Conversation Paper #1: Taking a Seat at the Table

[NOTE: The questions and reading for Tuesday are in the post below this one...] 

Writing a paper is all about choosing what conversation to have with your readers. So far in class, we’ve discussed three essays (with two more to come) that each introduce an important conversation to the public. Yet even though each one is on a different topic—earthquakes, ebola, and immigration—they all have a number of similarities. The closer we read these essays, the more we realize that they actually share many of the same issues and dilemmas. A good writer quickly realizes that any discussion takes place at more than one table, so you have to decide which table is most important for your readers to take a seat at, at least to get started.

For this paper, I want you to choose 2 of the 5 essays below to introduce a specific conversation that both share, and that are important for your readers to see, understand, and take part in:

• Schultz, “The Really Big One”
• Hammet, “My Nurses Are Dead”
• Garrison, etc. “The New American Slavery” 
• Garrison, etc. "All You Americans are Fired

When picking your conversation, it can be anything that unites the two essays into a specific and focused discussion. It doesn’t have to be literal (earthquakes, for example), but should be about a bigger issue that each one shines a light on. For example, you could write a paper about “why we don’t prepare for disasters” which uses Schultz and Hammet’s essays; or, you could discuss “justice in America” using both of Garrison's essays, etc. Anything works, so long as you can use each essay to help introduce the conversation and develop it in ways that tell your reader why it matters.

IN ADDITION, you need at least one outside source to add to this conversation. Invite someone else to the table. It could be another article about the Cascadia subduction zone, or a website about rape statistics, etc. But it should be a relevant article that adds to the conversation and helps us explore it. (We’ll talk about finding sources in class on Tuesday)

SOME TIPS TO STRUCTURE THIS PAPER

• Must introduce a “late” reader to the conversation: what do they need to know to start discussing it themselves?
• Must introduce and quote from the articles to add “voices” to your paper: don’t be the only voice in your paper—have a dialogue with your sources.
• Start “in the middle” to show people why this conversation matters.
• Respond to specific ideas so you can say, “I think this is important because...” or “I have a problem with this idea because...”
• When it matters, use metaphors: a well-placed metaphor can make an abstract topic concrete for your readers.

Conversation Paper #1 is due in 2 weeks: Thursday, September 21st by 5pm