Recent topic in news

Write a paper in which you take a position on a current topic that is, or has
recently been, in the news.
In order to support your position, you will also include these elements:
• A summary of the issue and the different positions on this topic
• Rhetorical analysis of some of the opinion-based journalism on this subject
• Synthesis of differing points of view to build your own
Requirements and additional guidelines:
• 1500-2000 words
• Reference at least three works of written journalism, including at least one relatively “neutral”
source, and two different opinion-based articles.
• Also include one article from either CQ Researcher or Gale Virtual Reference Library
(both available on the DVC library website) that is relevant to your topic.
• In addition to these four text-based sources, you may also cite videos or audio that
represent different political opinions on your topic: think political commentators,
satirical news shows, interviews, etc.
• Be sure that you acknowledge and respond to conflicting points of view, i.e. include
counter-arguments.
• Follow MLA formatting rules (double-spaced, etc.), and include a list of Works Cited in
MLA format.

Other pointers:
• Work to establish a narrow focus that you can realistically address in 1500 words. For
example “President Biden” is not narrow. “Biden’s Build Back Better bill” is better.
“Infighting in the democratic party over the Build Back Better bill” is even better.
• Your thesis should clearly state your point of view on the topic you have chosen.
• Though this paper is about the “what,” i.e. your perspective on your topic, be sure you
build that perspective in part on argument about “how” journalists discuss this topic.
• Here is how I would approach this paper:
1. Begin by reading more neutral sources to get a handle on the topic.
2. Then, free write on the issue to articulate your initial thoughts.
3. Read more opinionated pieces from different sectors of the political spectrum,
annotating carefully, and noting your responses.
4. Add to your free write with any new impressions.
5. Conduct research with the aid of CQ Researcher and/or the Gale Virtual Reference
Library on the DVC library website.
6. Add new impressions to your free write.
7. Begin developing a thesis and an outline, and then write!
• Avoid writing this paper in a structure where each body paragraph corresponds to a
different article. Instead, organize the paragraphs around different parts of the issue and
weave in multiple authors’ views throughout. This is called synthesis.
• Synthesis is an important composition skill where you bring together differing
perspectives in one paragraph. It is very important for this essay (and for the next one), so
be sure not to miss the work we will do in class to develop this skill.

Requirements: 1000