Instructions for the Argument Essay (with outside sources) <br />1) Read

Instructions for the Argument Essay (with outside sources)
<br />1) Read the material assigned in your syllabus for this Learning Unit and review the material in Learning Units for help handling the outside sources required in this assignment.
<br />Remember that this assignment requires you to write an argument (assisted by some outside sources), not simply describe or narrate, as you did for the Observation essay or explain or inform, as you did for the Informative essay.
<br />An argument must present at least two reasonable points of view or positions on an issue and argue the merits of each, ultimately explaining why you believe one is more convincing, basically supplying a roadmap of your thinking, of how you arrived at your conclusion.
<br />In an argument, a writer sometimes considers and explains why readers may reject a position or a point and then argues why these readers are mistaken in their views. In addition, an argument writer may anticipate and address perceived flaws in his or her own case, demonstrating why these supposed flaws are not ultimately convincing. (See earlier Learning Units for suggested types of arguments to consider).
<br />2) Since you must make your own argument, and not simply report the arguments of others, and since you do not have time or space to consider adequately a complicated issue or subject, I recommend that you choose a personal subject that you know well, something that you already know a lot about and can see from competing viewpoints.
<br />(You may use the subject that was the basis of your Informative essay, but if you do, you will need to approach it from an argument perspective.)
<br />You might choose, for example, to write about some issue related to work or your field of study, one in which there are different, but equally valid, ways of approaching a task. Be careful, however, that you don’t simply explain what these ways are. In an argument, you have to take a position and give your reasoning for choosing one valid way over another valid way.
<br />Or you might choose some arguable position about a hobby, a video game, a television show or movie, or a friend or family member. Remember, though, that your position must have convincing alternatives that could be chosen. You’re simply helping the reader see why your position is the more reasonable, sensible one.
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<br />3) Most of the evidence and reasoning for your argument will come from your own knowledge and experience, but for this assignment, you should supplement your points with outside information.
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<br />4) Remember: see your text and the Learning Units for how writers use outside sources in arguments and how to incorporate that material correctly, avoiding plagiarism).
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<br />5) Avoid choosing a large, controversial issue, such as capital punishment or abortion. These issues are too large for the scope of this essay and would require extensive research to handle effectively.
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<br />6) Narrow the subject, considering audience, purpose, context, ethos, pathos, and logos. You are looking for a topic that is debatable, one that you can reasonably argue at least two competing viewpoints. Something specific and personal is the best choice, such as "Should I keep my current job that I've had for four years as a legal secretary or take the one I've been offered at the new law firm downtown?" To work, one job could not be far superior to the other; there would need to be a convincing, reasonable case to be made for both sides. Your topic should be an issue that is personal to you, that you have plenty of specific details and arguments to offer on both sides of the issue, that you are truly undecided about, and that you can find a few sources to fill in the information on.
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<br />7) Your goal is first to present each side of the issue as fairly and as accurately as possible. Next, you should explain your reasons for supporting the position that you do. You should also consider the opposing arguments as well and why those arguments are not convincing.
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<br />8) You should have a clear position by the end of your essay and include a correctly punctuated Works Cited page
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<br />Format: Use the standard MLA documentation style described in your Learning Units and your text. Check also the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University. (Google “Owl MLA documentation style”). The OWL site will be the first or second link and will take you straight to material related to documenting and doing research. I’d start with the overview tab on the left-hand side of the page.
<br />Length: This paper should be at least four typed pages in length (double-spaced) (not including the Works Cited page) and include at least four documented sources, properly cited and incorporated into your text.
<br />Due date: See p. 2 and also Appendix One of your syllabus.
<br />Submission: All essays must be submitted to the appropriate dropbox in Blackboard. The drop box can be found under Course Resources in the Research Paper Folder.
<br />NOTE: Remember that I strongly recommend you use the Upswing Tutors to get help and feedback as you work on your paper.
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