A Clear, Logical Organization: Using Visuals

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 Analyze 
Use the basic features.

Writers of common ground essays usually try to make the analysis clear and direct. Fairly early in the essay, they typically state the essay’s thesis about the possibility of finding common ground and forecast the main points of disagreement and agreement. They may also include graphics to help convey data clearly and concisely.

ANALYZE & WRITE

Write a couple of paragraphs analyzing how clearly and logically Mae presents the issue to her readers in “Laying Claim to a Higher Morality”:

  1. Skim paragraph 2 and highlight Mae’s thesis statement. What are the two topics Mae plans to discuss in the essay?
  2. Skim the rest of the essay and note where these two topics are brought up again.
  3. Consider the ticking time bomb (or hostage) scenario in relation to the two topics Mae focuses on. How does this scenario help illuminate these two topics? How does the graph help convey information and illuminate these topics? What element(s) of Mae’s subject does the graph illuminate?

    Question