English guide for english assignment

Read the directions for the research argument essay. Using the topic you have chosen from the Gale in Context Opposing Viewpoints database, use one of the two outline templates provided in the previous lesson "Orgarizing Your Argument Essay" to create your own outline for your research argument essay. You may either use the format of the first outline and present all of your reasons in separate body paragraphs followed by one counterargument paragraph, or you may use the format of the second outline and present each reason in a paragraph and immediately address its counterargument in a paragraph before presenting the next reason in the following paragraph. Completing this outline is an important part of the drafting process because you will then be able to use your outline to help focus and organize the rough draft of your research argument essay.

Assignment Description

For this essay, you should choose a topic from the Gale in Context Opposing Viewpoints database to write a 1000-word essay that argues a clearly defined position about that topic. The research argument essay requires you to apply the concepts covered in Units 1-5 as you demonstrate the relevance of your topic and present your claim. The essay should have an introduction with a clear underlined thesis statement, several fully developed body paragraphs that each support the thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes the argument.

In other courses, especially if you transfer to a university and take upper-level coursework, you will be asked to demonstrate your ability to converse with other scholars in your field. Your job in this essay is to try to change the reader's mind about your topic by persuading the reader to believe your argument. You must synthesize various sources while persuading the reader to accept your viewpoint. You do not want to simply report what others are saying; you want to engage in a dialogue with those other sources. However, your paper must be written so that it is accessible to readers who would approach it from an alternative perspective. In other words, be fair and unbiased when acknowledging what others might think about your topic, but then

prove why they are wrong using logical reasons and credible evidence.

Due Dates

The rough draft is due Sunday, April 30. Your peer reviews are due by Thursday, May 4. The final draft is due by Sunday, May 7.

Purpose and Learning Objectives

The purpose of writing a research argument essay is to practice persuasive writing and the synthesis of sources. You will increase your critical thinking skills by analyzing your assumptions and the assumptions of others, by evaluating multiple perspectives, and by developing a clear position. Writing, research, and eloquence are all vital skills for a successful future, and you will express all of these skills in this assignment. In addition. this essay will be used as the English department assessment for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)'S mandated core curriculum assessment of Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) because this essay addresses the THECB SLO objectives of critical thinking and written communication.

Your research paper should demonstrate the following learning objectives:

• awareness of the purpose of your argument

· ability to enter into a scholarly conversation

· awareness of the audience to whom you are speaking

· ability to write a qualified and narrow argumentative thesis statement

· ability to research and identify academic sources

· ability to svnthesize information from various sources

· ability to summarize, paraphrase, and quote while citing correctly in MLA to avoid plagiarism

· ability to converse in standard, academic English

Minimum Requirements

• 1000 words.

• an interestina and informative title

· MLA format with in-text citations and a Works Cited page

· an introductory paragraph that articulates your position in an underlined thesis statement that states what you will be arguing in your essay

· three or more body paragraphs that discuss logical and clear reasons supporting your argument

· either one counterargument body paragraph following the three body paragraphs addressing opposing arguments for each of the reasons supporting your argument OR several counterargument paragraphs, one for each of the reasons supporting your argument (depending on which organizational pattern you choose)

· a conclusion paragraph that summarizes and emphasizes main ideas from the essay.

· at least five sources cited within the essay using MLA format (At least one source must be a book, and at least two sources must be peer-reviewed journal articles. The other two sources can be rellable wed sources or interviews or whatever works best for your particular topic. However, you must consider the reliability of your source and do not use sources such as Wikipedia.)

· NOTE: At least one of your sources must disagree with your argument and be used to create a counterargument. A counterargument occurs when you show what the opposing side believes and then show what is wrong with that belief. For instance, if I were arguing that public schools should require children to be vaccinated unless a documented medical reason prohibits vaccination, then I might cite a source that argues that vaccinations are dangerous. I would provide one or two of the reasons the source gives for believing vaccines are dangerous and then show why those reasons are not true as I prove my point about the importance for vaccines.

· successful integration of the sources with no "quote plops" (Introduce your quotations, explain how they are connected to your thoughts, and respond to the expert.)

· IMPORTANT: Every source must have an in-text citation with a quotation, paraphrase or summary within the essay, and every source must be listed on the Works Cited page also.

You should not expect to earn a passing grade on this assignment if you do not meet each of these minimum requirements.

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Process of Completion

1. The first step in writing a research argument essay is to choose your topic from the Gale in Context Opposing Viewpoints database. Choose a topic that you find engaging, have a stance on and will be able to argue about in writing. Some topics may be important or interesting to you but may be difficult to support in an argument essay.

2. Once you have found a topic, determine how to narrow it to focus your argument.

a. For instance, if you were writing about obesity, you might need to find a slant that creates a more interesting argument than stating "obesity is a problem." (Of course obesity is a problem; everyone already knows it's a problem!). Narrowing it to say "to avoid obesity, Americans should exercise more helps a little but not enough. (Of course Americans should exercise more to avoid obesity; everyone already knows that as well!). Perhaps you could narrow the topic further to say that "schools in Texas need to ban unhealthy foods from the lunch menu and eliminate vending machines with unhealthy snacks and sodas to help teens avoid obesity." Now you would be getting somewhere. This sentence establishes a more focused and nuanced argument than the previous two sentences on obesity. To create even more focus, you might question who is responsible for the obesity in the first place. Is it the schools, the students, corporations, cultural norms, the government, or some other entity? What can we do to change the culture in the United States so that obesity is not so prevalent? The more focused and nuanced the topic, the better the paper will be. Starting with your chosen topic or a topic from the list below, try to find a focus for your essay.

3. After narrowing your topic, you should make a list of everything you know about the topic and everything you want to know about your topic. This list will help guide your research

4. Now you are ready to start researching. Be sure to only include reliable sources in your research and to take careful notes to avoid accidentally plagiarizing your sources later. As you research, remember that plagiarism is still considered a serious offense even if you just forget to cite a source by mistake. Always keep notes of where you get information and be prepared to cite the information correctly.

5. Be sure to allow several days to draft your essay. You want to be sure you do not forget any of the wonderful arguments you developed during the invention and research phases

6. Always allow yourself a couple of days to rel/ise an essay. You will get comments during the peer review, and you should consider those comments carefully. You should also take time to have distance from your essay so that you can look at it with fresh eyes.

7. Finally, be sure to edit your essay for mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and proofr As eading.

Potential Topics

Here are a few interesting topics from the database if you do not have something in mind already:

· Affirmative Action

· America's Global Influence

· E-Waste

· For-Profit Prisons

· Military Families

· Organic Food

· Pharmaceutical Industry

· Public Transportation

Here is the example of outline :

Argument Essay Outlines

Option 1: Reasons Followed By Counterarguments

I. Introduction

Necessary Background

Thesis

II. First Reason

Topic Sentence

Evidence & Explanation

Wrap-up / connect to the thesis

III. Second Reason (same as above)

IV. Continue with more reasons

V. Refute Counterarguments (Counterargument paragraphs can go anywhere, but they often go toward the end)

VI. Conclusion

Might include a call to action Or a statement of the implications

Option 2: Reason with Counterarguments

I. Introduction

Necessary Background

Thesis

II. First Reason

Topic Sentence

Evidence

Wrap-up

III. Refute counterarguments (if necessary)

IV. Second reason (same as II.)

V. Refute counterarguments (if necessary)

VI. Continue with this pattern

VII. Conclusion

Might include a call to action Or a statement of implications