COLLEGE COMPOSITION / 43
14
WIN-WIN or LOSE BOOZE
Although our last topic of discussion about Compendium Two
turns to a more lighthearted matter, my interest in it is no
less heartfelt. In Chapter Sixteen, Eric hides a bottle of
Scotch that he found during a supply run so that he and
Aaron can enjoy it alone. Aaron is upset with him at first, and
in their very brief disagreement, Aaron states the reason for
his objection and Eric rationalizes his decision. What you see
below is the couple’s discussion presented as logical
arguments that imply competing values. Aaron suggests that
they have a duty to share the Scotch and that it should be
distributed fairly, while Eric suggests that it should simply
maximize pleasure. We might say that Aaron’s proposition
is a win-win situation because it would benefit a greater number
of people, but Eric believes that the Scotch would do the most
good if only they drank it. The following assignment will ask
you to present both of these arguments and rebut one of
them. As you do so, it is important for you to understand that
when Eric talks about the age of the Scotch, he means how
long it had “aged” prior to its being bottled. The aging process
is what makes whisky taste “smooth” and more flavorful.
Scotch must be aged for at least three years (“FAQs”), but a
Scotch that had been aged for twenty years would fetch a
much higher price and would thus be greatly prized amongst
whisky enthusiasts.
Works Cited
“FAQs”. Scotch Whisky Association, https://www.scotchwhisky.org.uk/discover/faqs/#:~:text=Scotch%20
Whisky%20must%20be%20matured,is%20often%20
matured%20much%20longer. Accessed 9 May 2022.
Kirkman, Robert. The Walking Dead: Compendium Two.
Image Comics, Inc, 2013.
AARON’S FIRST PREMISE
AARON’S SECOND PREMISE
AARON’S CONCLUSION
Whereas Rick’s previous orders were to find
“general supplies” and “food” for the
community (Chapter Fifteen), if any
Alexandrian were to find those items during
a supply run, then they should be handed
over for communal use.
During our supply run, Eric found Scotch,
which is either a general supply or food, and as
I told him, “we’re supposed to share things
like that” (Chapter Sixteen).
The Scotch should be handed over for
communal use, which is to say that we should
not keep it for ourselves.
ERIC’S FIRST PREMISE
ERIC’S SECOND PREMISE
ERIC’S CONCLUSION
If Aaron and I would each individually
appreciate the Scotch more than any other
Alexandrian would individually appreciate
the Scotch, then we should keep it for
ourselves.
I said: “this Scotch is twenty years old. I
don’t think anyone but us would be able to
appreciate it” (Chapter Sixteen).
We should keep the Scotch for ourselves.
DIRECTIONS
Below, you will find sets of directions for this assignment in
both a short and long form. Both sets explain how to
complete the same assignment, which you should only
complete once. The short form may allow you to form a
complete picture of the assignment more easily, while the
long form will offer you comprehensive, step-by-step,
actionable instructions. Choose the form that you prefer and
follow each of its directions. Whether you complete the
assignment using the short or long form of directions, your
submission will be scored using the same rubric. Either form
requires you to complete the same quantity and quality of
work as the other. In short, each set differs in form, not
standard.
SHORT FORM
Read “Chapter Sixteen: A Larger World” in The Walking
Dead: Compendium Two before completing this assignment.
You must write an essay that follows each part of the prompt
below. Each part designates a column of the rubric that
corresponds to this assignment. Format your assignment
COLLEGE COMPOSITION / 44
using MLA Style. Support your premises using quotations
from the assigned media and document all sources using intext citations and a works cited. Upload your work as a MS
Word document or PDF file to the folder that bears the same
name as this unit.
1 Your essay must include an argument, which is a
well-formed opinion. To be complete, your
argument must state a conclusion (thesis) and found
it upon two premises. In this case, you must use one
of the premade arguments that I gave you in the
introduction to this assignment. The argument that
you present first should be whichever one you
choose not to rebut. Although you must use an
argument that I wrote for you, your thesis will
represent your response to the following question:
“Should Aaron and Eric keep the Scotch for
themselves?”. However, do not pretend to be either
Aaron or Eric in your writing. See rubric for more
criteria.
2 Your essay must include a counterargument and a
rebuttal to that counterargument. A rebuttal is an
attempt to disprove an argument that counters your
own (i.e. a counterargument). In this case, you must
use one of the premade arguments that I gave you in
the introduction to this assignment. It should be
whichever one you choose to rebut. However, you
should present it as an opinion that you disagree
with. I require that your argument’s conclusion
(thesis) and your counterargument’s conclusion
(antithesis) be opposites, which is why they are so
written. The counterargument will not reach the
same conclusion as your argument. After you finish
writing the counterargument, rebut it by attacking
one or both of its premises. See rubric for more
criteria.
