ENGL 255 English Assignments

1. In one paragraph of 9-12 sentences, summarize a controversy taking place in your community or region, ideally a topic you know personally or through close observation. Note: This is practice for the opening paragraph of your Unit 5 argumentative essay assignment. Follow these steps:

o Include a topic sentence in which you describe the context surrounding the debate and establish that the debate has merit.

o Stay completely neutral and provide information on one side of the debate.

o Use an appropriate transitional word, phrase, or sentence, and then, while staying completely neutral, provide information on the opposing side of the debate. Sometimes, there are more than two sides, and when this is the case, add another transition and then a third argument that opposes the others.

o Conclude neutrally, or practice what you will have to do for the argumentative essay (Unit 5), and add your considered opinion (thesis). If you do the latter, just make sure to use an academic tone, which means you must not use “I think” or “I believe” and the like.