Construct a dialectical argument in essay form defending a position on any issue of your choice other than one of those considered in reading “What is a Dialectical Argument?” A list of topics that may suggest issues to you is given below.
Your essay should be 800-900 words in length. It must be no more than 900 words and should not be less than 800 words.
Your mark will depend on the following considerations:
(a) Does your answer have the form of a dialectical argument? Does it have the form of an essay (as opposed to, say, a set of point form notes)?
(b) Is your essay clearly written? (Can I make sense of it easily, or do I have to read some sentences two or three times to figure out what you are saying?) Grammar mistakes can prevent an essay from being clearly written; thus you should try to avoid grammar mistakes.
(c) Would your intended audience (our class) be justified in accepting your reasons for your position?
(d) Ought that audience find convincing your reply (or replies) to the objection(s) you consider?
(e) Is the objection you consider a good one? (Or, if you consider more than one objection, are the objections you consider good ones?) In order to satisfy this “good objection(s)” requirement, you will have to select an issue that reasonable people might disagree about an issue on which there are at least two sides, each of which a reasonable person might defend. You shouldn’t select a “no brainer” issue: an issue about which all reasonable people would agree. If you select a “no brainer” issue, it will be hard, if not impossible, to come up with a good objection to your position on the issue, or to your defense of your position.
(f) Do the points you make in support of your position add up to an adequate defense of your position? If your position requires more support than you are able to provide for it within your word limit, do you acknowledge, in an appropriate way, the need for further support?
(g) Do you make the mistake of changing your position in the course of your essay without explaining why you are doing so?
Possible topics:
The war on terrorism; private health care; Internet porn; global warming; genetically modified food; violence and the media; video games; jazz; animal rights; selfishness; money; part-time jobs; the value of a university degree; drugs; capitalism; liberalism; beauty; justice; the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court of Canada; proportional representation; compulsory voting; the idea of a core university curriculum; standardized tests in high schools; identity politics
(Note: you are not required to select one of these topics; they are just suggestions.)
If you refer to published works in your essay, you should list them in a bibliography; otherwise (i.e., if you don’t refer to published works in your essay) there is no need for a bibliography.