The Prompt:

Here is the prompt for your Issues Paper. It is very specific, to be certain, but it is one that can provoke A LOT of useful research!

Your religious congregation has sent you to an inter-denominational council of American churches concerned that in the last few years, young adults have been fleeing religious services in large numbers, claiming on surveys that they have no religious affiliation. Your church is interested in your perspective because you participate in religious groups and you always seem to have an informed, and sometimes passionate, opinion on interesting topics discussed. Your leaders want you to go this council meeting and then write a report explaining why the trend is happening, what consequences it might have for these young adults or the country in general, and how religious groups of all kinds might bring youth back into the fold. Your report should be well-researched; your leaders aren't interested in "just opinions" related to the issue. They also want a thorough report. They admit that they know nothing about this trend (when did it start? why? what are the more appealing alternatives to religion? what are churches doing to drive out young people?), nor do they really know how to reverse it. But they're open to your advice. Prepare an 8-10 white paper on this issue directed at church leaders from multiple religions concerned about this trend. (A white paper is a research paper meant to help stakeholders understand an important issue so they can improve their judgment and/or act on the issue. White papers take stances by proposing policies or courses of action. They take the form of a standard research paper, but their audience is specific.) Include at least one graphic (image or table, chart, or graph) embedded in the paper. It may be helpful to keep in mind that these leaders are a little out of touch, and they will be skeptical of your claims. 

Also, keep in mind here is a video to help you sort of contextualize the issues paper with an example: 

How to approach your Op-Ed

Below you'll find a few links of information that may help in constructing your Op-Ed. Each site holds valuable information and hints on how to construct your papers and write more effectively:

Opinion Writing Editorial

How to Write an Op-Ed

What's this thing they call an argument?

When you hear the word 'argument' what do you generally think of?

This perhaps?



Well, yes, technically, this IS an argument...of sorts.

And yet, there seems to be something lacking, wouldn't you agree? While entertaining, certainly, there's no depth to this particular scene.

It's a rather silly thing, really.

So, back to the original question:

What constitutes an argument?

What facilitates discussion?

Do you ALWAYS have to take an opposing view to what someone argues?

What if I were to tell you that THIS is also an argument:

The basic aspects of this scene denote that argument is taking place. If you watch closely, you'll see that Dumbledore is arguing something to Snape, trying to PERSUADE him to do something, to act in some way.

What might that be?

How do you know?

NOW, let's define things a titch, shall we?

An argument is made up of 3 basic parts:

CLAIMS: 

What you're stating

REASONS: 

The supports

ASSUMPTIONS:

What you deduce about your audience as well as what you might deduce as a reader (the subtext, the unspoken knowledge)

Let's go back to the Snape video:

What's Dumbledore's claim? What does he WANT from Snape?

-It's obvious that Dumbledore is asking for Snapes help in protecting Harry.

What does he do to support this? What reasons does he give?

-Dumbledore does a few things to qualify his argument here. Not only does he say that Voldemort will return he also does something else:

'He has Lily's eyes'

If Dumbledore's argument is effective what can you infer about his knowledge of Snape? What persuaded Snape to accept Dumbledore's argument?

-The entire series is based upon Snape's willingness to assist Dumbledore in protecting Harry Potter. So, we can assume that it was an effective argument. But, what was effective about it?

'He has Lily's eyes'

THAT is the moment you see Snape's investment in the cause to protect Harry. However, this statement, while seemingly pointless if used on you or I, seems to hold great significance for Snape.

Clearly, Lily was VERY important to him.

SO, what do we assume about the argument and the reasons and Dumbledore's knowledge about Snape? How did he make everything persuasive and effective?

He ASSUMED (or knew) that Snape loved Lily. And by bringing Lily's memory to the forefront of Snape's mind, he created a personal connection with his audience (Snape) and made his argument much more appealing.

Introductions:

What's there to say about me? I'd like to claim that I'm this utterly fascinating creature who would entertain you with various tales of my success and grandeur.

Really, though, I'm a rather boring person.

And that's okay. I don't mind being boring. 

 

Anyway, about me. I'm a homebody, as I stated before. I'm from a small town in Southern Utah. You may or may not have heard of Kanab, with it's one stop light and tiny population. Truly, I think there were more cows in the county than people...

I came to Provo to study my undergrad at BYU after high school and, well, I've been here ever since. 

My life includes a variety of things like baking (I'll bring treats occasionally to class), taking care of my adorable children, and writing.

I also have the uncanny ability to memorize movies the first time I watch them. I can recite the dialogue to you and tell you what pieces of the soundtrack fit where.

A tad geeky, and a bit useless, but it's a talent nonetheless.

Admittedly, I'm a bookworm. I love perusing the bookstore for new and exciting books, or rereading old favorites. And, there are simply too many of those to count! 

Austen.

Tolstoy.

Tolkien.

Lewis.

Lund.

Just to name a few...

I also have a soft spot for certain television programs and movies as well:

(You MAY have guessed that one)

And the list could go on...

As for this class? For me, writing is an essential part of life and rhetoric is the very foundation on which most of our interactions rely. 

Rhetoric focuses on our capacities to persuade and defend out beliefs. If we can do that, we can accomplish great things. 

Writing is a great outlet that we can use in order to persuade others. It facilitates thoughts, ideas, arguments, etc. 

If you can write well, you can do just about anything. It's my goal, and hope, this semester to help you realize the potential you all have as writers and to help prepare you for your futures in academic studies (and the writing that comes with it.). 

What is Rhetoric?

Jeffrey R. Holland: "However Long and Hard the Road"

After listening to this speech, one might conclude that Elder Holland is a rather appealing speaker. However, one must wonder why? What makes him so pleasing to listen to?

And how does all of this apply to rhetoric?

In fact, what is rhetoric?

According to this guy:



Rhetoric is: "The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion."

Let's take a page from our favorite high-functioning sociopath, eh?

Sherlock

The purpose of this class, then, is to hone our skills as observers, looking for all details and means of persuasion in our writing. We observe texts, looking at them from various angles. We discuss texts, piecing together thoughts and ideas. We deduce things and make assertions and observations about what we read.

And then, we write about it. The more we know, the better we can write.