Half-Empty or Half-Full? (Assignment 12)

Is the glass half-empty or half full? is a common expression, used rhetorically to indicate that a particular situation could be a cause for optimism (half full) or pessimism (half empty); or as a general litmus test to simply determine if an individual is an optimist or a pessimist. The purpose of the question is to demonstrate that the situation may be seen in different ways depending on one's point of view and that there may be opportunity in the situation as well as trouble.

Without thinking, write your response. Fast. Now take some time and explore in writing why you hold this belief. Then write a brief essay (3 to 5 paragraphs) in which you try to convince someone who sees it the other way that you are right. If you want, write a rebuttal to your own argument. Or you can write a short poem (because I know you love poetry), using images to make the same point.