The Personal Opinion Essay: Examples: “Adam” by Erdrich “Imagine There’s No Heaven” by Rushdie “Life Boat Ethics” by Hardin “Why Mow? The Case Against Lawns” by Pollan “Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of All” by Manchester “Paying Women Not to Have Children” Barbara Harris (interview) “Blind to Failure” by Greenfeld “A Burial Practice That Nourishes the Planet” by Doughty (TED) ********************************************************************** The examples you read and listened to are all personal opinion essays/talks. Unlike the argument essay, which you probably wrote in ENC 1101, in the essay you are to write, you don’t have to present all sides. Your paper should have at least 500 words (two pages double spaced, typed). Anywhere from 500 to 1000 words is acceptable. In this essay, include at least two outside sources that support your opinion and/or any points you make in your essay. Use MLA documentation style to cite your sources. In the menu bar for this class, click on “MLA, Sources, and Fallacies” tab to find information on the MLA style guide and other pertinent information. The essays I assigned for reading (at the top of this page) do NOT count as sources. Also, Wikipedia and other encyclopedia type sources do not count. Look for high quality, in depth, scholarly, reliable sources. Use Turnitin to submit this paper. Hybrid classes – please bring a hard/paper copy to class with you as well. Be aware of due dates/times. Topic Choices (choose ONE): 1] If you disagree with Rushdie’s argument against religion in “Imagine There’s No Heaven”, address each of his points against religion and write a reply/rebuttal to his letter. You will need to address each of his objections if you choose this option. 2] Based on “Life Boat Ethics” by Hardin, answer one of these two questions: Should we continue to take in refugees who are fleeing their home countries due to war and persecution? OR What does the United States owe to poorer, less stable countries? Choose a position and argue for it with as much logic and evidence as you can. 3] Having read “Adam” by Erdrich, once a woman has given birth to a child who is damaged by drug or alcohol use, what should happen to that woman? Forced sterilization? Incarceration during subsequent pregnancies? Rehab? Prison? Nothing? 4] In the Pollan essay about lawns, he argues against having lawns (perhaps replacing them with gardens). If you are an advocate of lawns (i.e., “pro-lawn”), you can argue against the case made here by Michael Pollan. Note: You only want to write about this topic if you DISAGREE with Pollan. 5] “Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of All”: Read this very moving essay by a marine in WWII and argue for your opinion as to what the point of this essay is. What is Manchester saying about war and soldiers and the enemy? Don’t just summarize the essay. 6] In the “Class Readings” tab, you can choose to write about the interview with Barbara Harris (Moth Radio Lab, NPR) on paying women not to have children. Do you agree with Ms. Harris’ initiative, OR do you agree with her opposition and find what she is doing morally offensive? Argue for one side or the other. This is a very interesting interview! 7] You can write about the essay “Blind To Failure” – Which do you view as the main conflict – his internal struggle with blindness or his external srtuggle with Mt. Everest? Support your conclusion with thorough evidence from the text. 8] Listen to “A Burial Practice That Nourishes the Planet”. Argue FOR or AGAINST the speaker’s position. She claims that we cannot sustain our current burial practices, and that even if we could, the way we do things is a denial of death and the circle of life and it only serves to sustain a multi-billion dollar burial “business”. You would also need to address the alternatives she proposes.
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