Writing Your Argumentation Paper

 

Role:               You are a New York Times journalist

Audience:       New York Times Subscriber and a reader who is on the fence as far as voting in the 2008 election

Format:           An article

Task:              The New York Times has endorsed your candidate of choice for the 2008 election. Your editor wants you to write an article that will convince the readership to vote for your candidate. How will you convince them to support this person?

 

Although you are writing an article for the New York Times, you are still writing an argumentation paper. An argumentation paper is your chance to argue your position on the next election. The goal of this paper is to prove that your point of view is worth listening to and it has merit. It is imperative that you address the alternate choice in the 2008 election and that your ideas are understandable.

 

Your position paper must do the following:

 

1.                  Use evidence to support your position. You can use statistical evidence, evidence from your readings and events from history.

2.                  Look at the strengths and weaknesses of your candidate and address them individually.

 

Structure for your paper:

 

Introduction:

-         GRAB YOUR READER’S ATTENTION. You can do this by seizing the reader’s imagination. Ask a thought provoking question or give a startling statistic. Create a vivid picture in the mind of your readers.

-         Supply background information that readers need to understand before voting.

-         State your position without saying “I”.

 

Argument:

-         Assert your first claim

-         Give supporting details from text, prior knowledge, or events from history. Make sure your evidence is clear and believable. In other words, you want a logical and ethical appeal.

 

Next Argument:

-         Assert your second claim

-         Give supporting details from text, prior knowledge, or events from history. Make sure your evidence is clear and believable. In other words, you want a logical and ethical appeal.

 

 

 

 

Your Counter Argument:

-         Examine the alternative candidate

-         Examine the merits of his candidacy according to media and supporters

-         Refute those merits with one final rebuttal

-         Give evidence for your position

 

Conclusion:

-         Summarize your argument

-         Make clear what you want your readers to do

-         Make a strong ethical or emotional appeal

 

 

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU CANNOT USE “I” IN THIS PAPER!!!!!!!!!