Choice B
Read LA Times editorial “Why not let homeless college students park in campus lots?” and develop and argumentative thesis that addresses the claim that community colleges are acting in students’ best interests by providing sleeping spaces in the parking lots.
"Why Not Less Homeless Students Park in Campus Parking Lots?"
Suggested Essay Outline for Homeless Debate
Paragraph 1: Explain the homeless crisis for California community college students.
Paragraph 2: Your thesis, defend or refute the case that community colleges would be doing a service to the community by providing overnight parking facilities for homeless students in their cars.
Paragraphs 3-6: Develop your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraph 7: Develop a counterargument and rebuttal.
Paragraph 8: Your conclusion is a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Paragraph 9: Videos of homeless students can pull our heart strings by showing us very sympathetic people trying to get by, but do these portrayals encompass the full spectrum of homeless people who will be using the college service and if not, does this not constitute cheap propaganda?
Some Points to Consider:
One. How can we enforce cars that never move and essentially create a permanent homeless encampment?
Two. Will this policy create a homeless magnet that gets out of control and hurts other students?
Three. Is this well-intentioned policy punishing other students?
Four. Will lack of bathrooms result in people going to the bathroom outdoors and creating a health crisis and a repugnant environment?
Five. Will colleges be afflicted with liability for all the crimes committed in these parking lots?
Six. Can colleges afford proportionate security to the growth of people living in the parking lots?
Seven. Should these encampments be allowed at colleges close to elementary schools?
Eight. Will the community become bitter and sour at the community colleges for allowing a festering wound to occur in their "backyards"?
Choice C
Read Elizabeth Kolbert’s “Why Facts Don’t Change Minds” and “What’s New About Conspiracy Theories?” and develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the connection between irrational belief and the failure to change people’s minds.
Sample Outline:
In paragraph 1, summarize Kolbert's essay "Why Facts Don't Change Our Minds" and explain why we remain biased even in the face of contrary evidence.
Paragraph 2, your thesis: argue that Anti-Vaxxers or Flat-Earthers, or Global Warming Deniers or some other Irrational Tribe embodies the Backfire Effect.
Paragraphs 3-6 are your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraph 7 is your counterargument: You anticipate how the tribe in question will object to your criticism and you will refute their counterargument.
Paragraph 8: Your conclusion is a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Nine. Is this policy even a true solution to the homeless crisis?
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