Essay 5 Instructions & Final Essay Submission: Editorial

We’ve been working on technology and politics with our latest set of articles. For each of these articles, we've discussed the primary argument and the efficacy of these issues. For Essay 5, we're going to work on a particular type of argumentative essay, the editorial. An editorial, typically published in a newspaper, is written by a senior staff news writer and the topic usually represents the point of view of the periodical. Each of the articles from our latest readings represent a variety of points of view about the use of a particular form of technology and/or defining particular issues and concepts (e.g., concepts of gender).

Editorials with their brevity and powerful language. Authors of editorials (including bloggers) make assumptions about their audiences: education, interests, age, economic status, popular culture references, ethnicity/race, religious beliefs or political inclinations. For this draft, you will employ these shortcuts and powerful use of language to write your own editorial.

Your editorial need not cause every reader to agree with you, but you must take a stand on the issue while trying to persuade others to accept your point of view. To know enough to accomplish that end, you must get even closer to the issue, drawing on your own experience and on other sources, as you've been doing in other essays. You might consider interviews with experts, or with others, like yourself, who are concerned about the controversial issue that you have identified. This does not mean that you need to do any Internet searching. Instead, stay in real life and talk to people or read through the newspaper. Remember, we’ve also been using all kinds of evidence to support arguments – go back to those basics to find evidence for your idea.

As you broaden your considerations, deliberately seek out sources that disagree with your preliminary assessment of the controversy. Acknowledge the other side by referring to the opposing view, if only tangentially.

Remember that in an editorial – where space is limited – the best evidence is often careful reasoning. Think about how such reasoning might differ from bald assertions, how it can reflect, in limited space, the research you have done. Though not required, outside resources (including interviews) should be documented in a Works Cited.

Throughout this semester, we have been discussing the mechanics of writing (punctuation, grammar, etc.) as well as effective style. In this editorial, you need to be an efficient editor of your writing, using clear and powerful language to convince readers of your argument. All of the elements of writing that we've discuss so far this semester should be used in this essay (including very little passive voice and no first person).

Evidence

In your editorial, choose one of the articles from below to help you identify an issue that needs further analysis.

Technology & Gender:

• “Commodify Your Dissent,” Frank (SOL 163)
• “Dove’s ‘Real Beauty’ Backlash,” Pozner (SOL 219)
• “American Makeover,” chapter intro (SOL 615)
• “Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes,” Devor (SOL 672)
• “The Gender Blur,” Blum (SOL 678)
• “Gamergate 101,” Losh (blog post)

Technology & Race

• “In Living Color,” Omi (SOL 625)
• “Acting White,” Buck (SOL 637)
• “Videogames, Avatars, and Identity,” Waggoner (SOL 487)

Technology & Politics

• “The Shock of Education,” Lubrano (SOL 580)
• “Freaks, Geeks, and Cool Kids,” Milner (SOL 602)
• “Video Dreams,” chapter intro (SOL 271)
• “The Tea Party Online,” Rauch (SOL 508)
• “One Nation, Slightly Divisible,” Brooks (SOL 524)

You are required to use three sources in this editorial. One source is your primary article. The other two sources can either be from the list above or from two authoritative sources. Use quotes from your sources to orient your reader and to analyze the ideas represented. Use MLA citation style.

Due Dates

Discussion Post: Thesis Statement posted by Saturday, April 16, 9am

First Draft: due Thur, April. 21, 5pm (750 words)

Peer Review: due Sunday, April 24, 10am (required & assigned) - use the peer review rubric accessible from the schedule)

Final Draft: due Thur, April 28, 11:30am (1000 words + Works Cited) -- submit to these instructions.

Failure to submit either the thesis statement or the first draft will result in a zero on Essay 5.