Home Teaching Resources Composition Archive CO150 2005-2005 Syllabus CO150 Portfolio Two: Inquiry Journal

CO150 Portfolio Two: Inquiry Journal

CO150: Portfolio II - Inquiry Journal

Exploring Issues for Research and Argumentation

Purpose: The purpose of the Inquiry Journal is to familiarize you with various current, debatable issues so that you may choose whichever issue most interests you to research and write about. The work you do in this journal will set you up to for the Inquiry Essay (in Portfolio II) and the Argument Essay (in Portfolio III).

Audience: Your audience for this assignment includes yourself and this class. You will likely share some of your sources with other peers who choose to work on the same issue, so be sure to keep track of where you find your articles.

Requirements: The Inquiry Journal will consist of two parts. In Part I, you will explore various controversial issues (whichever you choose) by collecting, reading, and responding to articles from assigned newspapers and magazines. In Part II, you will choose one issue to work with for the remainder of the semester and familiarize yourself with the conversation surrounding that issue by collecting, reading and responding to arguments on it.

• Part I: To complete the first part of your journal, you will collect a total of 6 articles from selected newspapers and magazines (see the next page for a list of publications). The articles you choose should address any debatable social or political issue that interests you. Each article should be accompanied by a 1-2 paragraph typed write-up in which you summarize of the article's key points and respond to any questions provided through class homework assignments. Finally, include an MLA citation for the article at the top of your write-up.


• Part II: To complete the second part of your journal, you will collect a total of 6 articles that deal directly with the one issue you've chosen to work with. These articles may come from any credible publication (not limited to those listed on the next page). To help you better understand the conversation surrounding this issue, you should focus on argumentative articles rather than informative articles. Each article should be accompanied by a 1-2 paragraph typed write-up in which you summarize of the article's key points and respond to any questions provided through class homework assignments. Include an MLA citation for the article at the top of your write-up.

Format: Submit your journal in a pocket folder with your name on it. Include print copies of all 12 articles, as well as your summaries and responses to these articles. Each summary and response should be typed and stapled to the front of the corresponding article.