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Argumentative Position Paper (Essay 4)

This project is the culminating writing and research project of the semester, building on the skills you have developed throughout the semester. In a sense, many restrictions are gone: you must define the current issue you write about, you must define the audience you are writing to, and you must determine-to a larger extent- how to best organize and present information. You should draw on the rhetorical concepts we discussed early in the semester (logos, pathos, ethos, kairos, doxa) to consider how to most effectively craft this essay.

A proposal presents a problem and a solution or solutions to that problem. For this essay, the problem must be related to a current issue of your choice; you may choose a topic from one of the class case studies or a different topic of your own. It must, however, have been relevant in the last six months. Drawing on the sources you presented in your annotated bibliography- and substituting other sources as necessary- you will persuade your audience that a problem exists and that your solutions(s) is best, at least for the time being.

The following process may be useful as you create your proposal:

· Choose an issue to research. Make sure it is timely (relevant within the last six months) and something you care about, since you will spend a lot of time working with this topic. This can be from the class case studies or be entirely different. Try to make the issue as specific as possible. For instance, instead of “refugee camps,” narrow this down to something like: “impact of U.S. medical aid in refugee camps.” This is much more specific and manageable.

· Brainstorm a list of questions you have about the topic, problems you see others defining or that you identify yourself, and possible solutions to this problem.

· Explore the topic via research in your annotated bibliography.

· Define your audience- who would be interested in this issue and why? How much new information will you be offering them? Are they likely to already agree or disagree with your perspective on the topic?

· Return to your list and define a specific problem(s) you want to persuade readers exists and a specific solution(s) you have developed to address this problem(s).

· Create an outline of your essay to map out how you will organize the information.

Paper layout-

In the introduction:

· State the issue(s) or problem(s) and grab the reader’s attention

· Argue for the seriousness of the problem(s)

· State the thesis in the form of “Somebody needs to do/not do something because . . .”

(This is a formula; you must add information to this framework to create your thesis statement.)

In the body:

· Give the problem’s background if your audience is unfamiliar with it

· Define what the problem is, presenting evidence to prove that it is a problem and countering evidence from those whose viewpoints differ from yours

· Describe how this problem, if left unhandled, could affect the future.

· Present your solution(s) and discuss why other solutions aren’t as feasible (can also reverse this order, discussing other solutions first and then yours)

· Make clear the goals of your solution(s), describe the steps that need to be followed to implement your solution(s), and describe how the solution(s) will address the problem

· Explain the positive results of implementing this solution(s)

In the conclusion:

· Issue a call to action for your audience

· Restate and emphasize exactly what readers need to do to solve the problem(s)

Double-check that all uses of sources are documented with in-text citations. Construct a Works Cited page. Use only third person for this essay; this means no “I.” Use active voice unless making a time specific statement about the past.

Due Dates:

-During the week of April 22nd-26th, 2019 we will not be meeting as a class. Instead, we will be having conferences. I will meet with each of you individually in my office in order to discuss your final paper. Later in the semester, you will sign up for a time to meet with me for 15 minutes in my office on one of these days. During this time, you will have the opportunity to get help from me with your essay 4 draft. If you have other questions, you may ask me then also. This time is reserved for you to get individual help from me on your essay especially, so please use this time wisely and come prepared.

-Complete draft due on May 6, 2019.

· Submit an electronic copy to the D2L Discussion Board labeled “Essay 4 Draft.”

-Final draft due on May 8, 2019.

· Submit an electronic copy to the D2L Dropbox labeled “Essay 4 Final Draft” AND bring one hardcopy of the essay to class for your instructor.

The goals of this assignment are for you to:

· Choose an appropriate research topic in terms of specificity and currency

· Write a sustained, coherent, logical argument

· Choose and utilize research that both supports and contends with your argument

· Integrate research in a thoughtful and persuasive manner

· Use citation skills when integrating research

Specifications:

· Write an essay of 2,400-3,000 words (excluding the works cited page and header information)

· Integrate a minimum of eight scholarly secondary sources into your paper in some way, be that paraphrase, summary, or quotation.

· Construct a Works Cited page (not counted towards word count)

· Write an introduction that states the issue/problem, argues for its seriousness, and presents a thesis in the correct format (see above)

· Write a body that argues that something is a problem, explains how (if allowed to continue) the problem could effect the future, and presents solution(s) to the problem

· Write a conclusion that issues a call to action and reminds readers what needs to be done to solve a problem

Reminder:

As always, I am here to help. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Name:

ENG 132 Argumentative Position Paper

	A	B	C	D	F
Purpose and Thesis	Demonstrates considerable attention to purpose; develops a clear, precise, well-defined thesis that is amply explained and supported	Demonstrates adequate attention to purpose; develops a clear thesis that is consistently explained and supported	Demonstrates some attention to purpose; develops a general thesis that is unevenly explained and supported	Demonstrates inadequate attention to purpose; develops a vague thesis that is inadequately explained and supported	Demonstrates no attention to purpose; does not develop a thesis and/or develops a thesis without explanation and/or support
Source Use	Always chooses credible sources; shows considerable awareness of context; always embeds sources; always produces correct citations	Mostly chooses credible sources; shows adequate awareness of context; usually embeds sources; often produces correct citations	Sometimes chooses credible sources; shows some awareness of context; sometimes embeds sources; sometimes produces correct citations	Rarely chooses credible sources; shows inadequate awareness of context; rarely embeds sources; rarely produces correct citations	Never chooses credible sources; shows little or no awareness of context; never embeds sources; fails to produce correct citations
Argument Development	Employs appropriate, clear, and skillful transitions between amply developed, coherent paragraphs; designs a logical progression of ideas; generates strong connections between and among ideas	Employs clear transitions between consistently developed, coherent paragraphs; designs an adequate progression of ideas; generates adequate connections between and among ideas	Employs some awkward transitions between brief, weakly unified, or undeveloped paragraphs; designs an uneven progression of ideas; generates inconsistent or unclear connections between and among ideas	Employs awkward transitions between illogical paragraphs; little design of idea progression; generates few connections between and among ideas	Employs illogical and/or fails to employ transitions between paragraphs that lack structure, if structure is present at all; no design of idea progression and/or off-topic digressions; generates no connections between and among ideas
Language	Always uses language appropriate to the audience; always appropriate tone and level of formality	Often uses language appropriate to the audience; usually appropriate tone and level of formality	Sometimes uses language appropriate to the audience; sometimes appropriate tone and level of formality	Often uses language inappropriate to the audience; usually inappropriate tone and level of formality	Uses language completely inappropriate to the audience; almost always inappropriate tone and level of formality
Grammar and Mechanics	Produces no or few errors	Produces a few minor errors	Produces more than a few grammatical errors	Produces some major grammatical errors and numerous minor errors that obscure meaning	Produces errors in almost every sentence that impede meaning
Comments

GRADE:

· Failure to meet the minimum word count and/or to utilize at least eight credible, quality scholarly secondary sources that were published no earlier than 2012 (unless previously approved) for the Argumentative Position Paper will mean that the essay cannot receive higher than a D on the assignment. If further errors are found, the grade will be lowered from this point.

· If a student’s assignment submission contains plagiarized material, the student will meet with me, and I will determine the outcome, which typically involve penalties from an un-revisable zero on the assignment to an “F” for the course. In addition, an Academic Dishonesty Form will be filed. If you have questions about what constitutes as plagiarism, or fear you may have not properly cited something, please talk to me immediately before submitting the assignment.