Civil Rights Opposing Viewpoints

Day 1:

● Find and save 4 articles on a civil rights issue. Each article should be a different
viewpoint on the SAME topic.
● Copy and paste the headline and hyperlink of each article.
● Write a thorough summary for each article.

Day 2:

● Use the AP Argument Writing Scoring Rubric to evaluate each article. Give it a number
score, but more importantly, justify why you scored it that way. The more detailed and
specific you are, the better.
● Finally, answer the question at the end of the assignment.

Headline & Link:

Intermountain’s CEO makes a plea to Utahns: Wear a mask
Salt Lake Tribune

Article Summary: The head of the Utah ICU, Dr. Marc Harrison, pleads with Utahns to
wear a mask. Governor Cox agrees that people need to be wearing
them, that while they may not enjoy it, it’s an inconvenience at most.
When Governor Cox said some controversial things, such as
“extreme maskers”, there was a lot of backlash received and the
Utah Democratic Party Twitter page asked what the difference was
between an extreme masker and someone who cared about the
pandemic.

Thesis “Harrison urged all Utahns to wear a mask in public settings — as

well as to get vaccinated, stop the spread of misinformation, and
1 point “put your virtual arms around” health care workers.”

I think that the thesis is pretty strong. All of the reasons are pretty
similar, but it introduces the topic well and covers most of what
happens in the article in just a short sentence that is concise and
doesn’t use any unnecessary words or explanations.

Evidence & “I would normally avoid a group like this,” Harrison told reporters. “I
Commentary hope that all of you who aren’t wearing masks aren’t carrying the
delta variant — because if you are, you could kill me. This is serious
4 points stuff.”

“Medical studies disagree with Cox’s assessment and have shown

the effectiveness of mass mask-wearing at stopping the spread of
COVID-19 — though mandating mask use has been found to be less
effective.”

“At the same time, masks are not the evil that others have
portrayed them to be,” Cox said. “For most people, masks are an
inconvenience at worst.”

“At Intermountain’s referral hospitals — “the big ones,” Harrison said,

 that handle the heaviest traffic — the intensive care units are at
103% capacity. Across the entire Intermountain system, he said, ICU
capacity is at 105%.”

These were some of the strongest quotes that I found in this article.
They give evidence of responses to the meeting and discussion,
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wearing masks, and
give statistical evidence regarding Covid. Along with each quote
either by Dr. Harrison or Governor Cox, it is explained well and
relates them to the point of this article. They also have quotes
regarding both sides of the argument so it’s not just a one sided
argument.

Sophistication The sophistication in this article was good. It addressed both sides
and had evidence for both classes.It also covers other topics and it
1 point isn’t just focused on a single thing.

Headline & Link:

Connecticut parents explain why they are against their children
being forced to wear masks

Fox61

Article Summary: Mothers in Connecticut who aren’t against mask-wearing are

against their kids being forced to wear masks because they didn’t
have a choice and they have no option. One mother makes the
argument that her son is disabled and can’t speak, and with
everyone wearing masks, he won’t be able to learn how to speak
and understand others.

Thesis “A group of parents against Governor Lamont’s mask mandate for

children in the upcoming school year wanted to be heard.”
1 point
Once again, this thesis explains what the entire article is about in
one sentence. However, it doesn’t give any reasons for why they
want to be heard, but it can be proved with evidence. While it may
not have anything like a normal essay thesis, it does meet the
criteria for the rubric.

Evidence &
Commentary “I feel that the opportunity for true public discourse has been
arrogantly dismissed by people who seem to have an agenda rather
2 points than their role as a steward,” added Connelly.

“The circumstances that they claim you really need to wear a mask
which is when you’re talking, singing and there’s some other
indications you should wear it - he doesn’t generally do any of that,”
said Bourdon of Cheshire.
 “Her son, she said, does not like wearing the mask.”

There wasn’t a lot of evidence in the article so these were the the
best in my opinion. All of the evidence is pretty much the same and
can’t be backed up by anything other than personal opinions. They
aren’t very strong, and just kind of repeat the same things. They
wouldn’t be very strong in an essay and could be proven differently.

Sophistication It only addressed the topic and one side. It wasn’t very well
0 points explained and it also wasn’t totally well written. It doesn't back up
anything else besides it’s single topic.

Headline & Link: To mask or not to mask? Parents clash over masks, school board
makes no mandate.

