Due dates: Draft: Oct. 14 Oral presentations: Group #2: Oct. 16 Oral presentations: Group #1: Oct. 21 Written comments for peer review: Oct. 21 Final draft: Oct. 28 Instructions: Your draft essay will be at least 8 pages, double-spaced (12-point font); will have a beginning, middle, and end; and will offer at least one obvious insight (your thesis) that will be supported throughout the paper. Your final essay will be at least 10 pages, double-spaced (12-point font) and polished. The best responses to this assignment will offer effective analysis of the controversy, quote from sources to support key points, and present the case in effective prose (active voice, varied sentence length, good ethos--balanced and fair, strong logic, and perhaps occasional humor). Prompt: For this assignment, you will choose a public controversy that is currently in the news at the local or national level. You will find original documents, e.g., court opinions, briefs, speeches, interviews (either published or in transcript form) produced by those involved in the controversy. You may also produce your own data through interviews with those involved with the controversy or by observing some facet of the controversy in action. You will analyze the controversy and draw some conclusions about it. Then in an essay that is at least 10 pages, double-spaced, you will present an argument about this controversy and your supporting analysis of it. What do we learn about the nature of controversies or of public argument through your research? What are the implications of your findings? Draw on the readings for this class to offer your analysis, as well as other outside sources you might find that pertain to your subject. Keep in mind that your paper must offer original insights, so it would not be wise to explore a subject that has been thoroughly researched, such as the abortion controversy. Don't hesitate to interview people involved in the controversy, but be very careful to treat them with respect and to honor confidentiality if the individual you are interviewing does not wish to be named in your paper.