ENG 101L, Fall 2006, E. Johnson

Essay 3 assignment

Audience:

An individual or a group that could be involved in determining what is being taught in local biology classrooms. It could be the Board of Education, a state or congressional representative, the American Civil Liberties Union, lawyers, or even a local high school principal or teacher. You may argue the issue as a concerned citizen, a minister, a college professor, a scientist, a parent, a high school student, or a teacher. Use the appropriate style for your voice and your audience.

Issue:

What should teachers and/or textbooks be teaching in high school regarding the biological evolution of life forms: plants, animals, and humans?

Possible topics:

Rewriting science textbooks, or adding disclaimers to them

Whether or not to teach the concepts of creationism or intelligent design

Whether or not to teach the scientific explanation of how life evolved

Allowing teachers to choose what to teach based on personal beliefs

Writing laws or policies dictating school curriculums

Viewpoint/ Thesis:

You must take a stand on a particular issue and become an advocate of that position

You must explain why your position should be adopted, using supporting evidence.

Supporting evidence:

Explain in a logical way why you are right and why your opponents are wrong. Base your argument on reasoning, not emotion. Some strategies:

• Give examples
• Quote authorities
• Narrate relevant personal anecdotes
• Provide definitions of terms
• Show cause and effect
• Use analogies and other comparisons
• Use statistics if you have them

Do not conduct library research for this essay. You are expected to support your arguments from information contained in your textbooks.

Essays are due at 10:00 am on Wed., Oct. 18. Late essays lose one letter grade immediately, and one letter grade per week after that. If you will not be in class, leave your paper in my faculty mailbox in Evans 225 (open 8am – 5 pm) or mail it to me by Oct. 17 at campus box 350.