Paper #1

You will read a part of a “Room for Debate” Editorial Series from the New York Times for this

assignment. To start drafting your paper, follow these directions step-by-step.

STEP 1: Click on the PDF file in Blackboard associated with this assignment. Print out the pages.

Read all the articles carefully. Note that the locating information is given to you for your works cited

page on top of the introduction page. (Note: You may find it helpful to use the libguide {Noodlebib

tool housed in the libguide} to construct the works cited.)

STEP 2: Once you have finished reading these editorials, you will need to write a multi-mode paper

(: meaning your paper will both summarize and analyze).

Your paper should begin with an introduction and a thesis unifying the two objectives in step 3 and

step 4. Should you need help with thesis statements, introductions and transitions, please

reference the English learning module in our course OR the Writing Center. NOTE: Remember this

is a humanities paper. There are MAJOR differences in the style of writing between APA and MLA.

Review these differences before beginning your draft.

STEP 3: After the introduction, construct several body paragraphs where you will summarize each

debater’s opinion. You will need to SUMMARIZE the debater’s stance (pro-con) in light of the

question upon which the debate is centered. In order to complete this step successfully, you will

need to refer to the “How to write a summary” handout found in the English help learning module

to write your summary in the necessary manner. Take note on the guideline regarding length—a

summary for this piece should be in the one to two short paragraph range. Also note that

summaries do not include personal opinions or additional information not found in the piece

being summarized.

STEP 4: Then, read the editorials again carefully, centering on the reasons why the author is

either pro or con. You’ll see that the authors give different reasons in the editorials. Using the

HCTSR (Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric in your text), analyze and evaluate the critical

thinking evident in these editorials. ASSIGN EACH DEBATER A NUMBER and justify it. What

critical thinking skills are apparent in their essays? Give me at least TWO examples per debater.

Be sure to write about your reasons justifying in specific detail why you gave the editorial the score

that you did. Point out words, thoughts, etc. that led you to your evaluation. STEP 5: Bring your

paper to a conclusion. In your conclusion, give your personal opinion of the issue, but your opinion

should not be in steps 3 or 4. The conclusion is the only place your opinion should appear.

Otherwise, in the body of the paper, you are only evaluating debates using the HCTSR criteria.