The Unit 2 essay will be a descriptive literature review on your chosen topic: you will choose
one (1) of the topics provided below. Because Unit 3 builds on the work from Unit 2, your
chosen issue will be the same for Unit 3 as well.
The emphasis is on the skill of synthesizing multiple arguments into a cohesive explanation on
the “state of research” on your chosen issue. Because any good argument shows understanding
of the conversation it has entered, your Unit 2 task will be to identify and synthesize different
points of view on your issue. *Many, many descriptions of this type of assignment are available
through an online search.
Please, please do not attempt to argue a position on your chosen issue for the Unit 2 essay. This
is not the purpose of this assignment.
Selecting Your Topic:
Your Unit 2 topic will be selected from “The List” below. Then, you will form a tighter, more
narrow thesis appropriate for your research, and eventually, your Unit 3 essay. Your Unit 3
essay will require you to identify and explain at least two opposing points of view, so identifying
two or more points of view in the debate on your issue will be essential.
You will construct your essay using the following parameters:
• Research and find at least five credible sources on a single issue.
• Read and Review multiple sources that could be used as support in a position paper on
this issue.
• Identify the arguments being made in each of these sources.
• Determine how these arguments relate to each other: what topics do your sources have
in common? Where do they agree, disagree, or diverge in opinion?
• Describe the discussion of your chosen issue in its entirety using your sources as the
representative voices on the discussion.
• The final essay should be a cohesive description of the discussion occurring between
your sources on your chosen issue.
Additional Items for Your Consideration:
• Decide whether the Literature Review will reflect one position and explore the points
within that position or explore several different positions for the issue.
• Explore how the Literature Review can be developed using the selected focus. It will be
necessary to ensure that you are able to discuss the ideas in some depth. If you feel as
if discussing multiple positions will only let you “scratch the surface” of the issue, it may
be better to choose one particular position and explore the aspects of the arguments
within that position.
Audience:
Your audience for this essay will be your peers. Your job for this essay will be to find out
what the conversations are regarding this topic. Because you are all dealing with the
same topic, it will be important for you to think about the possibilities for this topic, and
your Literature Review will present possible positions and how those are being
developed and supported.
Objectives:
• Continue to develop strong research skills.
• Identify multiple perspectives on an issue.
• Synthesize and explain the major points for the perspectives.
Format:
Please develop the above topic in a four (4)- to six (6)-page essay. This essay should be
formatted with 1-inch margins on all sides and composed in 12-point Times New Roman. The
paper should be developed using the MLA format, an example of which can be found in
Appendix 1 of The Essentials of Argument (optional text)