1st Place, Pro-Con Opinion Columns
2022-23, Division 2, News Writing
By Ethan Smale & John Adkins
Arrow
Utica HS
Doors
Recently, a discussion broke out across the world about whether there was either more doors or more wheels in the world.
At first glance many people go with one side over the other and stick with that side. However, after thorough in- spection on the matter, I figured out with certainty that doors is the only possible answer.
Many non-believers choose to focus on office chairs, cars, and other obvious things, but what they fail to recognize is the much more educated answer to this question. Going in depth, one can see the truth is much easier to grasp than it may seem.
You see, the simple solution lies everywhere, around everyone, these are the cells that makeup everything in the world. Inside of these cells, you will find a cell membrane, also known as the doorway of the cell.
This is a fully functioning doorway that takes in what is good for it such as nutrients, and blocks out what is bad for it such as bacteria and viruses.
A single human body is made up of
billions of these cells, which on their own, would likely have more than all the wheels in the world. Even if it isnt the case, there’s billions of human on earth made up of these cells.
Every object is made up of these cells, and that means there is an uncountable amount of them, and an un- countable amount of doors.
With this being said, it is apparent to me and anyone with a brain, that there are more doors than wheels. Any- one that thinks otherwise is just blatantly wrong, and in- credibly ignorant to the truth.
All in all, doors are much more abundant in the world than wheels. It is clear that those on the wheel side are misinformed and that the true winners of this debate are doors.
Wheels
So, wheels or doors? This debate has been going on for months on social media and even through Utica’s own halls. Is there a right answer?
Well, of course there is; the correct answer is wheels. Since this debate has been going on for such a long amount of time, people would think that someone would’ve ended it some time ago. But instead it must be dealt with here, through the mouths and words of the students.
Doors may be great in number, but theirs pales com- pared to the amount of wheels in the world. It all depends on what you consider a wheel. Gears in a clock could be considered wheels, washers used in plumbing could as well.
Until a very specific statistic that is researched and readily available that can show exactly how many total wheels and doors are produced each year, a true answer is unknown. However, as the facts are now, I believe that wheels outnumber doors easily.
Have you ever seen a skyscraper? The towering buildings that loom over all the rest nearby. Most are commonly used as office building. Every office needs desks, and every desk needs a chair.
But not just any chair, a mobile chair for convenience and comfort. There are five wheels or more on most rolling chairs, now think of every floor of the skyscrapers and of those tall office buildings. The amount of chairs and cars out there, just for two examples, are insane.
Wheels, unlike doors, have a very distinct difference that is the true reason why there are more wheels. There are so many different kinds of wheels, so many things can qualify as a wheel with enough reasoning. However, with doors it’s very clear what classifies as a door, such as those in homes and those on cars.
NW-10. Pro-Con Opinion Columns
Each entry must:
- have two (2) columns, each written by a different author, that express opposing viewpoints on one topic.
- show the two columns as a package, allowing readers to view both at the same time. Columns appearing in print should be published adjacent to each other on the same or opposing pages; columns appearing online should link prominently to each other or appear on the same webpage.
- have both columns submitted together in the same entry form
- have a standing head that indicates the pro/con nature of the package
- carry bylines or other writer identification to indicate the personal opinion nature of the content
FOR ONLINE ENTRIES, submit the URL to one column in the URL field and the other in the Additional Information field.
A school may submit a second entry in this category, and the pieces may be written by the same columnists or combination including one of the same columnists. Submit a PDF of the print page(s) on which the entry was published or the URL to the entry on an online news site.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Topics relevant to interests and/or welfare of school or students
- Two pieces, while offering opposing views, are consistent in style and tone
- Both pieces win reader interest with compelling leads
- Present evidence/interpretation in logical sequence
- State issue; uses effective examples, facts and comparisons to clarify
- Deal with specific issue; avoids preaching, rhetoric and clichés
- Show sufficient thought and knowledge of subject, developed with personal style
- Sentences, paragraphs of varied length; written clearly, concisely and vividly
- Proper diction/grammar