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Chapter 2 introduces you to the kinds of thinking and engagement that college professors try to promote with their writing assignments. They want you to "wallow in the complexity" of an issue for a while and then work your way out, instead of quickly producing a pat answer to a difficult problem. To do this you need to develop several different abilities, all of which are essential to an effective argument that justifies your position in the face of opposing views. By the end of this chapter, you should understand the following: 1. Each academic discipline has its own characteristic questions, kinds of evidence, and assumptions. 2. Prototypical essay introductions pose questions, show how the questions are problematic and significant, and offer tentative answers that are sometimes risky. 3. There are multiple venues for you to engage in exploratory writing and conversation, including keeping a journal, joining electronic discussion forums, and participating effectively in class discussions. 4. Five of the most useful techniques for exploratory writing and talking are freewriting, focused freewriting, idea mapping, dialectical discussion, and active reading and research.
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