Composing a Think Piece on Student Debt Forgiveness

Description of the assignment

Description

What is expected of you?

For this assignment you will compose a think piece responding to the following question: Should student debt be forgiven?

A think piece is a genre of writing that is more deliberate than free writing but not a formal essay. It has an informal tone but provides clear, critical, and independent thoughts about a particular event: it’s an informed opinion. More than just an emotional response, however, think pieces should evaluate and question; they should, in some way, attempt to persuade the reader; and providing concrete evidence is a surefire way to be persuasive.

In sum, to write a strong think piece, you’ll need three to do things: reading, thinking, and of course, writing.

How should you complete it?

First, read the three accompanying sources. The first is from the Canadian Federation of Students and outlines the political economy of student debt in Canada. The second is a news article from Jacobin magazine arguing in favour of cancelling student debt; the third is a news article from National Post that argues against cancelling student debt.

After reading these sources, you will compose your think piece, arguing for or against student debt forgiveness. Make sure to cite each reading at least one time in your piece. Because this is a think piece and is designed to express your perspective on the matter, avoid relying too heavily on direct quotes — paraphrase whenever possible.

Proper citation style is an important part of any research and writing assignment. For this assignment, you will read three articles. As a result, you’ll need to provide accurate in-text citations and a reference list. For guidance, please refer to the Sheridan College APA or MLA citation guides on the library website, accessible here.

Finally, much like in actual journalism, the length requirements for this assignment are rather strict. As such, I’d like you to try your best to write between 450–500 words for your think piece. Regarding style, while it is expected that you will share your opinion and are encouraged to use a conversational writer’s voice to do so, please write in full sentences and avoid using slang. The final piece should be free from grammar and spelling errors. (Proofread!)

Directions

Step one: Reading

Read the three assigned resources.

Ben Burgis

• “It’s Not That Complicated. Cancelling Student Debt is Good”

Sean Speer

• “The Case Against Forgiving Student Debt” 

Canadian Federation of Students

• “The Political Economy of Student Debt in Canada” 

Step two: Brainstorming
Answer the question: Should student debt be forgiven? When you have your answer, begin sketching your argument. Start by collecting key points you’ll mention to support your position.

Step three: Writing
The first paragraph should summarize the arguments made for cancelling student debt. The second paragraph should summarize the arguments made against cancelling student debt. The final, and most substantial paragraph, should articulate your position on the matter: are you for or against? Why? Support your argument with relevant facts, figures, and examples.

Step four: Editing
Proofread your assignment. It should be free from spelling and grammatical errors; persuasive; and it should flow clearly and logically.

Quality
Think piece is well-written, with no errors, and is between 450–500 words.

Argument
Think piece is cogent, and makes a compelling argument for or against abolishing student debt.

Organization
Think piece is well-organized and flows logically.

Development
Think piece includes enough relevant and compelling detail/information.

Research
Think piece makes at least one reference to each source. Sources are cited clearly and accurately.

Task: Write a Think Piece About Student Debt Forgiveness.