Advanced College Essay

Prof. Sam Beebe

Progression Three: Transcending Argument

“The world changes according to how people see it, and if you alter, even by a
millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it.”
—James Baldwin, “To Change the World”

The third and final progression asks you to use and build upon the skills and
sensitivities you’ve been developing over the course of this year by engaging with a
current public controversy. You will begin by choosing and investigating a newsworthy,
controversial issue, working to understand its facts and facets. As you gather
knowledge and voices from your research, you consider questions like these: What
concerns are at the heart of the controversy? What cultural and philosophical values are
driving it? Which aspects of the arguments are based in questions of morality, and
which are more concerned with practicality? What is guiding the morals involved? What
larger societal concerns and phenomena are exemplified by the specific elements of the
debate? What can we learn from observing it and ruminating on it?

Throughout this process of deepening your understanding, the final aim is not to simply
argue an already-held stance or pick an existing side, but instead to offer an illuminating
reading of the controversy, and to engage with it by asking insightful questions which
lead to eye-opening ideas of your own.
Progression Schedule

Class Date Subject Assignments Due

20 Thurs Beginnings
4/5
Roots of
Tues
21 morality * Exercise 1
4/9
Moral
Thurs • “The Moral Instinct,” by Steven Pinker
22 Dynamics
4/12 * Exercise 2
Developing
Tues
23 Engagement * Exercise 3
4/17

Thurs Ideation
24 * Exercise 4
4/19
• Sample Student Essay TBD
Self-
Tues
25 Workshop * Discovery Draft
4/24
Peer
26 Thurs
Workshop
4/26 * Second Draft

Tues
27 TBD * Third Draft
5/1

Thurs
28 Last Class!
5/3 * Essay 3 – Final — in full portfolio

Thurs
Deadline for optional revisions of essay 1 or 2
5/11