Analysis Assignment

Assignment: Analysis of the Controversy

Due 6/23
Pts: 100

This is a 2-5-page paper that shows you know the field you are writing about and its literature. You will discuss the background of the subject (people started disagreeing about this when.... for example, Matthew Shephard’s violent death brought to light the extreme violence many gays are faced with. Since then other topics of gay rights have moved to the forefront of our culture, including gay marriage. In 2004, Massachusetts made it legal to..."

Some points to consider:
* what “events” turned this issue into a controversy in the first place
* who this controversy affects
* how the outcome of the controversy might affect that population
* why it’s important to others (why should anyone else care?)

You will not make an argument here, but summarize what each side of this debate says. AGAIN. YOU ARE NOT PROVING YOUR SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT. YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE A SIDE YET. This is just a summation of all the preliminary research you have done on a topic. For the various positions/stances in controversy, look at:

* the reasons offered in support of these positions
* the persuasive styles not directly linked to “logical reasons” (appeals to emotion or the author’s credibility, etc. This could be a Pastor making an argument FOR gay marriage and using the bible as his evidence. He has ETHOS.)
* common rhetorical figures (metaphors, metonymies, analogies, etc.) utilized in making the persuasive case
* what’s at stake in upholding this position (who are the winners and losers—including any secret beneficiaries? What will be won or lost? etc.)

You assignment here, to be clear, is to accurately summarize your topic (not your argument) and present a Wikipedia-like discussion of it--broken down into sections that point out its important elements, important scholars working in this area, and what people disagree about in regards to this subject. Map the various positions held, and explain what they stand for.

Also, look at how some of these debates can be focused into topics that you can write about (ie if you are writing about the debate of sex education, you could add a section that explains Colorado’s or Denver’s sex ed. programs, etc).

You will need to cite your source material. To do so, use your Hacker handbook and follow the instructions for MLA citation style.