Getting a Higher Education with Young Children pt2 - TDMaddox

Proposals are often presented in a context of controversy. Other possible solutions compete with yours and almost every serious proposal easily becomes the target of counter-arguments. The argument you construct on behalf of your proposal will, therefore, be strengthened if it anticipates potential counterarguments, objections, or criticisms and refutes them. This assignment gives you the chance to develop a refutation, parts of which you will incorporate into your final fifth essay.

Create a composite of those arguments against your proposal that you think will be of significant concern to its audience or to the constituency involved. Present that argument and your refutation of it in a four-to-five page paper, following the points below:

Briefly summarize the problem (one page or less).

Present your proposal to solve it (1-2 pages).

Objectively summarize the argument you are going to refute, then point by point or one side at a time, consider each aspect of the opposing argument following the guidelines in 4 and 5.

Weigh this opposing viewpoint against the way you see this issue. Does it misuse facts? Does it leave some questions out? Does it emphasize other issues? Does it ignore the obvious? How is it biased?

Show the weaknesses in the argument’s logic.

Conclude by summing up the weaknesses of the counterargument and reaffirm the strength of your proposed solution.

Use at least three outside research sources to support and clarify your argument. Cite them using the appropriate MLA citation format.

Goals:

After completing this assignment, students will be able to:

Propose a concrete, detailed solution to a carefully-articulated problem.

Articulate the wider “conversation” on this issue, both as it supports and challenges their own position.

Alter their own position as further research may lead them to new conclusions. Refute opposing arguments using analysis, gathered date, and logic.