Argument of the Week

Modeled off of Kelly Gallagher’s Article of Week, the mentor argument texts on the page are intended to help students regularly practice analytic reading skills while simultaneously building the prior knowledge that is so important in becoming a strong reader. As the title of this page implies, they are updated on a weekly basis, and they come from a wide range of sources across multiple topics.

This blog post gives a detailed account of how I use the argument of the week in my classroom.

Please note, as the texts are arguments, the opinions expressed are only those of the author(s) of each text. I have no rhetorical purpose myself in the selection of texts. While students may agree or disagree with the ideas within the arguments, the central focus is on the analytical reading of the arguments.

All sources are subject to the copyright protections stipulated by the original source.

Business/Economy

“Half of College Graduates May Be Headed for Unemployment,” by Matthew Mayhew & Alyssa Rockenbach, The Hill, May 12, 2020
“Spoiled Milk, Rotten Vegetables and a Very Broken Food System,” by Jennifer Clapp, The New York Times, May 8, 2020
“‘ If We Work Sick, Then You Get Sick,'” by The Editorial Board, The New York Times, March 11, 2020

Crime & Justice

“The Pandemic Isn’t Changing Crime Like You’d Expect,” by Bonnie Kristian, TheWeek.com, April 27, 2020

Education

“The College Board Tries to Solve a Problem That It’s Unsuited to Solve,” by George Will, The Washington Post, June 9, 2019

Entertainment

“Chadwick Boseman Helped us Understand our History. His Death Shatters our Hearts,” by Michele L. Norris, The Washington Post, August 29, 2020.

Environment

“‘Between Blade Runner and Utopia’: Where We’re Headed 50 Years After the First Earth Day,” by John D. Sutter, CNN, April 22, 2020

Government & Politics

“One Fix Could Change U.S. Politics, Government, and Elections for the Better: Making Voting Mandatory,” by Miles Rapoport & Janai S. Nelson, The Los Angeles Times, August 20, 2020

“The United States Is Being Taught by Facts and Events,” by David W. Blight, The Atlantic, March 25, 2020
“The Postal Service is America’s Lifeline. Save It.,” by The Editorial Board, The Los Angeles Times, April 16, 2020

Health & Wellness

“How L.A.’s Stratospheric Housing Costs Help Fuel the Pandemic,” by Harold Meyerson, Los Angeles Times, January 22, 2021
“Would it Be Better to Know Nothing about Coronavirus?,” by Bonnie Kristian, TheWeek.com, April 10, 2020
“‘It’s Starting to Feel Like a Pressure Cooker in This House,’” by Rachel L. Harris & Lisa Tarchak, The New York Times, March 30, 2020
“During the Coronavirus Epidemic, We Will Be Separated. We Still Have to Stick Together,” by Wendy R. Sherman, USA Today, March 13, 2020
“When Danger is Growing Exponentially, Everything Looks Fine Until It Doesn’t,” by Megan McArdle, The Washington Post, March 10, 2020
“Coronavirus Lockdown is a ‘Living Hell’,” by anonymous Wuhan resident, NPR.org, March 3, 2020

Sports

“How Michael Jordan and The Last Dance Spoke to a Nation Desperately Missing Sports,” by Sean Gregory, Time.com, May 18, 2020

Technology

“Who Owns the Right to Your Face?,” by Kara Alaimo, CNN, February 12, 2020