The texts in this section all relate to the exploration of Mars. In “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed,” a family faces enormous changes on Mars. “Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!” examines the challenges that chronic boredom poses to astronauts on very long space missions. Now, you will use your knowledge of these texts to write an argument about space exploration, in the form of an editorial. Assignment:

Based on the texts and audio you’ve encountered in this unit, as well as outside reading and prior knowledge, write an editorial in which you respond to the following question: Do the benefits of exploring Mars outweigh the risks?

An editorial is a type of argument that typically appears in a newspaper and takes a position on a specific topic or issue. In an argument, the writer states and supports a claim, or position, based on factual evidence and logical reasoning. Editorials usually include the writer’s opinions as well, revealing personal viewpoints.

An effective argument contains these elements:

• a clear statement of your claim on an issue that has more than one side

• information about the issue

• persuasive evidence and logical reasoning that support the claim

• statements that acknowledge opposing views and offer counterarguments to these views

• a clear organizational structure

• words, phrases, and clauses that show the relationships among claims, reasons, and evidence

• a formal style

** For a model of a well-crafted argument, see the Launch Text, “Leaving Main Street.”

Please write 1-2 paragraphs for this assignment. Need help? Watch the recording from 9/16!