To say that âlanguage is not innateâ is to say that there is no difference between my granddaughter, a rock, and a rabbit. In
other words, if you take a rock, a rabbit, and my granddaughter and put them in a community where people are talking
English, theyâll all learn English. If people believe that, then theyâll believe language is not innate. If they believe that there is
a difference between my granddaughter, a rabbit, and a rock, then they believe that language is innate. (p. 50, Chomsky,
2000)
This semester we have discussed various factors that influence language learning in children. Some of these influences are
found in the input that children receive (Nurture) and some are brought by the children themselves to the task of learning
(Nature). Your goal for your second Essay assignment is to pick a side in the Nature vs. Nurture debate and create a
compelling argument in support of your position.
In your essay, you should:
provide a brief summary of (both sides of) the Nature vs. Nurture debate;
pick a side in the debate;
and provide at least three different kinds of (specific and accurate) evidence in support of your position.
As you write, imagine that you are preparing to present as part of a Nature vs. Nurture panel at an undergraduate research
conference. Your audience will be educated and will be looking for a rousing academic debate to perk them up after lunch.
Be sure to pin your argument to an accurate definition of language and to use your thesis statement to clearly establish the
position you are taking, e.g., âNature / Nurture (pick one!) provides the most important influence on language learning in
children.â
This essay must include information from (and references and citations for) at least three sources that we did not read for
class. You may, of course, also draw from things that we have read for class, but you should not cite class lectures or
discussionsâif you want to include that information, go find a source for it. When selecting sources, consider the following
aspects: where it comes from (e.g., academic journal or book, popular magazine or book, post on established blog, just a
thing you found by googling), author (is this person an expert in this field?), and intent (was this written to persuade or
inform?). For this paper, your sources may come from academic or popular publications as long as the author is an expert in
the topic they are writing about. If you canât figure out the authorâs name or background, move on.
Submit your paper by uploading it as this Assignment.
References
Chomsky, N. (2000). The architecture of language. Osford: Oxford University Press.
Style and Format
