ACTEW -- Controversies: Argumentative Essays Making Use of Research

Course Summary: In this class, you will write an essay each week on an assigned controversial topic. You’ll be researching your subject matter and will cite your sources in footnotes or as a bibliography at the end of the essay. After doing your research, you’ll craft a persuasive argument, taking a clear position on the controversy.

You’re encouraged to take the less popular position, but you may always take the position you believe is correct. However, do not decide which side is correct until you’ve done your research! The point of doing your research is for you to act like a detective looking for clues and evidence you haven’t seen before. Once you’ve done your due diligence, your original opinion may change.

The topics include the following:

• The Civil War: Examine the case of the Confederacy and issues between the North and the South in addition to slavery. You may refer to literature as well as history as you make your arguments.
• Gun control: Examine causes and statistics regarding gun violence, and discuss the role of the Second Amendment. Focus on the situation in America, but you may cite statistics from another country or two if you like.
• Transgenderism/ Gender “fluidity”: Some people believe one can change one’s gender from male to female or vice versa. Examine the other side, including the role of human DNA in determining one’s sex, and researching logical and fact-based arguments that run counter to this notion and this practice.
• Climate change as an existential threat to humanity: Research facts and arguments on the other side, searching out scientists and other experts who have come to the opposite conclusion. You may focus on logical and fact-based arguments that oppose the theory of catastrophic climate change, or focus on the downsides of many of the policies and programs being implemented or planned to combat global warming, or both.
• Abortion: Research key arguments for the right to life. Reread the Declaration of Independence, and use your own critical thinking in addition to the arguments against abortion you discover. You may want to research Planned Parenthood—the main provider of abortions—as well.
• AI, ChatGPT: Examine the role of Artificial Intelligence in particular, and technology in general, in our lives, including the role of social media. What are the downsides for students? For society as a whole?
• Socialism: Socialism has gained popularity in recent years. Research its history and relationship to Communism, and explore the contrary view.

Alternative choices you may choose from for one or two of your essays:

• Censorship: Explore both recent and past instances of censorship and the reasons for it. Who’s censoring whom? You may refer to literature and/or history as you make your arguments.
• Public health and individual freedom: During 2020 and 2021, the role of government versus individual choices sparked controversy. Should the government, whether at the local, county, state or federal level, have the right to mandate a particular medical treatment for everyone? Examine this issue from a Constitutional perspective.
• DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: This hiring program, the antithesis of the traditional merit-based hiring program, is currently being questioned. Among other things, it led to Harvard’s hiring of Claudine Gay as president of Harvard. Shortly thereafter, she had to to step down in disgrace for allowing threats of genocide to be made against Jewish students. And it’s come out as well that she plagiarized parts of her dissertation, as well as other papers she then published. Research DEI and come to your own conclusions.

Class Size: Eight students

Class Time: One hour per week*

Class Dates: Eight weeks*

Homework: Around 45 minutes of homework time each week.

*Note: The detailed class time and dates will be determined by the majority of the registered students

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