Please score my first issue topic essay and argument topic essay

[mlolkus]

Issue Topic Essay Practice #1

To understand the most important characteristics of a society, one must study its major cities.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

 

To understand the most important characteristics of a society, one must not only study its major cities, but also the small towns and rural areas as well.  Studying a larger population presents more opportunities to observe and catalog characteristics of those involved in a wider variety of industry and a greater sample of viewpoints and beliefs from the global society.

While some would assert the claim that the most important characteristics of society are only or mostly visible in major cities because of the blended cultures, art, density of people and variety of beliefs, it is also true that those living in smaller towns, villages, and rural farming communities hold a set of beliefs and viewpoints separate and distinct from those in major cities.  Participating in discussions on controversial topics in the United States such as abortion, stem cell research, and gun control often reveal different viewpoints of those residing in cities, but also more rural locations as well.  One example would be whether states should impose stricter gun control laws with harsher punishments and more in depth background checks.  Studying and surveying opinions of this characteristic of society may return different or polarized viewpoints than if one were to include the voices of those in more rural locations as well, where families have grown up using firearms as a means of protection or food gathering.  

Living in and exploring major cities allows one to be introduced to new foods, cultures, business and more.  Similarly, moving out of an urban hub and exploring the different foods, cultures and businesses of remote villages and towns provides new perspectives one would not gain from only understanding the cultures encountered in the largest cities.  One is amazed at the different values people place on family, personal growth and exploration, and professional stature.  

To provide a complete picture of our global society, one must strive to understand life in large cities, as well as life in urban areas and remote locations.

 

Argument Topic Essay Practice #1

Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been made only by the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could have crossed it only by boat, and no Palean boats have been found. Thus it follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not uniquely Palean.

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

 

The discovery of Palean baskets in Lithos, across the Brim River from the once unique location to find Palean baskets, Palea, allows some to question whether the Palean baskets were truly unique.  While it is possible that other cultures may have created similar baskets, the notion that the baskets are truly unique is not yet eliminated.

Provided the context that it would be impossible to cross the Brim River to Lithos, the location in which the “Palean” baskets were recently discovered, some believe that the baskets are not truly unique because there is no evidence of Palean boats or a way for the Palean people to cross the Brim River.  There are, however, other explanations for how the Palean baskets were discovered in Lithos.  One might infer that the people of Lithos were people deeply invested in the trade economy, using their own ships to travel to Palea and returning with new treasures to introduce in markets of Lithos.  Discovery of either or both a popular trade economy and boats in Lithos would be supportive of the Palean baskets being truly uniquely Palean.

One must also question what Palean baskets have yet to be found in other neighboring villages that are not in the immediate vicinity of Palea.  While there is no evidence of boats for the Paleans to introduce their baskets to the people of Lithos across the river, there may have been trade routes yet discovered or thoroughly researched on land in which the Paleans were able to sell their product to people of other villages.

The discovery of Palean baskets in a location that is currently believed to be out of the reach of the Palean people does not yet eliminate that the baskets are unique to the village of Palea.  More research needs to be conducted around the possibilities of trade for those in Lithos and other surrounding areas not in the immediate vicinity.