Assignment:

Find a controversy that rouses your interest. It might be a current issue, a long-standing one, or a matter of personal concern. Your purpose is not to solve a social or moral problem but to make clear exactly where you stand on an issue and to persuade your readers to respect your position, perhaps even to accept it. Assume your readers are people who may or may not be familiar with the controversy, so provide some background or an overview to help them understand the situation. Furthermore, your readers may not have taken a position yet or they may hold a position different from you. You will need to consider their views and choose strategies that will enlist their support.

The challenge that writers face when taking a stand is to gather relevant evidence to support their position. Also, writers must anticipate the readers' objections or counterarguments, demonstrate knowledge of alternate views, and present evidence that addresses the concerns of others as it strengthens your argument.

Write a well-developed essay where you select an issue, take a stand, develop a clear position, and argue your view with strong evidence. To start, write only "what you know.' Next, add sources to enhance your discussion. For this essay, you can only use three sources. Be sure to research your topic and read academic texts to support your ideas. If you use sources, then you must add a Works Cited page. Check your Hacker reference book for MLA rules. You must do the following in taking a stand:

• State your opinion or stand. Your argument will be objective. The use of "I" is not allowed.
• Give reasons with evidence to support your position.
• Enlist your reader's trust.
• Consider and respect what your readers probably think and feel.