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Opinion
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What is Opinion?

Opinion writing asks students to take a clear, defensible position on a subject and support it with reasoning and evidence. It appears across disciplines — English composition, history, political science, business, and professional studies — precisely because the ability to form and articulate a considered judgment is a foundational academic skill. What makes opinion-driven writing intellectually demanding is the requirement to move beyond personal preference and engage seriously with competing perspectives, contextual facts, and the implications of one's own claims.

The papers archived under this topic reflect a wide range of approaches and subject matter. Some take an explicitly evaluative stance, such as ranking historical figures or assessing the significance of events like the Russian Civil War. Others embed opinion within analytical frameworks, examining organizational change, strategic implications of incidents like the BP Deepwater Horizon accident, or labor law cases such as International Union UAW v Johnson Controls Inc. Still others blend personal reflection with professional or civic argument, as in essays on the meaning of military service or responses to historical documents like Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson.

A strong opinion essay begins with a thesis that is specific and arguable rather than broadly descriptive. Evidence carries the most weight when it is concrete — drawn from primary sources, documented cases, or credible data — and directly tied to the central claim. Writers should ensure their reasoning addresses counterarguments rather than ignoring them, since acknowledging opposing views strengthens rather than weakens a position. The most common pitfall is confusing a topic with a thesis: identifying an issue is only the starting point, and the essay must commit to a clear judgment about it.

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Paper Undergraduate

Religious and governmental opposition to same-sex marriage legalization

Gay marriages are a contentious issue in most religions, societies and schools of thought. It is a new form of relationship; most people do not want identifying with, because of their affiliation to certain thoughts. Many people condemn gay marriages because of the feelings they have regarding the institution of marriage without considering the implications in has on individual lives and the society. This brings about a vital challenge in trying to change the minds of the society into accepting the existence of gay marriages. Research shows explicit traditional existence of gay marriages dating back to the existence of gay societies in ancient Greece and no illegality of gay marriages.

Paper Doctorate

Soldiers as modern heroes and the role of imagery in Beowulf

Literature can have a powerful influence on the way that individuals view such characteristics such as bravery and honor. In "The Epic of Gilgamesh," "The Iliad," "Beowulf," and "King Arthur" we are exposed to different characters that all embody varying degrees of honor and heroism. "The Canterbury Tales" and "The Wife of Bath" depict characters who are very unlike their traditional roles for their time periods.

Research Paper Doctorate

Rousseau and Burke's conflicting philosophies on civil society

Through the years, civil society and the rights of man have come to know many things. Many philosophers have helped lay the groundwork for how we govern ourselves today. We have words like democracy, autocracy,…

Research Paper Doctorate

Transcendentalism in Thoreau and Emerson's major works

Henry Thoreau and Ralph Emerson were two of the romantic American writers of the transcendentalist movement, which in essence stresses that less is more, that nature is to be studied, to be a true intellect you must…

Research Paper Doctorate

The role of gravity and structural design in the World Trade Center collapse

¶ … World Trade Center, erected as "a living symbol of man's dedication to world peace," (Wetxstein- 2001) was the most valuable commercial property in the history of New York City until terrorist attacks reduced it to…

Thesis Undergraduate

Moral arguments and scientific promise in embryonic stem cell research

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Introduction The use of human embryonic stem cells in scientific research has held great promise for some but this research has also produced powerful objections from others. Indeed, there is a profound if sometimes vehemently expressed moral argument that emerges from embryonic stem cell research. The principal objections to the use of these stem cells has come from evangelicals, conservative Christians and others who equate using embryonic stem cells with killing a potential human. Those who acknowledge the potential benefits that may be derived from research using embryonic stem cells tend to people who are politically progressive, college educated individuals, and those in the field of science and those searching for treatments and / or cures for Alzheimer's, cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, among other serious health issues. This paper will examine both sides of the issue, all relevant arguments, and will attempt an unbiased review of what the current research into embryonic stem cell research has produced or promises to produce based on existing data and reports.

Paper Undergraduate

Kant's Prolegomena and the vindication of a priori knowledge

This paper summarizes Kant's arguments in Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics. It first describes Kant's argument for the existence of synthetic a priori judgments such as Mathematics. It then explains how the possibility of such judgments also creates the possibility of Metaphysical judgments. Finally, it discusses Kant's view of the limits of pure reason and applies this critique to Plato's Theory of Ideas.

Paper Undergraduate

Balancing airport security and Fourth Amendment privacy rights post-9/11

This paper provides an analysis of the relevant literature to determine whether an alternative approach to these draconian TSA measures is possible, and if so, to provide a recommendation to the Department of Homeland Security concerning an optimal approach to airport security. A summary of the research and important findings are presented in the conclusion.

Paper Doctorate

Memory and prior knowledge in cognitive learning theory

This paper focuses on the cognitive theory of learning, and how that theory is used to help children learn. In the cognitive theory, memory and prior knowledge are seen as highly valued, and they are deemed more important than experience. Of course, there are other theories that argue against this, and state that cognitive theory is not the proper way to teach children. The paper contains an outline and annotated bibliography, as well as the actual document.

Essay Doctorate

The historical origins and development of American common law

The creation of laws in American can be traced back to the colonial times. It is from the common law that was brought from England that the foundation of our current laws have been made. The way that the American judicial system is set up is what makes this country unique and different from all others.

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