English 101

Prof. Ahrenhoerster

Fall 2009

Paper Topic #4

            One of the things you will likely be asked to do in English 102 and in some of your other future college courses is write essays in response to readings you have done and/or topics you have discussed in class.  Frequently, you will be asked to take a stance on an issue and support your stance with supporting claims and evidence.

            Over the next few weeks, we will be reading articles from Mirror on America that deals with Diversity, Assimilation, and Globalization.  As we will discover, this gets complicated very quickly. We often say we value cultural diversity, but our actions suggest we do not. We also are sometimes confused over whether it is better to preserve the cultural heritage of ourselves or others or to assimilate into one large global culture.

            ASSIGNMENT: I would like you to write an essay that answers ONE of the following two questions:

1) Is cultural diversity important enough that people should be forced to diversify their schools, workplaces, or neighborhoods, since they won’t do it voluntarily?

2) Is it more important to preserve cultural heritage or to assimilate together into one giant culture?

            Note: For either question, I want you to argue for one side or the other.  Your thesis should express a clear claim of opinion.  You must explain your reasoning.

For this essay I am requiring you to bring in ideas and evidence (facts, stats, examples, expert testimony) from at least one of the readings from the textbook AND at least two outside sources.  (I will be showing you how to do basic research in class.) You are also required to use MLA documentation, which requires both in-text citations and a Works Cited page.

            I would also like you to try to answer the objections to your stance that the people who disagree with you might raise. (Note: we will talk about how to do this in class.)

            PREWRITING:  Before writing a paper that is taking a side on an issue, a useful thing to do is to make a chart in which you write down the supporting claims that could be made on both sides of the argument.  This will not only help you figure you what your supporting paragraphs will be about, but it will also help you understand the “other side’s” objections to your thesis.

A draft is due December 3, and the paper is due December 8.