Description
In the article “Colleges Should Adopt Trigger Warnings,” Brianne Richson argues, “…our obligation to prevent a trauma survivor’s class time becoming a living hell outweighs concerns about a stunted learning environment” (98). In rebuttal, Jon Overton in Beware the Trigger Warning” states, “…we can’t know what’s going to initiate a panic attack, and trying to prevent any and all of them endangers academic discourse” (99). It is recommended that all articles be read to understand the different aspects of this issue and how these authors approach their argument. At least three articles need to be used in the essay (Richson and Overton are required sources).
The main question is the following: Should colleges implement trigger warnings?
Secondary questions to contemplate are the following: What are trigger warnings? How has the recent climate of student sensitivity described in the articles helped or hindered academic discourse?
Articles (all articles can be found through your preferred search engine)
Richson, Brianne. “Colleges Should Adopt Trigger Warnings.” Atwan, pp. 97-98. Atwan, Robert, editor. American Now. Bedford, 2015. (You were given this article with the Overton article and both must be used in your essay)
Overton, Jon. “Beware the Trigger Warning.” Atwan, pp. 98-99.
Press, Eyal. "Meanwhile, back on most campuses: the focus on extreme political correctness at Oberlin and other elite colleges risks obscuring what less privileged undergraduates are dealing with." The American Prospect 27.3 (2016): 9+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30 Aug. 2016.
West, Lindy. “Trigger Warnings Don’t Hinder Freedom of Expression: They Expand Them.” The Guardian. 18 Aug. 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/education/commentisfree/2015/aug/18/trigger-warnings-dont-hinder-freedom-expression
Essay I General Guidelines
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT ESSAY CONTENT:
• YOU MUST BE PERSUASIVE and THERE MUST BE A CLEAR AND ASSERTIVE THESIS STATEMENT.
• THE MAIN IDEAS IN YOUR ESSAY MUST BE YOUR OWN.
• IN ADDITION, YOU MUST USE INFORMATION FROM THE SELECTION USED FOR YOUR IN- CLASS ESSAY and YOU MUST ALSO USE INFORMATION FROM ADDITIONAL SOURCES.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT ESSAY FORMAT:
• Your essay must be 5 pages in length and typed in standard 12-point font, double-spaced and the format must follow MLA guidelines (Refer to Rules for Writers 8th Edition).
• You may use direct quotations (no more than three lines), paraphrases, and/or brief summary information from your sources and all information from your sources must be properly cited in-text in MLA format.
• Your essay must have a title and “Works Cited” list as the last page.
• You must attach a copy of the Out of Class Essay Rubric to your essay. (page 3 of this handout)
Essay I Outline
The Introduction
I. Thesis Statement: Clearly state the topic and your position on the topic in one sentence.
The Body
II. Topic sentence: Clearly present the point to be developed in this paragraph
List the evidence you will present to support your point, also list any sources to be used
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III. Topic sentence: Clearly present the point to be developed in this paragraph
List the evidence you will present to support your point, also list any sources to be used
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IV. Topic sentence: Clearly present the point to be developed in this paragraph
List the evidence you will present to support your point, also list any sources to be used
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V. Topic sentence: Clearly present the point to be developed in this paragraph
List the evidence you will present to support your point, also list any sources to be used
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VI. Topic sentence: Clearly present the point to be developed in this paragraph
List the evidence you will present to support your point, also list any sources to be used
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VII. Topic sentence: Clearly present the point to be developed in this paragraph
List the evidence you will present to support your point, also list any sources to be used
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VIII. Concluding comments: Briefly list possible concluding comments.
Sample Solution