Writing Assignment #4-Both Sides Now: The Argumentative Research Paper

Assignment
All blondes and football jocks are dumb.  Beauty pageants degrade women.  Raising the drinking age will decrease traffic accidents.  America should have a government-run health plan that our taxes fund.  Only naturalized citizens should be allowed to be American Presidents.  Why the Golden Rule doesn’t work. All these topics are argumentative.

Arguments are the seeds of knowledge.  Without questions, conflict, and controversy, there would be no pressure to acquire new information about a subject.  

How do I do this?
Pick a current, on-going argument happening in any of the operating worlds of our culture: academic, political, philosophical, moral, etc., and consider both sides of the argument (making a list here is helpful).  You may feel very strongly about the topic, and lean heavily toward one side or the other; you must, however, extensively explore the opposing side and represent it fairly in your paper.  Take a position and defend it.  You do not have to agree with the opposing side, but the point is to recognize its existence and use it as a tool to present your own point of view.  Keep in mind that your readers may not feel the same way about the to pick that you do and to be effectively persuasive, it is better to focus on the giving of information, rather than describe why one side is superior to the other.  Let your readers decide which side they will align with after reading your paper. (Hint: If you’re struggling to find a topic, list three injustices that should be changed.)

Assume that the reader knows very little about topic.  Your job is to guide them along persuasively. While this is an information-oriented, source-based paper, you are inserting your opinion as the paper’s thesis, and then supporting that thesis in your opinion.  

Based upon the genres discussed in the Norton, you will choose one of these and base your paper on that presented style.

Your introduction paragraph and thesis statement is the hook to present your opportunity to sell me (and the rest of your academic audience) your point of view.  Your conclusion should close up your point of view based on your thesis statement and solid evidence presented in the paper.

BANNED TOPICS: Abortion, Legalization of Drugs, Gun Control, and Capital Punishment.  
	These topics are off limits because: 1) they have been talked about excessively and there is no new or interesting information to add to the argument or to create an original perspective, 2) the majority of the population already feels strongly about one position or the other; consequently, there is little open willingness for individuals to change their opinion.

Are there any specifications?
This paper should be three to five pages, typed, and double-spaced in 12 point font with one-inch margins. It is due on Tuesday, November 27th.

Tuesday, October 30th 	Receive Assignment Sheet and Discuss
Thursday, November 1st  	Trip to Waldo Library-Class will meet at Classroom A (first floor)	
Tuesday, November 20th 	Peer Review = Bring 3 copies of your draft/Ask me Questions Regarding Paper	
Tuesday, November 27th 	Paper Due 

Your paper will be evaluated on the following criteria, with roughly equal weight given to each category. The following are possible one-word comment categories (worst to first):

N/A – POOR – FAIR – GOOD – EXCELLENT – PERFECT

1 – Background & Claim
The paper 1) gives any and all background information needed by the essay’s intended audience, and 2) states clearly the author’s argumentative claim in the ‘because’ form discussed in class.
 
2 – Supporting Arguments
The paper presents strong and relevant evidence that supports the author’s claim.  The paper successfully appeals to pathos, logos, and ethos.

3 – Counterarguments
The paper also states and responds appropriately to conflicting viewpoints by either conceding the counterarguments’ validity or by refuting them.

4 – Conclusion
The paper concludes by placing the argument in a larger context, perhaps by summarizing the author’s main points and showing why this issue is an important one or by issuing a call to action.

5 – Style & Accuracy
The piece is written in a style befitting the assignment, in this case not unnecessarily formal, yet not so casual as to include decidedly non-academic discourse.  The words and sentence patterns exhibit a strong working command of the language and show evidence of extensive proofreading.

6 – Revision
This draft shows careful and consistent thinking about the work, incorporation of peer review comments, consideration of strategies discussed in class, and a willingness to combine the three in order to improve both the paper and its author’s command of the written word.

7 – MLA
The paper cites all sources properly in MLA format.