The Issue Paper

By Brian W. Carver

1. Pick an issue.  Phrase a yes/no question regarding that issue.  For instance, don't say my issue is: breakfast cereal.  Instead say, my issue is: Should people be free to eat any sort of breakfast cereal they choose?  Notice how I can't take sides if you just say the issue is "breakfast cereal" but if the issue is phrased as a yes/no question, then I can argue for yes or no.

2. Find an article by someone with some sort of relevant credentials that takes the side of this issue that you wish to disagree with.  That is, if your issue is "Should the United States colonize Pluto?" and you wish to argue that they should, then you will need to find someone who has written an article detailing the reasons why the United States should not colonize Pluto.  Relevant credentials in this case might include being an astronomer or a member of NASA.  Conceivably others could have taken an interest in the issue and been published.  The point is that you cannot use your friend Joe's view.  The authors in our book and the topics that they write about are for the most part appropriate.  If you have a specific issue in mind, I can probably get you an article defending the position you want to attack.

3. Your author may make several arguments in their article and you should try to determine whether all of them are critical to their position and should all be discussed or whether there is one primary argument that should be focused on and the others discussed only briefly, etc.  Use the 10-step method for analyzing their arguments and summarize the results in paragraph form.  There may be a common base of facts that you both agree on that you will need to summarize as well.  You should write as if your reader has not read your opponent's article and has little or no background knowledge on the subject.

4. Then present your own argument on the issue for the opposing conclusion.  Here, you might introduce new facts not discussed by your opponent that are relevant, or you might point out that the facts your opponent gives are unreliable.  You might challenge the assumptions your opponent makes as well, and argue that different assumptions would be more appropriate and would lead instead to your conclusion.  But, be sure to do more than just attack your opponent's argument.  Build your own positive argument for the opposing conclusion.  This may require some research on your part.  Be sure to cite sources and not to plagiarize.  Even if you paraphrase someone else's view, you must give them credit!

5. To make your argument stronger, be sure to turn the tables on yourself and do a 10-step analysis on your own argument, looking for weaknesses.  (Don't include this in the paper though.)  Then think of the three best objections that people might have to things that you say, and mention those explicitly in your paper.  Give your best responses to those objections.  When you acknowledge that people may disagree with you and show why you think they shouldn't, it makes your paper better.