Brainerd Dispatch

Article Summary: Parents in a meeting with the School Board spoke for and against
mandating masks. The majority argued against masks, saying that it
would restrict the children’s relationships with their peers and
teachers, and even increase their risk of getting sick. One mother
makes the plea that the board choose the children over the health
guidelines that the CDC has laid out because her child has swollen
tonsils for a few weeks.

Thesis “Parents advocated for and against mask wearing, while school
board members and district leaders said they will not make a mask
1 point mandate at this time.”

I think that out of all the articles so far, this one has the strongest
thesis, it explains what is being fought for, and the response given. It
can be backed up with evidence and it accurately responds to the
topic I’ve chosen.

Evidence & “We are very cognizant as an administrative team and a leadership
Commentary team of Brainerd Public Schools that we have families that are in
very different places about this pandemic, and we doing our best to
4 points be respectful and responsive and meet the needs of all of our
families.”

“Some parents questioned the safety of wearing masks, bringing

forward concerns of students not being able to engage properly
with their peers while hiding their faces, struggling with mental
health issues and seemingly developing illnesses from wearing
masks all day every day. Masks should be a choice, many people
said, and not a requirement.”

“Others showed up to the meeting while wearing masks, advocating

for masks as preventative measures against the spread of COVID-
19.”

These weren’t the strongest quotes in the articles, but there’s a lot
 of evidence in the article that could back up either side of the
argument, and it’s an unbiased article. It simply explained both sides
of the argument with plenty of evidence that could back up the
thesis and be used to prove points.

Sophistication This was probably the most well-written article. It had both
arguments and had evidence that would back them both up. It also
1 point addresses vaccines and masks, so it’s not just a single topic.

Headline & Link: Faculty members push back against Boston College’s decision not to
require masks in classrooms

The Boston Globe

Article Summary: Teachers and employees of Boston College argue against the
decision to not have a mask mandate, contrary to what most of the
surrounding schools are doing. The chair says that because the
vaccination percent of the school is so high, there’s no need for a
mask mandate. Most of the administrators disagree with this, given
how transmissible the new Delta variant is.

Thesis “More than 200 Boston College faculty members are protesting the
university’s decision not to mandates masks in classrooms this fall, a
1 point policy that sets it apart from most area colleges and universities as
the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, even among the
vaccinated, stokes new health fears.”

This was also a good thesis because it explains what’s happening

and gives reasons and examples. It can be backed up with evidence,
and furthers a discussion and will be a good source.

Evidence &
Commentary “BC’s policy appears to impose avoidable risks on faculty, their
families, and the students and other clients that they serve,” the
4 points faculty wrote Sunday in an open letter to BC administrators. “It
introduces unnecessary complexity into classroom relationships.”

BC spokesman Jack Dunn cited the college’s vaccination rate of 99

percent for students, faculty, and staff as a reason for not
implementing a classroom mask mandate. The university, which has
an ongoing testing program, remains prepared to revise the policy if
needed, he said.

“Given the dangers from the Delta variant of COVID-19, and given the
measures that are being taken throughout the state and at peer
institutions, BC’s policy is difficult to understand,” the faculty wrote.

“This would be a wonderful and important public health step to help

 all of us in the broader community,” Fuller said. “We are respectfully
requesting that Boston College expand the good steps that they
have already taken ... and that masks be required in all indoor
spaces on the campus regardless of vaccination status.”

These were all very strong quotes and relate to the thesis. They
could be used in an argument for mask mandates and could prove
very effective. It is mostly a one-sided article, but it meets all of the
necessary criteria on the AP rubric. It is defensive, could be used as
strong evidence, and answers the prompt.

Sophistication This article had good sophistication as well. It kind of addresses both
sides, but mostly just focuses on one side of the argument.
0 points It would earn one point on the rubric, but it wasn’t my favorite.

Finally, according to the rubric (not your own personal views), which article
presented the most effective argument? Explain.
While two of them got perfect scores according to the rubric, I think that the 3rd article
was the best. The 1st was still good, but the 3rd article had the best argument and contained
the strongest evidence that could be used in an argument and a defense. It had the most equal
split between the two sides of the argument, and it was unbiased and presented the facts very
simply and without emotion. It gave good quotes, gave good background on the topic, and wasn
so long that it was boring. According to the rubric, the 1st and 3rd articles would have received
the same scores, but I believe that the 3rd article would receive better feedback and summary.