WR 121
Kaely Horton
Essay #2: Entering the Conversation
Now that we have begun discussing the concept of the academic conversation(s), it’s time to
practice entering it/them. The ability to work with multiple sources, parse out what they are saying
in relation to each other, and include your own perspective is a crucial skill in academia, and one
you’ll likely be asked to practice over and over. This assignment is a chance to practice working
with sources and balancing their voices with your own.
The readings in They Say, I Say are grouped into five different sections, each of which asks a
question that centers on a specific intellectual conversation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Is Higher Education Worth the Price?
Is Pop Culture Actually Good For You?
Is Fast Food The New Tobacco?
Why Does it Matter Who Wins The Big Game?
What’s Up With the American Dream?
For this assignment, you will be choosing one of these conversations to enter. Within your
chosen section, choose 2-3 readings that seem to connect or speak to each other in some way.
You will be summarizing these readings, describing how their perspectives or ideas intersect, and
presenting your own opinion on the subject they discuss.
Characteristics of a successful essay:
Basic Content Requirements
1. Your essay should focus on a central thesis. This thesis states your own opinion about
the issue you are discussing, as well as how your opinion connects with those of your
chosen readings. It should be introduced early in the paper and returned to
continually throughout. An example of a thesis might be, “Like Graff, I believe
intellectualism can be defined in a variety of ways.”
2. Your essay should describe the question or problem that all of these readings are
trying to address. In other words, what exactly is the topic of this particular
conversation and why is it important?
3. Your essay should effectively and accurately summarize each of the readings you are
discussing. Include key points of the evidence each author uses to support their ideas.
The summaries should be a mixture of paraphrasing and carefully chosen direct
quotes from each author.
4. Your essay should describe the ways in which the readings connect and
compare/contrast the different opinions presented. Do they agree with each other?
Do they disagree? Which of the same concepts or ideas do they discuss? What
common ground do they have? Where do they align with or depart from each other?
Formatting Requirements
 Use of MLA citation to cite the readings (We will talk more about this in class)
 3-5 pages
 Typed, double-spaced, readable font, STAPLED, etc., etc., etc.
Please note: Draft conferencing and office hours visits are highly encouraged!