Norton Sampler essays that are particularly useful for WR 097:
Barrientos--sparked some good discussion
Barry--good for teaching argument
Brooks--solid tool for discussing compare/contrast writing. Furthermore, the topic of China vs. US culture always seems to generate discussion from the Chinese students, especially after some close analysis of the implications of the final line of the piece.
Catton--very useful not only for comparison and contrast, but also for outlining. It is also a fine example of clear, straightforward writing. Most of the students found it interesting and enjoyed it.
Goodman--such a clear structure, so good for outlining, but the reasons for her organization (when considering her intended audience) are still worth analysis; good also for summarizing
Huffington--great foil for Montgomery, and good for talking about argument
Jacoby--lots of good discussion sparked here
King--good for teaching argument; great for talking about rhetorical techniques
Lincoln--needs a lot of background knowledge, but can be rewarding to use for analysis
Lunsford--good for teaching argument
Marquez--sparked some good discussion and can pair well with Amy Tan
McKean--good for teaching argument
Montgomery--good for reacting to the argument in and for sparking discussion; good for talking about rhetorical techniques; good for talking about (bad) counter-arguments
Pinker--great for summarizing his argument
Posanski: pairs well with Rosenberg on argument/debate
Rosenberg: companion piece to Posanski useful for visualizing that written arguments should be approached like a debate with an opponent who can't directly respond, and that you have to anticipate counterarguments and maintain objectivity to be successful. As an added bonus, these pieces seem to inspire a higher level of discussion from the oft taciturn student athlete crowd.
Tan--excellent catalyst for stimulating class participation early in the semester, as it touches such a chord in so many of the students
The Onion--good for discussing satire, parody, and irony, and for discussing rhetorical techniques and tone more generally
White and Arp--appealing pop-culture topic, good for summaries: fairly complex but has four or five essential points that a thorough and logical summary of it should include
Wu--good for talking about rhetorical techniques (lots of similes, especially)