The in-class writing activity below demonstrates my ability to compose a piece of text that acknowledges a different interpretation(s) of a chosen topic while also weaving in my personal stance. In this case, the chosen topic is climate change, while the dilemma is the concept of how climate change tends to be perceived by the general public versus the reality. The first half of the paragraph acknowledges the differing interpretation, while providing a brief summary and analysis on the stance. The paragraph then transitions into my interpretation of the topic and sets up a contrast. Once my interpretation is stated, I provide a piece of “evidence” that strengthens my stance, followed by a mini analysis of the significance of the “evidence.” My comprehension of this learning goal was in part due to the “They Say I Say” method which encourages the discussion of a given topic rather than your mere stance on it.

The term “climate change” tends to be synonymous with “the end of the world” in many people’s minds. When thinking of climate change, many picture images of powerful storms wiping out the planet, blazing fires incinerating entire towns, or tremendous earthquakes; in other words, people tend to think of any and every catastrophic natural phenomenon depicted in end-of-the-world movies. However, few people tend to acknowledge the real, smaller instances of climate change that occur in the present. The truth is, many people feel the effects of climate change in ways that aren’t always as extreme or exaggerated as they are perceived to be. For instance, some areas of the world feel the effects in the form of frequent droughts or heavier rainfall. While said effects don’t wipe out entire populations, they certainly do affect aspects of the given area such as the vegetation, agriculture, and so on.

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