Response Assignment #7: 

In response to Reading for Oct. 18th

Due October 18th (minimum 2 pages):

In no less than two (2) pages, explain why you agree or disagree with Michael Moore's assessment that America is a nation of idiots. 

I expect you to use quotes from the essay, but not as proof in and of itself (i.e.: I agree with Moore that we are a nation of idiots because, as Moore says, "We are a nation of idiots.") I and others who read this essay KNOW what Moore writes. I want to know now what YOU think about what Moore writes. Therefore, quotes from the essay or anything written in the essay that you quote should be used in an effort to help you explain or illuminate whatever point you are attempting to make, but should never, ever stand alone or be used to speak for themselves (that is what the words are doing in the original essay - YOUR JOB is to interpret and help explain what is being said and tell your reader whether you agree or disagree and WHY). Therefore, if you quote something from the text, which I expect you to do, you MUST explain, discuss, or make some reference to why you used that quote.

For example, you might use a sentence within Moore's essay to illustrate how you agree with something he says: Moore cites how "70 percent of students blah, blah, blah . . . ," which I agree with, given my own experiences of . . . and so forth and so on (Moore 157).  

Use the following guidelines to help guide you through this assignment:

1. Make sure that you EXPLAIN WHY you agree or disagree with Moore. 
2. If you agree with Moore, do NOT simply repeat what Moore says (assume your reader has already read his essay); rather, explain why Moore's evidence and/or argument makes sense to you or is convincing to you. USE examples and/or quotes from the text and even examples from your own experiences to further substantiate what Moore claims (but do not rely on personal experience alone).
3. If you disagree with Moore, then explain why you disagree - why was Moore's "evidence" not convincing? or why does his argument not make sense? Similarly, if you have personal experiences that would help further explain why you disagree with Moore, then use it to help your argument against Moore, but do not rely on personal experience alone. 
4. If you are somewhere in the middle: Perhaps you agree with Moore's overall assessment, but disagree with some of his points . . . or your feelings/thoughts lie somewhere in the middle, explain what you agree and disagree with and why. As with the two above, make sure you use examples, quotes, and (if applicable) personal experience to help you make your point/s.

** Always, always back up your thoughts with some example, quote, or explanation.