Short paper
Here are the instructions for the short paper due 11/22:1) Search for a recent (as in, from 2005) newspaper editorial, or op-ed. Major local papers are fine, as are large national papers (The New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, USA Today, Boston Globe, for example). Some have free searchable archives, others don't, but you can always search through the library's lexis-nexis database.
2) Print the column, and write a two page paper examining the political ideology of the column. Is the author showing liberal, conservative, or strong democratic tendencies (or, although this is very unlikely, Marxist tendencies)? In about two pages double-spaced, explain what ideology you think is at work in this editorial, and how it's influencing the author. Don't rely simply on the outcome or position that the author is arguing for--remember, ideology is about the process, not the outcome. As I mentioned the other day, David Brooks at the NY Times wrote a conservative column in defence of same sex marriage a couple of years ago.
I'll add to this post in answer to any questions you have about this assignment. Post your questions in this thread. If you find an op-ed column and you're having a hard time figuring it out, I'd advise you to move on. There are plenty of op-ed columns out there that should make this pretty easy.
posted by David Watkins @ 8:27 AM
1 Comments:
Nicole--i'd say between 1.5 and 3. But I won't deduct for going over. If you're around 1.5 you should be very precise and succinct.
James--that's not a problem. unsigned "editorial board" editorials, as well as anonymous ones, are fine.
Remember, everyone: I need a copy of the op ed, and if you do cut and paste it into the document, make sure I have full citation info--newspaper, date, and (if applicable) author.
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