3 Your essay must contain at least 200 words or it will
automatically receive a score of 0 points. There is no
maximum number of words. Remember that titles,
headings and works cited, although required, will
not count as part of the essay. Use Standard
American English. Deviate only if doing so helps
you effectively communicate with your audience.
However, you must use proper grammar and
orthography. Avoid phonetic spelling and offensive
language unless either are present in a direct
quotation, and then only if necessary. See rubric for
more criteria.
LONG FORM
1 Read “Chapter Sixteen: A Larger World” in The
Walking Dead: Compendium Two before completing
this assignment.
2 Open a document using either MS Word or Google
Docs so that you can save your work as either a
Word document or PDF file.
3 Format your document heading, pagination and title
using MLA Style.
4 Now, you will begin an essay that must include an
argument, which is a well-formed opinion. To be
complete, your argument must state a conclusion
(thesis) and found it upon two premises. In this case,
you must use one of the premade arguments that I
gave you in the introduction to this assignment. The
argument that you present first should be the one
that you choose not to rebut. Introduce your topic in
your first paragraph. Our current topic is Aaron and
Eric’s bottle of Scotch in The Walking Dead.
However, do not pretend to be either Aaron or Eric
in your writing.
5 Although you must use an argument that I wrote for
you, answer the following question after you
introduce your topic: “Should Aaron and Eric keep
the Scotch for themselves?”. Your answer to this
question is your conclusion.
6 Now may be the right time to start a new paragraph.
Into this paragraph, copy one the first premises that
I gave you in the introduction to this assignment.
Remember, you should use the parts of whichever
argument you choose not to rebut. For more
information, see the units that introduce the concept
of argument.
7 Next, copy the second premise that corresponds to
the first premise that you just wrote. For more
information, see the units that introduce the concept
of argument.
8 Your essay must include a counterargument and a
rebuttal to that counterargument. In this case, you
must use one of the premade arguments that I gave
you in the introduction to this assignment. It should
be the one that you choose to rebut. However, you
should present it as an opinion that you disagree
with. I require that your argument’s conclusion
(thesis) and your counterargument’s conclusion
(antithesis) be opposites, which is why they are so
written. The counterargument will not reach the
same conclusion as your argument. Start a new
paragraph and begin it with a transition sentence
that signals that you are about to introduce another
opinion.
9 Repeat Steps 5 – 7 to present an argument whose
conclusion opposes your own, remembering that
you should use the parts of whichever argument you
chose to rebut, but do not write a new introduction.
If your answer to the question was “yes” essentially,
then the counterargument’s answer to the question
should essentially be “no”, and vice versa.
10 Next, rebut the counterargument by attacking one
or both of its premises. Whatever objection you
make, you must defend your reasoning.
11 After you finish your argument, counterargument
and rebuttal, write a closing sentence or paragraph.
I recommend that you tell your readers how your
essay will help them understand the story better.
COLLEGE COMPOSITION / 45
12 Count the number of words in your essay. Your
essay must contain at least 200 words or it will
automatically receive a score of 0 points. There is no
maximum number of words. Remember that titles,
headings and works cited, although required, will
not count as part of the essay.
13 Include in-text citations after quotations and
paraphrasing where necessary.
14 Include a works cited on its own page at the very end
of your document.
15 Proofread your work for proper grammar and
orthography. You should have used Standard
American English, deviating only if doing so helped
you effectively communicate with your audience.
However, you should have avoided phonetic
spellings and offensive language unless either was
present in a direct quotation, and then only if
necessary.
16 Check your essay against the rubric.
17 Additionally, you might check your work against
the Writing Center’s sample.
18 Save your work as a MS Word document or PDF
file.
19 Upload your document to the folder that bears the
same name as this unit.
20 Confirm your submission by reopening the folder.
Scoring
This standalone argumentative writing assignment is worth 4
points, but you may not earn credit for it until completing
the last sequential argumentative writing assignment. You
may earn credit for other standalone argumentative writing
assignments without completing this one. If you have yet to
complete an earlier sequential argumentative writing
assignment by the day after this assignment is due, then you
will automatically receive a score of 0 points for this
assignment and you will not earn back any points that you
have lost, not even after you complete all earlier sequential
argumentative writing assignments.
