2100 word paper
2000 word paper total
Project
1.
Your assignment is to propose a solution to the issue you have identified in the last project, and then develop a policy argument about an issue that you find to be most important/relevant to your own life. In order to accomplish this feat, you must determine a solution that you will argue would fix/alleviate the issue in a unique manner (something that has not yet been tried). Then, your job is to consider a proper organizational pattern like the following, which is based on the example from page 295 of your text books:
· Introduction
. What is the problem?
. Past/Current Efforts to Fix the Problem
. Benefits of Correcting the Issue
. Thesis Statement
· Cause/Effect related to your issue (based on previous project)
. Explanation as to the causes that led up to the current problem <or> explanation as to the effects (actual and potential) resulting from the current problem
· Recommendations (necessary steps to achieve a solution)
. What is the solution?
. How can it be achieved?
. Potential obstacles and ways to overcome them
. What exactly solution will fix, and why it will work
· Counterarguments
. Opposition’s reasons for disagreeing with your solution
. Weaken each reason
· Conclusion
. Summary of whole argument
. Looking ahead to the future (potential issues arising from solution, who benefits and how the world will change
1.
Background Information:
Claims of policy are arguments that urge action. Typically, a claim of policy ends up as a relatively straightforward proposition — “X should be done”, but a lot of different paths might need to be taken to reach that kind of conclusion.
A basic policy claim is an argument that something should or should not be done. For example, arguing that marijuana should be legalized or that a friend should try a new food are both claims of policy. Because policy claims argue for an action, they imply a value claim — that taking the recommended action is better than not taking it. This, in turn, means that claims of fact and definition become involved.
Consequently, policy claims are some of the most complex arguments that exist. Many academic policy arguments put forward a specific problem, and they then solve that problem with a course of action (i.e. you should do X because it makes Y better). Such arguments have an additional level of complexity, because they require that writers prove that the solution actually works.
Because policy arguments actually ask people to act in the real world, they frequently depend upon whether or not things ‘work’ in the same way that the author claims. In other words, they must make use of logos in order to demonstrate that they have validity.
College students frequently write policy arguments. Typically, a policy argument at the college level involves grappling with a single issue or justifying a single course of action. This argument must then be placed into a meaningful context. The student has to argue that the relative merits of the policy outweigh the relative costs. It might be possible to reduce the problem of shoplifting rather dramatically, for example, if all shoplifters are simply executed. Are the merits of this approach worth the costs? The answer will vary from reader to reader, and a student’s essay on the subject would have to consider how readers will weigh the implications of such a policy.
Finally, policy arguments need to identify who has the power to take meaningful action in a situation. They must then make an argument that suggests why those with the power should, in fact, take the action.
What to avoid
One of the biggest reasons policy arguments fall apart is that they fail to distinguish between doing something and doing something that matters. Students should avoid thinking that all solutions are created equal. Sometimes, a supposed solution actually just makes things worse (e.g. the fabled ‘I’ll help you deal with your stubbed toe by hitting you with a hammer – chances are you aren’t worried about the toe anymore, even if nothing is improved).
Another reason that policy arguments fall apart is that they fail to identify an entity (an agent) that could take the desired action. A simple, personal argument (eat less and exercise) at least attempts to convince individual readers to take action. However, an argument about lowering tuition or gas prices has no clear person or group who is supposed to do the lowering.
Counter Argument Paragraph Example
Some people will argue that many parents do, in fact, discuss sex with their children and therefore a class in school is unnecessary. However, parents will probably not be able to cover all of the material covered in a school course due to lack of proper education on various topics. Parents may also find it extremely uncomfortable discussing these matters with their children. Dr. Johnson (2016), a sociology professor at Stanford University, reminds his audience about the perils of leaving children to figure out answers to sex-questions on their own: “schools have long, thorough hiring practices that allow them to hire only the most qualified people to teach children, which is vital for children’s sexual development” (p. 246). Teachers are qualified and capable of answering many questions that parents may not be able to, nor want to, and therefore kids have an excellent resource at their disposal when in school. While parents are important and should be involved in discussions with their kids about sex, schools can play an important role as well.
Conclusion Writing
Start by restating the thesis statement (just like you did in the introduction – thesis root + reasons), but say it in a unique way. Consider maybe writing all of the points being made concisely instead of listing them all out.
In the first half of the paragraph, connect the Reasons to each other:
· How does the Reason’s arguments help support the other Reasons?
In the second half, explain how exactly each Reason’s argument contributes to proving/arguing that the Thesis is true:
· How does each Reason support the Thesis?
· What is the logic behind these three Reasons proving that the Thesis is true?
· How do the Reasons connect to the Thesis?
Finally, talk about the future:
· If your argument is accepted, how does that fix or change the issue overall?
· Will this issue lead to new problems that will have to be solved?
· What is the effect on the people/community directly affected by your argument?
Remember also that if you used an example or scenario in the introduction (background paragraph), the conclusion is a perfect place to discuss the conclusion of that specific situation. This helps bring the whole essay full circle.
Introduction:
o What is the problem?
o Past/Current Efforts to Fix the Problem
o Benefits of Correcting the Issue
o Thesis Statement
Cause/Effect Relationship
o Cause/Effect 1
Evidence
Evidence
o Cause/Effect 2
Evidence
Evidence
o Cause/Effect 3
Evidence
Evidence
o Cause/Effect 4
Evidence
Evidence
o Cause/Effect 5
Evidence
Evidence
Recommendation
o Agents:
Ability to carry this out:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Power/Authority:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Agents’ stake:
Evidence:
Evidence:
o How does it work?
Step of Implementation
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Timetable
Maintaining in the Future
o Why will it work?
Reason (Support) 1:
Warrant 1:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Warrant 2:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Warrant 3:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Reason (Support) 2:
Warrant 1:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Warrant 2:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Warrant 3:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Reason (Support) 3:
Warrant 1:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Warrant 2:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Warrant 3:
o Evidence:
o Evidence:
Counter Arguments
o Summary of the reason that the opposition would still disagree with the argument
Rebuttal
Evidence
Explanation
Concluding Statement
o Summary of the reason that the opposition would still disagree with the argument
Rebuttal
Evidence
Explanation
Concluding Statement
o Summary of the reason that the opposition would still disagree with the argument
Rebuttal
Evidence
Explanation
Concluding Statement
Conclusion
o Summary of whole argument
o Potential issues arising from solution
o Who benefits
o How the world will change
o Looking ahead to the future
specifically, you will be graded on the following: