Weighing In
You may be on the same side of an author’s opinion, on the opposing side or feel a bit of both. All of this is valid when weighing in to an argument between two author’s in this essay.
Engage Respectfully
“Let us talk with – not at – each other – in our homes, schools, workplaces, and places of worship.” Condoleezza Rice
Get to know people and ideas that are different from yours.
Practice empathy.
Demonstrate respect.
Search for common ground.
Join the conversation: collaborate, engage, participate
Develop Academic Habits of Mind
The Writing Process
1. Start with Questions
You may already have ideas, but you may develop new ones.
Always keep an open mind.
Ask questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Why not?
What are others saying about the topic?
2. Think about your rhetorical situation
What’s your purpose?
Who is your audience?
What is your stance or stances?
What tone is appropriate?
Is there a larger context your topic is a part of? If so, how should you approach it?
3. Generate ideas through free writing, brainstorming and questioning as applicable.
4. Come up with a “working” thesis
In this weigh in, you will need to include both author’s and your overall main points.
Make sure the readers know what’s coming Consider whether you need to narrow or expand the overall main point/s.
5. Write your draft
Begin with an opening that states the titles of articles and author’s you will be weighing in on.
Provide a BRIEF synopsis of each text.
Write a thesis that includes each author’s overall main point AS
WELL AS YOUR overall idea on the topic they are discussing.
Decide upon the order of points you will discuss. ONE point per body paragraph.
Each body paragraph will begin with ONE of the author’s main ideas which you will the either support or counter with one of the other author’s ideas. THEN you will enter the conversation with your ideas on the topic they are discussing.
Don’t be repetitive – always move forward.
DO NOT use outside evidence. This is not a research paper.
Weighing In means you are entering a conversation that has already begun. A conversation that you have begun when you provided each author’s point of view on one idea from their texts. Only then do
you move forward and provide your opinion on what they are discussing:
