Writing Assignment 2: IP and Links, Revisited

Summary: In this assignment, you will revise a short essay arguing a side of the question Should intellectual property law be interpreted as restricting the links an author can make on the Web?

Due: 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, 31 August 2010

To Turn In:

• Give a printed copy of your essay (double spaced) to Mr. Rebelsky.
• Give the copy of your essay that he marked up with you to Mr. Rebelsky.
• Give the version of your essay your colleagues edited back to your colleagues.
• Send your essay via email to Mr. Rebelsky.

Purposes: I intend this assignment and your work for the assignment to provide a variety of benefits. In particular, I expect that they will

• continue your thinking about intellectual property issues,
• give you experience rewriting essays and thinking about editing comments, and
• prepare us for in-class discussions.

Background: In writing exercise 1, you wrote a short essay that argued whether or not intellectual property law should be interpreted as governing links on the World Wide Web. A colleague from class provided some comments on that essay and I separately suggested some ways in which you could improve the essay. In addition, you have now received essays from your colleagues, some of which argue the opposite point.

Assignment: Revise your essay to incorporate the suggestions. When possible (given the restrictions on length) you should strive to incorporate opposing views and your counter-arguments to those opposing views.

Length: 300-600 words.

Audience: You are writing for the typical Web reader. Your reader has probably used links and heard of intellectual property, but has not thought deeply about implications of links or about intellectual property law. Your goal is to convince the reader of your assigned perspective.

I expect to post your essays on the Web, so your readers really will be typical Web readers.

Citing Sources: I expect you to use at least two sources within this document. Again, please put a list of references at the end, using APA format.