Length: 3 pages (5 paragraphs) + cover page Format: APA Make sure to mention the

Length: 3 pages (5 paragraphs) + cover page
Format:
APA
Make sure to mention the words “report” and “analysis” somewhere in your introduction
Make sure to mention the three main topics/sections of your paper in your introduction
This report will focus on analyzing the discourse community of politics. Specifically, you are analyzing the discourse (language and word choices) used by conservatives vs. liberals when it comes to specific issues.
You can do some research to learn more about each topic but DO NOT QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE any information in your paper because I have not shown you how to properly cite research sources. ONLY USE YOUR BRAIN to write this paper.
In your report, you must analyze three different topics and the political word choices that are used in each topic.
Remember, the focus of this paper is to analyze rhetoric, not to debate the topic.
Pick three topics from the list below. You should write 1-2 paragraphs for each topic.
Immigration: “Illegal Aliens” vs. “Undocumented Workers”
Guns: “defend 2nd Amendment rights” vs. “enact sensible gun control”
Government Assistance (welfare): “government dependence” vs. “social responsibility”
Raising the minimum wage: “forced socialism” vs. “people need a living wage”
Race and society: “All Lives Matter” vs. “Black Lives Matter”
Healthcare: “an earned privilege” vs. “a human right”
Taxes: let people “keep their own money” vs. “people need to pay their fair share”
In each body paragraph of your report, you must write 1 paragraph that does the following:
Mentions the topic you are addressing
Mentions the two terms that you are analyzing
Explains the difference between the two terms and why some people would use one term and why others would use the other term
Explains which term you yourself like to use and why you choose that term over the other
Tips:
Remember that in this class you are looking very closely at word choices and how they can have an effect on a specific situation or issue
Don’t assume that people know what you are thinking; explain, in detail, your analysis of the terms and explain, in detail, why you like one term better than the other
You need to write this paper in 3rd person. This means that you should avoid using “I” or “my” in your paper. For example, instead of writing “I think that they use this term because…” write it like this: “This term is used by liberals because…”
When you mention a specific term, you should put quotation marks around it: For example: The term “illegal immigrants” is used by some because…
Don’t forget to use the Writing Center or Brainfuse for help
Sample Body Paragraph for This Paper (this is an example of writing just one paragraph on one issue)
While rhetoric used in the immigration debate can be complex, terms and phrases used when discussing guns and the right to own guns is very interesting. One of the main rights we have in the United States is to own guns and this right has been defended over and over again by both conservatives and liberals. But, with the recent wave of mass shootings, the right to own certain weapons and the laws surrounding gun purchases, have come under a microscope. Those that strongly defend gun rights tend to use the phrase “defend 2nd Amendment rights” when talking about this issue. First, the word “defend” is important to them because they feel like they have the right and obligation to stand up to those who are trying to change gun laws in this country. They also really want to stress that gun ownership is written into the U.S. Constitution, so by using “2nd Amendment” they are directly reminding people about this “right” that the Constitution gives us. On the other hand, those that want to reform gun laws prefer to use the phrase “enact sensible gun control.” This phrase emphasizes “sensible” because these people think that making small, but important changes to gun laws is a sensible, and not radical, thing to do. They also think people should be able to own guns but that those guns should be under “control.” They feel like it is the government’s job to control which guns are bought and how they are bought. Finally, the word “enact” is interesting because “enact” doesn’t sound like you are forcing something on people. Things that are enacted are usually voted on and respectfully put into the law. As for me, I prefer the term “enact sensible gun control” because I think Americans should be able to buy guns but we need to have some control on which types of guns and weapons can be purchased, who can buy those weapons, and the whole process should be one that is tracked.