14 Writing to Take A Stand (Section Overview)

In the Write to Learn exercise below, reflect on how your embodied experiences influence your stance on a particular issue.

To take a stand on a particular topic is to argue for a particular point of view. But what does it mean to “argue”?

The word “argument” can conjure up unpleasant notions of people from opposing camps shouting at each other. But as Rebecca Jones points out, “rather than an either/or proposition, argument is multiple and complex.” Instead of simply choosing one of two sides, which frequently reduces a complex issue into a false binary, argument is the methodical presentation of a precise claim that has considered and synthesized numerous different perspectives on a topic.

In this section of the book, you will practice writing to take a stand on an issue that is personally meaningful to you. We will move away from thinking of arguments as “neutral” or “objective.” Since all of us have bodies that bring different experiences and ways of moving through the world, we want to recognize that any argument is an argument made from a particular location. No one speaks from “nowhere”—all arguments are shaped by our identities and lived experiences.

However, to say that arguments are not objective or neutral is not the same as saying argument is merely personal opinion. Effective arguments need to be supported by clear, persuasive evidence, but the kinds of evidence you present and how you choose to present that evidence are shaped by who you are and how you inhabit the world. Thus, your goal is both to make a well-supported claim and to help readers understand how and why your particular background shapes the way you have come to this view.

To write an essay that takes a stand on a particular issue, you will follow these steps:

1. Identify an issue of personal and public interest
2. Research to find out the available positions on this issue
3. Consider how your own embodied experiences influence your perspective on this issue
4. Evaluate and synthesize your experiences with your research findings in order to formulate your position (the central argument/thesis)

Invitations to Read, Reflect, and Write

In this introduction to the section “Writing to Take A Stand,” we invite you to read some sample essays from other Saint Mary’s College students. We have also included some invitations to write shared by writing professors at Saint Mary’s College.