Spring 2015 Breaux

 

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Due Dates: Rough Draft: Thurs, April 23 / Fri, April 24 Final Draft: Fri, May 1 by 5 pm

Format: 2-3 pages Submit via dropitto.me/erinbreaux

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YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

While it’s important to be able to confidently respond to opposition, it’s equally important (and increasingly difficult given the social climate) to humbly seek common ground. Therefore, in this last essay, you will write directly using second person to a known reader (you may use a pseudonym for the other person if desired) who holds a very difficult position than you.

Whether on Facebook, at Thanksgiving dinner, in the workroom, or in some other social situation, all of us have had the experience of being involved in heated discussion with people who are important to us. For this essay, you will imagine an audience of one real person—as if you are responding to a stubborn opponent who is a friend,

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family member, neighbor, or co-worker. The catch is that this person should think differently on the issue than you do; this does not have to be someone with whom you disagree wholly, but you must disagree on the issue at the center of your essay. Being attentive to your audience is more important than ever before with this genre, and remember that your audience is, in fact, a hostile (with your position, not you personally)/ disagreeing one.

Your response will have two sections—a rebuttal and a Rogerian response—which we will discuss and practice in class. You may decide how you want to organize the essay, but write it as a letter or blog post directly to the other person.

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As for purpose, you should 1) show that you understand and have truthfully thought about the audience’s position, 2) give a counter-argument to their position, and 3) offer possible common ground between you and your audience. Obviously, by doing these things, the reader also understands your position and is perhaps convinced to take it more seriously than they did before. Your goal, however, is not like a position essay where you just assert your position in order to win—you will instead respond with both rebuttal and Rogerian techniques. Rebuttal seeks to overcome and convince, while Rogerian seeks to understand and connect. Ultimately, your letter establishes the differences and the possibilities for agreement between your point of view and that of your reader.

“When I’m getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and

what I am going to say – and two-thirds thinking about him and what he is going to say.” ~ Abraham Lincoln ~

 

 

Spring 2015 Breaux

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    Evaluation: 1) Objective summary of other position 2) Understanding and use of rebuttal

techniques 3) Understanding and use of rogerian

techniques 4) Organization & Coherence 5) Style & Grammar

INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER:

• What you understand to be the reader’s position and why you think they believe it, summarized in an honest, objective way

• Your rebuttal to the audience’s position, i.e. pointing out limitations and giving counter-argument points

• Your rogerian response to the audience’s position, i.e. making concessions and proposing possible common ground

Obviously in the course of doing above, the reader will also learn what your position is, why you believe it (reason and evidence), and why the audience should consider it. But remember that you are responding.

You should use logic, your own personal experience and knowledge, and convincing but accommodating language as evidence. No outside research is necessary for this essay. The letter should have clearly discernable topic sentences, paragraphs, and rhetorical strategies related to rebuttal and Rogerian. Beside the resources given in class, you can also refer to Everything’s an Argument, pg. 124-31 and 142-4.

If you cannot think of an actual person and an issue on which you disagree, then have a conversation with a few people you know about issues recently in the news. You will soon discover someone whose position differs from yours!

IMPORTANT STRATEGIES: We will practice these in more detail in class. REBUTTAL:

• Gaps/Holes in Argument or Sides of Issue

• Counter-Reasons • Counter-Evidence

ROGERIAN:

• Common Ground/Values • Tone/Language • Qualifiers and Concession

“Smashing heads does not open minds.” ~ Deborah Tannen ~

“Truth springs from argument amongst friends.”

~ David Hume ~

“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.” ~ Margaret Heffernan ~

“The next time you get into an argument with your wife, or your friend, or with a small group of

friends, just stop the discussion for a moment and for an experiment, institute this rule: Each person can speak up for himself only after he has first restated the ideas and feelings of the previous speaker

accurately, and to that speaker's satisfaction.” ~ Carl Rogers ~