Assignment
ESSAY PROMPT1: A RESEARCHED ARGUMENT
PURPOSE
The purpose of l this paper is to give you practice conducting research to support an argument. It is also to give you practice fairly presenting and analyzing an issue before taking a stance. Lastly, it is intended to give you practice citing and referencing resources in APA format.
Task
You will start by selecting a topic and then developing a research question and working thesis. Once you have a direction, you'll conduct research. You will be required to use 2-4 sources (no fewer than two, no more than four) in your paper. At least one source must be representative of a position that you do not agree with as this shows you as being an objective truth-seeker in your argument.
Your argument should include the contents detailed on page 185 of the text
• Introduction that states the issue and the two (or more sides) being discussed as well as the thesis.
• A summary of opposing view points (including their strengths)
• A point-by-point discussion of the limitations of opposing views.
• A summary of your viewpoint and your understanding of the issue.
• A point-by-point discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of your position with the overall case being made that your stance is the strongest.
• A conclusion that reiterates your thesis / argument and that has some kind of call to action or look into the future (without being vague or general or overly broad)
FORMAT
• Your argument must have a title. You can but are not required to use headings to structure the argument (see pp. 194-195). Likewise, you are allowed but not required to use images or whatever else you think will make your paper stronger. Note that images don't count toward the paper's word count.
• Your argument essay should be double-spaced and 1,000-1,200 words total.
Essay Prompt 2: Audience Analysis & Outline Activity
Reader Analysis Worksheet
Refer to pp. 25 & 26 in your textbook to complete the activity. You'll want to identify your most important, second-most important, and third most-important readers. What are their needs, values, and attitudes? Knowing these things about your audience will help you shape your argument.
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TYPES OF READERS
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NEEDS
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VALUES
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ATTITUDES
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Most important readers:
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Second most important readers:
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Third most important readers:
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Consider that your audience should be people who do not agree with your stance or are people who have the power to make changes. For example, if you're arguing parking lots need to be safer on campus, then your most important readers will be policy-makers; your second-most important readers will probably be other students who may or may not agree with you but who you want to encourage to also write to policy-makers to enact change.
DETAILED OUTLINE
On a separate sheet of paper or on the back of this page, write a detailed outline for your paper. Refer to page 185 for more information on the content related to the two suggested outlines written below.
I. Introduction
II. Summary of opposing positions, including strengths
III. Limitations of opposing positions
IV. Your understanding of the issue, describing both strengths and limitations of your position
V. Reasons your understanding is better than the opposing view' understanding
VI. Conclusion
I. Introduction
II. Major points of difference: Opposing positions & your position
III. Major point of difference: Opposing positions & your positions
IV. Reasons your understanding is better than the opposing views' understanding
V. Conclusion