Argumentative Essay Assignment Write an argumentative essay that is well researched and supported by evidence. Remember,
Argumentative Essay Assignment
Write an argumentative essay that is well researched and supported by evidence.
Remember, every piece of writing has a purpose – what is the purpose of this paper?
To convince your audience you are right while considering, and refuting, the other aspects of the debate.
Form: For your research project, you will write a multi-paragraph, 5 page essay, plus works cited page using the classical model of argument structure:
1) introduction (overview and THESIS STATEMENT),
2) narration (background and history)
3) confirmation (evidence and appeals)
4) acknowledgement and refutation of opposing viewpoints
5) conclusion
Even though there are five components, that does notmean you will have only five paragraphs.
1. The introduction has three jobs: to capture your audience’s interest, establish their perception of you as a writer, and set out your point of view for the argument. These multiple roles require careful planning on your part.
You might capture interest by using a focusing anecdote or quotation, a shocking statistic, or by restating a problem or controversy in a new way. You could also begin with an analogy or parallel case, a personal statement.
This is where you explain what you are trying to persuade the audience of and why, which is often done through the thesis statement. The language choices you use will convey a great deal about your image to your audience.
2. In the narration you want to establish a context for your argument. This means that you need to explain the situation to which your argument is responding, as well as any relevant background information, history, statistics, and so on that affect it.
By the end of this section, the readers should understand what’s at stake in this argument–the issues and alternatives the community faces–so that they can evaluate your claims fairly.
3. The confirmation section allows you to explain why you believe in your thesis. It takes up several supporting claims individually, so that you can develop each one by bringing in facts, examples, testimony, definitions, and so on
It’s important that you explain why the evidence for each claim supports it and the larger thesis; this builds a chain of reasoning in support of your argument.
4. The refutation and concession is sometimes a hard section for writers to develop–who wants to think of the reasons why an argument won’t work? But this can often be the strongest part of an argument.
When you show an audience that you have anticipated potential opposition and objections—and have an answer for them—you defuse the audience’s ability to oppose you and persuade them to accept your point of view.
At the very least, it is important to acknowledge opposing viewpoints. If there are places where you agree with your opposition, conceding their points creates goodwill and respect without weakening your thesis, but refuting them is key.
5. It’s tempting in the conclusion just to restate the claims and thesis, but this doesn’t give a sense of momentum or closure to your argument. Instead, try to harken back to the narration and the issues–remind your readers what’s at stake here, and try to show why your thesis provides the best solution to the issue being faced.
This gives an impression of the rightness and importance of your argument, and suggests its larger significance or long-range impact. More importantly, it gives the readers a psychological sense of closure–the argument winds up instead of breaking off.
Evaluate the Writing Situation:
· Purpose: To Persuade
· Audience: Academic/Formal
· POV: Third Person
Your final paper should contain the following, at minimum:
· 5 pages plus works cited page (not 4.5)
· MLA Format (In-text citation must match Works Cited page)
· Sources
o 5 total consisting of the following:
§ 1 peer-reviewed article (you can have more, not less)
§ You may have as many scholarly/academic sources (not peer reviewed) sources as you need
§ You may have as many popular sources as you need as long as they are credible and/or justifiable
o Every source you site must be organically utilized in your paper (the reader should be able to identify where in the essay each source was used)
o Ensure to evaluate each source based on the criteria covered in class, such as the CRAP test
Failing to meet the minimum requirements of the paper will result in an automatic failing grade, as will evidence of plagiarism.
The final draft should bear evidence of your study of the writing and research processes. It must be free of careless errors as well as issues of punctuation, grammar, editing, & formatting.
Get help if you know you need it. Plan ahead.
