Framing Researched Argument Paper | Case Study v.

Expanding the Scope

WRT 102 | Intermediate Writing Workshop | Prof. Ryan Mitchell

Overview
Below, you will find abstracts for two different approaches to contribution. Abstracts are condensed overviews of the argument an
author makes in his/her paper. As such, abstracts preview the major rhetorical moves readers can expect. Read over these abstracts
and identify the major rhetoric/structural differences between the two. What is similar? What is different? Be sure to support your
observations with textual evidence.

Case Study
In the discussions on the internet and the way it has revolutionized so many aspects of our lives, the concept of the public sphere has
been applied by many authors as a way to talk about what the internet means for society and government. Most arguments conclude
by claiming that the internet has the potential to create a public sphere, and give theoretical explorations of this point by extrapolating
from general features of the internet and social media platforms that populate it. There are also some who choose specific platforms
and their features to explore this potential of an online public sphere. The web platforms which are discussed are typically blogs,
Facebook, and Twitter since they are some of the most popular. However the social link-sharing website called Reddit has largely been
ignored, despite it having several unique features that the other social media platforms lack, along with a relatively large and growing
user base. I argue that an online public sphere exists through Reddit. I explore features such as Reddit’s structure of subreddits, the
voting system, and the karma point system as unique qualities of Reddit which support its ability to constitute an online public sphere.
In doing this analysis, I adopt a Habermasian model of the public sphere, which consists of features such as an open, inclusive place
where a public engages in civil, rational debate that creates public opinion which is influential on policies and society. The hope is that
by understanding Reddit as a place where a public sphere exists, we can come to a better understanding of the vitality of our
democracy in the US, and even work towards strengthening this public sphere as a way of strengthening the effectiveness of
democracy.

Discovery
This paper argues that certain types of colonial rule are indicators of genocide by drawing upon definitions of
patterns and indicators of genocide from scholars Benjamin Kiernan and David Scheffer and applying these
definitions to European colonialism in post WWI Rwanda. After concluding that colonialism is an indicator of
genocide, the paper goes on to argue that genocide is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather, it is
caused by a myriad of influences, some of which may be external. Thus culpability lies with other countries,
and they must be obliged to intervene. With implementation of Scheffer’s plan to act upon identification
of “indicators of genocide” rather than actual acts of genocide, and this new classification of European
colonialism, nations can study a regions colonial past in determining whether a genocide is probable. Such an
approach would undoubtedly lead to more timely preventative measures in the future; measures that would
have made a difference in Rwanda had they been implemented and reflexively had European colonialism
been looked at as an indicator of genocide.