Rhetorical essay prompt:
Thomas Jefferson said, “A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every
government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.”
Read carefully the following article from The Onion, by Bryan Rittgers and using your own
understanding of contemporary society, write a well-written essay in which you analyze the
rhetorical strategies Rittgers employs in this satirical piece.
“What the Hell Am I Supposed to Do With All These Constitutional Rights”
Too much of one thing can cause a person a lot of stress, and you know what's stressing me out? All these rights
guaranteed to me by the U.S. Constitution. There's like—how many—a couple dozen? And they keep adding more!
Isn't that a bit much? I'm just a simple man who likes simple things, and I can tell you right now, there's just no way
I'm ever gonna need all those constitutional rights.
Did anyone even ask me if I wanted all these rights? No, they did not. And, to be honest, I'm a little chafed about it.
It's hard enough keeping up with the bills in my mailbox without some huge Bill of Rights hanging over my head.
People are always talking about rights, or protecting them, or trying to get me to exercise them. Enough already!
God, I feel like I'm being suffocated by personal liberties.
I've got rights coming out my ass. Seriously, have you looked at the Constitution lately? It's like a giant to-do list of all
these annoying, super-specific rights we're all "entitled" to. And right there at the top is the right to free speech. Great,
so now I got to think of something to say? Thanks but no thanks. When I want to say something, I'll let you know. I
don't need a right to tell me.
Take the right to bear arms. Yes, there are times when you need a gun, but most of the time you don't. So why go to
all the trouble of writing it down and making everyone sign it? Just so I know how many people I'm disappointing
when I don't use it? I don't even like guns, but sure enough, I've got three of them, right there in my closet. Where I've
been granted the right to keep them.
And another thing, there are way, way too many amendments. They've got so many, they've started protecting me
from stuff I might actually like. Like quartering soldiers. Are you kidding me? I can't quarter a soldier? Who doesn't
like a houseguest? I've got an extra bed, and my motto is "Mi casa es su casa." Just bring a six-pack and we'll make
spaghetti.
Another one that could go is the protection from search and seizure. First off, I got nothing to hide. I know I'm
innocent, so you aren't going to find any evidence against me unless you plant it. Second, I don't need someone to
protect my stuff. If you start messing with my property, I'll call the police. Plain and simple. Then won't you look
stupid.
Right to a speedy trial, right to petition, freedom of religion—on, and on, and on it goes. I'm over 40 now, so there are
probably some in there I'm never even going to use. Look at me. Do I really need the right to assemble? I can barely
get my ass off the couch to go out to breakfast with my friend Jerry once a week. And Lord knows Jerry isn't going to
use his right to assemble anytime soon. He still lives with his mom.
So there's two rights to assemble going to waste already, and I'm supposed to feel all guilty about it.
It would be a lot easier just to split them up, and give some of the people some of the rights and other people other
rights. That way they all get used, and nobody's left with a bunch of unused rights, looking like a total idiot. Or maybe
we could just have one per-sonal freedom per day. That way you could express your freedom of religion on Monday,
and on Tuesday you could move on to your protection from self-incrimination, and so on. At least that would be
manageable. Look, all I really want to do is live my life and pursue a little bit of happiness, but it's almost impossible
with all these rights gumming up the works. Why not get rid of the useless ones and replace them with some new
rights we can actually do something with? Like the right not to get a million text messages from your insane exgirlfriend, or the right to a clean bathroom at the gas station, or free Netflix for everyone.
Argument essay prompt
Earnest Istook, U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, said, “I remind everyone: Whether
you school them at home or send them to school, you as a parent have the
responsibility to make sure they learn and behave. Teachers and principals may help,
but parents are the ones who must accept responsibility.”
Write a carefully reasoned persuasive essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies
Istook’s assertion. Use evidence from your observations, experience or reading to
develop your position.