Choose one of the two prompts below and write a response of at least 400 words. Read the prompt carefully, considering your audience, purpose, and the
conventions of your chosen genre.
Prompts:
- You and your classmates have set up a COM101 Facebook group as a way for you and your fellow students across campuses to communicate about the course. On
the discussion board, a member is petitioning for the removal of Gabor Maté’s “Embraced by the Needle” from the reading list. Write a response to their post
arguing why the text needs to stay. Be sure to summarize the thesis, or main message, of the text; describe two ways the author supports or explains their
message; identify two quotes from the text that were particularly effective pieces of writing. This is a persuasive post, so ensure that you respond
appropriately to this contrary viewpoint by thinking about the work we’ve done on persuasive writing tactics for addressing the opposition. This may include
summarizing their view fairly, establishing common ground, asserting your credibility, acknowledging your limitations, using qualifiers and hedging terms, and
creating an appropriate tone.
- Please re-read “Embraced by the Needle” by Gabor Maté. Referring to the thesis, and main ideas of this text, write a formal email to Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau explaining why you think the issues Maté raises are serious and deserving of attention. Explain how Maté has drawn these issues to your attention by
talking about specific rhetorical (persuasive) techniques. Be sure to use appropriate formatting for an email, formal or informal language as appropriate, a
specific tone, and think back to some of the tactics we discussed in class, such as ethos, logos, and pathos when writing a persuasive email.