This is the last essay assignment for the semester, and it's a whopper. You'll be writing an argumentative essay. Argumentative essays differ from narrative, expository, or analytical essays fundamentally in that you're writing to take a stand, to persuade your audience to accept a particular position, to convince your audience of a particular argument. Although in previous essay genres you're also making a point, the emphasis in argumentative essays is to make and prove an argument with convincing evidence and sound, logical reasoning. The purposes and requirements for this essay, therefore, are quite different from those for the previous essays.
Your assignment is going to be to choose and issue and make a claim. This will be your thesis. Successful claims are supported with reasons and evidence (which tend to come from scholarly sources!). Good arguments also address (and perhaps refute) opposing viewpoints. These are the things I'll be looking for while grading your paper.
Want a more detailed list? Here's a RUBRIC.
Feel free to choose your own topic, but be sure to choose something that is a claim (meaning that there are two sides) and that it's something specific enough that you'll be able to address in three to five pages. Start with a question. Here are a few examples of possible topics:
- Should drug tests be mandatory for high school athletes?
- Should it be legal to burn an American flag?
- Should the FBI be able to use racial profiling in terrorist cases?
- Is the death penalty a good deterrent of crime?
- Was the US justified in military action against Iraq?
- Should states pay for social services to illegal immigrants?
- Should homosexual couples be allowed to adopt children?
Have an idea for another topic? Feel free to ask!
Final due date April 22nd, no late work accepted!
Mini-Due Dates!
Thesis Statement: 4/3
Annotated Works Cited: 4/10
Rough Draft I 4/15 (Take to CLE/SMARTTHINKING)
Rough Draft II 4/17 -- Bring 3 copies to class for peer review
Revised Drafts 4/22 (no late work accepted!)
Logical Fallacies video
No comments:
Post a Comment