Write a "My Turn column (750-1000 words) for Newsweek, as though you would actually submit it. It should argue persuasively in support of your position on some issue of national relevance: the value of marriage, the quality of today's cars, the place of community colleges in the community, the need for bingo, the stereotyping of single mothers, the stereotyping of married men, the risk involved in legalizing drugs, or the selfishness of people who cut their grass with a power mower at 800 Sunday morning, for example. Note: choose to write about gun control, abortion, stereotyping, or any other subject that has had considerable public exposure, be sure you have something new to offer a new framework, new information, or a new angle What makes it "new," of course, could be your own experience-- something no one else can lay claim to-as long as you can make it relevant to your readers. is you choose a subject, bear in mind that merely expressing an opinion will not do it, nor will it probably be enough to explain why you think the way you do (though that may be an important ingredient). Your goal is to move your readers closer to your way of thinking, even if all you can change is the direction they're looking. And you are more likely to succeed in this if you choose a subject that matters to you. No matter what subject you choose, you will need to have first-hand experience, even if only as an observer; every "My Turn" column l ve seen includes a personal angle as well as extensive use of details and images drawn from experience. Be careful to limit the scope of your essay to what can be brought to life in 1000 words; a superficial or oversimplified treatment can severely weaken your argument. And pay careful attention to the logical, social, and visceral levels of persuasion. In your critiques for paper s3. foregoing all other guidelines and instructions, answer these questions. Write out your responses in the order listed and number them accordingly.
1. How clear is the subject? the issue? the writer's position?
2. How well is the essay suited to "My Turn"?
3. How well does the writer allow for other perspectives?
4. How effective are the logical, social, and visceral appeals?
5. How well does the essay achieve the writer's apparent purpose?