Rethinking the Research Paper (Exercise 1)

     We are starting this research paper project in English class. For our first step we have to pick a topic and free write on it for three minutes to explain why we believe it is true or false. The topics for step 1 are: You have to know your thesis before you start, You have to be objective, You can't use the pronoun I, You can use your own experience and observations as evidence, You can use your own writing voice, You're writing mostly for the instructor, and Your'e supposed to use your own opinions.

Step 1:
You're writing only for instructor. I believe that this is false. I believe that when you are writing you need to to determine a target audience and direct your essay and audiences toward your targeted papers. I do not mean to say that you can no write to your instructor but I am saying you should not make you instructor the only you are writing to. Your audience can be your peers, a church group, or a group on the street. Whoever your audience is you need to make sure your papers are reflecting that specific group.

     For our second step we have to choose one of the following statements and have another three minute fastwrite about whether we agree or disagree, and why. The statements for step two are: There is a big difference between facts and opinions, Pretty much everything you read in textbooks is true, People are entitled to their own opinions, and no one opinion is better than another, There's a big difference between a fact in the sciences and a fact in the humanities, and When two experts disagree, one of them has to be wrong.

Step 2:
People are entitled to their own opinions, and no one opinion is better than another. I agree with this statement. Everyone has opinions on the most randoms things throughout our day. It could be that sausage is better than bacon or that going to movies is better than sitting outside looking at the stars. We have opinions on such small things. But people get so frustrated with each other and get into arguments because they can not agree on things. But that doesn't mean one's opinion is better then the other's it just means that we need to accept other's opinions and find a common agreement in the middle.