Plague and Polemics

Reading over the two articles made me sort of conscious of something I have already been doing during my explanations of the exploratory essay to my students. I have been telling them that it is really a rather strange practice that is usually taught in high-school (and often into college as well): I speak of course about the notion of beginning a persuasive essay with a thesis statement.

The two articles have really reinforced what I have "discovered" from contemplating the exploratory format. Is it not really very bizarre to begin with the answer, then go looking for evidence to back up this answer, ignoring (or attempting to refute) all that gets in the way? Of course, as advanced students we don't really do this (hopefully). We understand that when we look at a text there are numerous ways of interpreting it and that we are really exploring one particular viewpoint. But I have noticed that this certainly isn't usually the case in my students.

I have had a bit of a time convincing them not to argue in the exploratory essay, to just keep an open mind and consider all sides of the argument. This is especially difficult with students who are writing about "sensitive" subjects. Still, I have told them to be open to the possibility that they are dead wrong and that they may realize that the other side isn't. It stands to reason that if there is an issue worth arguing over, and that has been argued over, that all the people on one side cannot simply be too stupid to understand.

I think that I have had some success in explaining it, but I note the reserve in their eyes and the uncertainty that I know lurks within their hearts. As our readings point out, we really do live within a society of polemics, of talk radio and vicious politics, in a nation evermore divided according to Left and Right. I think that the political divisions in this country have created an atmosphere inimical to civil discourse. In a number of controversial issues, each side has comfortably settled itself down to yelling across at the enemy. It is The Hundred Years' War all over again, only with insults rather than longbows.