to incorporate discussion that is focused on ethos, pathos, and logos.

I’ve found this activity acts as a wonderful icebreaker, but it also makes the concept of critical inquiry and ethos, pathos, and logos much more relatable. Students are able to see the importance of each rhetorical appeal, but it also showcases the need for a balance in argument.

Early Essay Assignment

Write an essay in which you analyze and evaluate the argument presented in the following essay: “Divorce and Our National Values.” Plan to examine the argument carefully. Consider the following questions:

What is the author’s claim?

What evidence does the author provide?

Is the author credible?

Are any logical fallacies evident within his argument?

Are the author’s assumptions valid?

Make sure you incorporate key terms and concepts within your analysis and evaluation.

Midterm Essay (In-Class)

Prior to the exam we read and discussed the following pieces:

Abbey’s “Eco-Defense” (344)

King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (212)

Plato, “Crito” (225)

Option 1:

Can you imagine any situation in which your own individual needs must be placed behind the needs of society as a whole, even when such situations demand individual sacrifice? Drawing on King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and Plato’s “Crito,” write a synthesis essay in which you argue the extent to which an individual should sacrifice his/her own needs for the needs of the society. Make direct reference to the essays you have read, but quote from them only sparingly.

Option 2:

Some groups today advocate civil disobedience. For example, Greenpeace boats illegally disrupt whaling and fishing activities, Trident Ploughshares, an anti-nuclear organization, holds mass demonstrations disrupting Royal Navy sites in the UK, and most recently, Wall Street protestors blocked access to the Brooklyn Bridge. Is such activism justified? Drawing on Abbey’s “Eco-Defense” and King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” write a synthesis essay in which you argue the extent to which environmental activism is justified. Make direct reference to the essays you have read, but quote from them only sparingly.

Essay Option

  • “Last Letter to His Wife” by Sullivan Ballou
  • “Terminal” by Nadine Gordimer

How does an individual determine his or her ethical responsibility in a personal or an intimate dilemma?

You will need evidence, which is the body of information used to support the claims. In this particular assignment, the evidence is the text. Consider what rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) move the reader toward the acceptance of the claim. How might you defend, refute, and/or qualify the claim?

Essay Option

  • “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
  • “The Boy Died in My Alley” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Your question is:

When and how should an individual act in the face of the destruction of life?

Essay Option

How do you define character? What value assumptions influence your perspective on character and individual identity? What evidence—personal experiences, observations, specific individuals (family members, peers, teachers, coaches, etc.) --have contributed to your value assumptions about character? Based on your reflection of Paley’s “A Conversation with My Father” and your own experience, write an argument about the significance of character in shaping an individual’s identity.

Essay Option

Consider “Everyday Use” and “Mothers.” Specifically, revisit our discussion on how to teach and preserve family values. Create an argument that uses a character, scene, or element from each text that supports your view on the proper way to preserve heritage and familial values.

Sample Journal Question

Can you recall a specific situation in which you jumped to a conclusion? Try to step back and analyze the situation. What caused you to "jump" too quickly? Would you characterize it as an "innocent mistake," or did you have a strong emotional interest in coming to that conclusion?