Hide Assignment InformationInstructionsThe Background
The Op-Ed is a genre that frequently appears in newspapers. It is called "Op-Ed" because in printed newspapers, these articles have traditionally appeared on the page opposite the editorials. Not only is the Op-Ed an argumentative genre, it is one that is generally polemical in nature. A polemic is a piece of writing that strongly advocates for a position about a controversial subject, while also attacking possible counterarguments. In short, the Op-Ed is an opinion piece that is highly opinionated.
The Task
You will write an Op-Ed about the gig economy. In your paper, you will stake out a position either for or against the gig economy, using outside sources to both support your thinking and to illustrate potential counterarguments.
You do not need to find your own sources for this essay. Rather, you will work with the sources that I have selected. These are:
- "The Gig Economy Celebrates Working Yourself to Death" by Jia Tolentino
- "The Immigrants Fueling the Gig Economy" by Lauren Markham
- "Plugging into the Gig Economy, From Home With a Headset" by Noam Scheiber
The Specs
Essays must:
- Be 2-3 double-spaced pages in length
- Incorporate quotes and/or paraphrases from all three assigned readings
- Use 12-point serif font (Times New Roman is a safe bet)
- Include in-text citations and a works cited page written in MLA format
Essays are due on February 9 at the beginning of class. We will have a peer review session beforehand, so that you have some feedback to work with as you finish the paper.
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The Background
The Op-Ed is a genre that frequently appears in newspapers. It is called “Op-Ed” because in printed newspapers, these articles have traditionally appeared on the page opposite the editorials. Not only is the Op-Ed an argumentative genre, it is one that is generally polemical in nature. A polemic is a piece of writing that strongly advocates for a position about a controversial subject, while also attacking possible counterarguments. In short, the Op-Ed is an opinion piece that is highly opinionated.
The Task
You will write an Op-Ed about the gig economy. In your paper, you will stake out a position either for or against the gig economy, using outside sources to both support your thinking and to illustrate potential counterarguments.
You do not need to find your own sources for this essay. Rather, you will work with the sources that I have selected. These are:
- “The Gig Economy Celebrates Working Yourself to Death” by Jia Tolentino
- “The Immigrants Fueling the Gig Economy” by Lauren Markham
- “Plugging into the Gig Economy, From Home With a Headset” by Noam Scheiber
The Specs
Essays must:
- Be 2-3 double-spaced pages in length
- Incorporate quotes and/or paraphrases from all three assigned readings
- Use 12-point serif font (Times New Roman is a safe bet)
- Include in-text citations and a works cited page written in MLA format
