Freak Out!
It’s a balmy, relaxed day in Bell-Air, and Slim is freaking out. Dre has seen it before, but this time, he has to use all of his wits to calm down his friend.
Slim: Yo! Dre! These Community Notes are risk-ay sick. They’re a Machiavellian trick by robber barons like Mark ‘The Shark” and Steal-on Elon to convince dupy peeps to kick the good dudes out of office and replace them with dip**** rich hicks. Once the users are algo’d into their bubbles, democracy will find itself in deep trouble. With the Notes, the boujee crits will insist, you won’t even need to vote.
Dre: Hey, Slim, why’s your face red? Stay cool. Don’t be a fool. Notes got nothing to do with that Niccolò-M-man. They’re no sham. They’re dope coggs for democracy, dawg. As that smart bro’ Dewey says, people are potentially lit and basically good; they just wanna be heard and understood. You want them to listen? You gotta make ’em believe in the system. Doesn’t matter whether you like the benzo baller barons or not. They got it right. Now it’s time that you see the light!
What on earth are Slim and Dre talking about and what does this exchange between these two luminaries have to do with the health of contemporary American democracy?
Assignment: Write a 4-5 page essay (no more!) in which you identify the issue at stake and then take a firm and unequivocal stand on who’s right, Slim or Dre.
Slim’s and Dre’s exchange has multiple components, including social media, truth and politics, and two great thinkers (not Slim and Dre). In formulating your response, be sure to keep all of the prompt’s elements in mind. Everything should fit into a nice package.
As always, I have designed this assignment to encourage you to teach yourself while you are thinking and writing.
This assignment is all about making and defending an argument. A persuasive argument always has three features: 1) a clear and concise statement about the issue at hand; 2) an equally clear and concise statement about the rival positions on this issue; and 3) a persuasive argument about why one of the two positions is correct while the other is wrong. At the end of your intro, you may find it helpful to provide your reader with a road map of how you will proceed. Don’t forget: your essay should have a carefully-chosen title.
As every good trade-negotiator, Russian tank commander, democratic theorist, and crew coach knows, a successful argument or strategy must anticipate the counterargument or counterstrategy of one’s opponent. In the case of this assignment, this means that you must persuade your skeptical reader that one side is right and the other wrong. Your reader will need to believe that you are taking both positions seriously, especially the one with which you disagree.
I will evaluate your essay according to three criteria: the clarity, accuracy, and consistency of your argument; your use of readings and discussions to back up your points concretely; and, importantly, your demonstrated ability to think for yourself. Remember: if you are not sure what you are saying, I will not be sure what you are saying either. Explain yourself and do so in the clearest possible fashion! Remember Orwell (WWOS?).
At this late point in our seminar, I expect you to adhere to the advice and standards that I provide in my Tips for Great Writing. Many of you need to take this expectation more seriously. If you don’t know what I mean, re-read my comments on your assignments and go back to the TIPS! If you do not follow my request, I may send your essay back to you.
Don’t forget the Shaker hymn: “ ‘tis a joy to be simple . . .” State your argument boldly; justify it in a logical fashion; when you are done, stop.
The Honor Code to which you have affixed your signature applies! It is fine with me if you discuss this assignment with your classmates (but no one else). However, do not ask them or anyone else (outside of the Writing Center) to read or critique the essay. Your essay and argument must be absolutely, completely, and unmistakably your own work. In addition, do not use ChatGPT or any of its evil kin in any way in completing this assignment. I know each of you well enough that I can hear your voice when you write. Chat GPT is lifeless and no more inspiring than a Megan Thee Stallion cover band.
I strongly encourage you to share your essay with a reader in the Writing Center. (Get an appointment soon). We–both you and I–always benefit by having an outsider read what we have written. I definitely look with favor on students who visit the Writing Center regularly (they send me notes about your visits). A few of you have done this. Surprisingly, most of you have not.
Finally, I will be glad to read and comment on the first paragraph and first sentence of the second paragraph of your essay. To guarantee that I can help on time, send me this material by this Saturday, April 12.
My expectations are not unreasonable. None of us is perfect. I simply request that you write the best essay you have ever written in your life.
Your essay is due in your folder no later than Wednesday, April 16, at 9:00 am . You might consider turning it in much earlier.
See the information about assignments and grading on the Requirements page. I will only allow extensions if you provide ample documentation, such as a doctor’s excuse.
I strongly recommend that you begin working on this assignment immediately.
Once you have finished, please re-read all of the instructions above.
Good luck!