Affirmative Action: Advantages and Disadvantages

Paper Goals:

1. Summarize, compare, and contrast the arguments and opinions of both sides of the debate.
2. Analyze the debate in terms of language use, value claims, factual claims, interests, resources, and power.
3. Identify the underlying conflict in these terms.
4. Cite your sources using proper ASA style. 

In your paper, you should consider:

• What social policies are being advocated by each side in this controversy
• The social and economic characteristics and interests of the advocates of each side
• The discourse used by each side to defend its position, including:
• What facts each side points to
• What values each side is espousing
• What language each side uses to position itself with respect to the issues
• The power and resources that each side may use to further their interests

Also, when evaluating both sides, consider:

• What do the two sides agree on?
• Where do they disagree about what the real issue is? (How are they talking past each other?)
• Where do they agree on what the issue is but disagree about what should be done?
• Given your knowledge of the resources involved, who is likely to win? Is partial victory or compromise possible?

(These are the “big picture” questions that lend some analysis to the specific questions of facts, values, etc.)

By looking at the specific facts, values, interests, language use, power, and resources—and using those specifics to draw big picture conclusions—you will develop a general thesis about the nature of the debate.