Assignment: Persuasive Essay

Same-sex marriage supporters at San Francisco City Hall

Note: If you were not in class this Wednesday or Thursday to receive specific instructions for this assignment, STOP HERE and email me at dhdelao@gmail.com for specific directions.

For those that were in class: 

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Your assignment is to write a persuasive essay about same-sex marriage in California. As you know, you took an either pro or con position on one the issue. Your assignment is to write a concise essay in which you argue the OPPOSITE of the position you took in class. For example, if you took the position that same-sex marriage should not be allowed, you must now argue that it should be allowed.

For this particular essay, do not supplement your argument with outside texts. Instead, the basis of your argument should come from the pro or con articles of the e-reader. Cite at least three of the following articles to support your thesis: 

Pro-same-sex marriage writers should draw their evidence from the following articles only:

• "The Economist Debates: Single-Sex Marriage" (The Economist)
• "An Argument for Same-Sex Marriage: An Interview with Jonathan Rauch" (The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life)
• "Same-Sex Marriage: 'A Basic Civil Right'" by James Rotondi (The Huffington Post)
• "Same-Sex Marriage: Losing a Battle, Winning the War" by Andrew Cohen (Vanity Fair)
• "Stupidity, Gay Marriage, and the Evolution of Religion" by Dan Agin (The Huffington Post)
• "The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage” by Theodore B. Olson (Newsweek)
• "Why I Fought for the Right to Say 'I Do'" by Greta Christina (Alternet)
• "Slippery Slop" by Dahlia Lithwick (Slate)

Anti-same-sex marriage writers should draw their evidence from the following articles only:

• "An Argument Against Same-Sex Marriage: An Interview with Rick Santorum" (The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life)
• "Preserve Traditional Marriage for Benefit of Future Generations" by Roger Crouse (Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel)
• "Sex and Consequences" by Peter Wood (The American Conservative)
• "The Worst Thing about Gay Marriage" by Sam Shulman (The Weekly Standard)
• "We Don't Need Gay Marriage" by Mark Vernon (The Guardian)
• "The Secular Case Against Gay Marriage" by Adam Kolasinksi (The Tech)
• "Why One Queer Person is Not Celebrating California's Historic Gay Marriage Decision" by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (Alternet)

When constructing your argument, be conscious of the fallacies of logic we discussed in class. Look for them in the arguments against your position, but also be careful not to use them to propel your thesis.

Points you might consider in your argument:

• What is a civil right?
• Can this debate be framed as a civil rights issue?
• What is the historical role of marriage in societies?
• How does same-sex marriage affect children and families?
• What considerations, if any, should religion be given in this debate?
• What considerations, if any, should science be given in this debate?
• Is it homophobic to be against same-sex marriage?

Requirements:

• MLA format, including parenthetical citation
• 2.5-page minimum

The best papers:

• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which clearly outlines a position
• Clearly support the thesis with solid evidence and a logical structure, citing at least three articles from the reader
• Cite a minimum of three articles to support the thesis
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in MLA Style

Due: Mo 2.28 / Tu 3.1 (Draft 1, bring 3 copies)