ASSIGNMENT: WRITING AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT

 

The Composition of Everyday Life, Chapters 6 and 7 (pages 246-357)

Sample essay on Webpage

 

Essay Assignment: Choose a formal argument that interests you, analyze that argument, develop a sophisticated argumentative response to the argument, and communicate your position on the argument in writing.

 

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENST: Compose a four-five page typed, double spaced essay that argues a position on a controversial issue. While you must consider the reader’s objections, questions, and opposing views, your purpose is to state your position clearly and to convince those who disagree with you that they must take the views you raise seriously.

Be careful to choose a topic about which you have already formed a strong opinion / position, one that is controversial (has a clear division of opinion), and which has the following qualities:

 

  • RESEARCHABLE—if you can locate only one or two sources about your subject, it is not an appropriate one. Choose another immediately.
  • NARROWED—is limited enough so that you can research and cover it adequately. Too much information can make your research very difficult.
  • INTERSTING—to both you and to others who may be reading it.

 

The issue you choose, if it is one other than from the text should be approved by me before you begin your research.

SUGGESTED TOPICS OTHER THAN FROM TEXT:

 

The Media

  • Television cameras in courtrooms
  • Televised executions
  • Violence, sex, and / or profanity during prime time
  • Advertising—what types?

 

Social / World issues

  • Should women be allowed to go to war?
  • Should day car be provided for women who work?
  • What should be done to save endangered species?
  • Should smoking be banned from all public buildings?
  • Do hate crimes deter violence to minorities?
  • Is morality in America the answer to our violence and hatred?
  • Should term limits be enforced for elected officials?
  • Should faith based initiatives be funded by the state?
  • Insanity as a defense for innocence

 

Educational Issues

  • Is distance learning an adequate way of instructing today’s students?
  • Does too much overburden students and hinder learning?
  • Do school vouchers allow poor students to receive a better education?

 

 

 

Reading and Journaling Assignments

 

Read “Cruelty, Civility, and Other Weighty Matters”  259-265

JE # 1 From Writing Strategies, answer questions 1-4

 

Read  “Entitlement Education”  320-324          

JE # 2 From Writing Strategies, answer questions 1-5

 

CRITERIA AND CHECKLIST FOR POSTION PAPER

 

  1. Discusses a topic that is clearly arguable

 

  1. Clearly expresses the writer’s opinion on an issue about which there is a clear division of opinion

3.  Clearly establishes at least three reasons that STRONGLY argue the writer’s point

4.  Acknowledges any opposition that might exist, and either assimilates it into the writer’s argument or clearly refutes it.

5.  Includes hard evidence to support each reason mentioned

6.  Includes material from at least three sources

7.  Incorporates secondary sources throughout text by paraphrasing, summarizing, and / or quoting following MLA guidelines

8. Contains an introduction that includes (A) a presentation of the argument and its relation to real life (B)an explanation of the background / history of the argument, and (C) a thesis statement that reveals the writer’s conclusion and the reason’s for his conclusion

9.  Organizes the information and material in a logical way so that one reason naturally follows another, and the ideas connected to each make sense

10. Contains both strong action verbs and enough concrete details to paint clear pictures for the reader

11. Includes quality transitions to lead the reader form one reason to the next so that the paper flows and reads coherently

12. Has a conclusion that refers to or relates back to the introduction, but is not a direct restatement of the thesis

13. Is focused and never strays from its purpose

14. Contains sentences that are varied in length and structure, according to the writer’s intended purpose

15. Contains body paragraphs that have a statement of one of the reasons for the reader’s position, an elaboration and discussion of that reason, and plenty of clear, appropriate examples to clarify and / or support the position

16. Has no mechanical, spelling and / or punctuation errors