Argument Abounds

There seems to be general confusion about these Reading Logs. I did cover this information in class briefly, but I do realize that we discussed it at the last minute before class was out. For this reason, I am adjusting the due dates:

• READING LOGS 5 and 6 will now be due Friday, 2/23; however, if you have completed the logs, bring them to class tomorrow!
• READING LOGS 7 and 8 will now be due Monday, 2/26.

Please read carefully if you need further explanation of this assignment:

The purpose of these Reading Logs is to either: a) help you find an issue for your research paper, or b) get you started reading the actual research. In order to do well on your issue proposal, it will be helpful for you to have done at least a little reading about your topic.

The articles or essays you will read for these four Reading Logs will be CHOSEN BY YOU so that you are not wasting time reading material that has nothing to do with your research paper.

In order to choose your articles, follow these directions:

• If you DON’T KNOW your research topic, choose essays from the back of your Wood textbook (from the section called “The Reader” at the back). Use the Alternate Table of Contents on page xxiii to find essays that seem interesting to you.
• If you DO know your research topic, first check the Wood textbook Alternate Table of Contents on page xxiii to see if any of the essays in “The Reader” are related to your issue. If so, choose essays from the textbook.
• If you DON’T FIND any related essays, search the UTA library database for articles that may be related to your topic. Everyone should know how to do this, because we did it during the library presentation. Good databases to search include Academic Search Premier and JStor.

After you have CHOSEN your articles or essays (you need one for each Reading Log – a total of four due by Monday), READ THEM to get ideas for your Issue Proposal and/or to get started on your actual research.

After you have read one of the articles or essays, write a brief (150 – 250 word) summary response. This is informal writing intended to help you remember what you read, get ideas that will improve your Issue Proposal, and begin thinking about the available research on your issue. Your Reading Log is for you. The more effort/thought you put into your responses, the more of your research and thinking will be already done when you begin the next section of the Researched Position Paper.

Review chapter 1 (especially pages 24-26) for help in selecting your topic. I have also posted a page entitled “Argumentative Issues,” which lists some ideas that can help get you started. Remember that in your Issue Proposal you will need to be specific and more narrow than a general topic like “war” or “immigration.”

Please review the post entitled “Issue Proposal” for further information. Thanks!