The purpose of this discussion thread is to familiarize you with patterns of argument, so don't be scared by terminology. Go ahead and read the article, and share your thoughts on it. What is the main idea of the author and how well she is communicating it? What are you learning about persuasive writing, now that you've read 2 essays, SantiDeRosa's and Maureen Dowd's? Let this be a platform for us to share our ideas and brainstorm.