Sample Solution

The essay “The Doom Spiral of Pernicious Polarization” by Yoni Appelbaum is intended for an audience interested in the current state of politics and media sources in the United States. Appelbaum, a professor of history at The Johns Hopkins University, has written extensively on American political history which makes his credentials credible (The Atlantic, 2021). The essay was written in 2022 making it recent enough to be relevant and up-to-date with current information.

In his article, Appelbaum argues that U.S. politics are becoming increasingly polarized due to partisan animosity stoked by both left-leaning and right-leaning media sources (Appelbaum 2022). He claims that this polarization has created an environment where citizens have become more likely to believe falsehoods about each other’s side as well as their own party’s platforms and policies (Appelbaum 2022). To combat this trend he suggests several strategies including divesting from ideological media outlets, recognizing commonalities between opposing viewpoints and emphasizing shared values over differences (Appelbaum 2022).

Overall, the essay effectively explains why political polarization has reached such troubling heights while providing credible evidence to support his claims. However, it could benefit from providing specific data or examples that explain how bias impacts news coverage within both liberal and conservative outlets as well as how these dynamics create further fragmentation between citizens who identify with either end of the spectrum. Despite this minor limitation however, Appelbaum’s qualifications add significant credibility to his argument making it an overall effective piece.