Argumentive essay
raj10542
InstructionsforBigArgumentativeEssay242019.docxInstructions for Big Department Paper
100pts
I will be asking you to write a college-level argumentative essay. This should relate to current issues and/or social problems. Please put your ideas into an organized analysis. Hence, your paper should be mostly argumentative and not a review or summary script! Naturally, this topic will illustrate how society is affected and how members of society may react differently to the social forces of culture, institutions and structure. Remember, since this is an argumentative paper, you should use the “I think” format and explain what you believe to be true. You are encouraged to limit your sources. Use your textbook, one extra article or source, and only 1 statistical chart/graph (My suggestion is that you utilize the GSS for graphs). The minimum word-count requirement for this paper is 800 words. Do NO REPEAT THE QUESTIONS BELOW IN YOUR ESSAY FOR WORD-WOUNT REASONS!!!
If you get stuck, try to address some of the questions:
1)What are some of the arguments (pro vs con) made about your topic. 2)Do you agree or disagree with some of the standard arguments Yes or No? Why?
3)Why do you think so many Americans are ideologically split on this issue (If this is the case)? How is it part of or related to the broader Culture War (if you think it is)?
4) Try to look at this debate through a sociological lens. Apply any of the sociological perspectives (Functionalist, Social-Conflict, Symbolic, Feminist) while analyzing this specific debate. What do you think society should do about this issue?
Important: Please cut and paste pie charts/graph directly into your essay.
Write a minimum 200-word interpretation of a visual artifact (pie Charts) related to paper content (charts/graphs are in link above.) Use the charts in the link that best helps to support your argument/perspective. State whether you are analyzing a pie chart, line graph or both, describe the color, do the colors represent certain data. Meaning, tell me what the pie charts/graph are telling you. What are the numbers telling you? (Discuss all the numbers/percentages within pie charts. I will take off 10 points if you do not discuss every set of numbers you use! How do the percentages in the chart/graph support your argument? What are the implications- (What conclusions can be drawn from these statistics/percentages?)
(For help on this go to tutorial on using GSS data below!)
Second, you must also apply one Sociological theory (see list below) in your paper to defend your argument (Conflict/Critical, Functionalism, Symbolic Interactionism, Feminist theory). Failure to include one perspective will translate into point deductions.
Theories
Functional Approach: sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
Social-Conflict/Critical Approach: sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.
Symbolic Interaction Approach: sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals.
Feminist Approach: the study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between women and men.
Macionis, J. (2013). Society, The Basics. Upper saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
Also, to dig further: Hunter, James D. 1991. Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America
GRADING RUBRIC FOR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
As= All of the basic paper requirements should have been completed, including the 800 words minimum requirement. For example, if you failed to make the minimum word count or if you name your paper "Argumentative Paper" you will not receive 100 points. The paper should present an argumentative and critical analysis of your topic.. The student also submits a minimum 200 word interpretation of a statistical chart/graph related to the topic. The student applies one major sociological theory to the argumentative paper. The student makes use of the textbook and one or more charts. A reference sheet is also included at the end.
Bs=The paper is somewhat similar to a 100 point paper, but the writing style is not as convincing or logical. Even if the paper is 800 words long, not enough argumentation or explanation was. A number of point deductions were made because of key writing mistakes. The student includes a minimum 200 word interpretation of a statistical chart/graph related to the topic. The student only partially applies one major sociological theory to the argumentative paper. The student makes use of the textbook and one or more charts. A badly written reference sheet is also included at the end.
Cs= The paper has a tendency to summarize or paraphrase irrelevant sociological terms rather than focusing on a specific social issue or problem.The paper does not make the minimum word requirement. Many of the statements made by the student are not convincing or logically developed. It does not appear that the author ran a spell-check. The student did not submit any statistics or graphs with the essay. The student does not submit a 200 word interpretation of a statistical chart/graph related to the topic. The student does not apply any major sociological theory to the argumentative paper. The student does not make use of the textbook and one or more charts. A reference sheet is not included.
Ds=.Limited attention is given to the topic. The paper does not convince the reader that the author really understands the purpose of the assignment nor wrote an argumentative paper. There is a strong reliance on internet sources. The paper does not make the minimum 800-word count. The paper has far too many spelling and grammar mistakes than a regular C essay. The paper does not appear to be original work or sounds passive. The student did not submit any statistics or graphs with the essay. The student does not submit a 200 word interpretation of a statistical chart/graph. The student does not apply any major sociological theory to the argumentative paper. The student does not make use of the textbook and one or more charts. A reference sheet is not included.
Fs=Papers will fail if they do not meet most of the formal criteria. No attention is given to the assigned topic. The paper does not make the minimum word count. The paper does not convince the reader that the author really understands the purpose of the assignment nor wrote an argumentative paper. There is a strong reliance on internet sources and signs of plagiarism. The paper does not make the minimum 800-word count. The paper has far too many spelling and grammar mistakes than a regular D essay. The paper does not appear to be original work or sounds passive. The student did not submit any statistics or graphs with the essay. The student does not submit a 200 word interpretation of a visual artifact/graph related to the topic.. The student does not apply any major sociological theory to the argumentative paper. The student does not make use of the textbook and one or more charts. A reference sheet is not included.
GETTING DATA FOR YOUR ESSAY
If you need random data for your argumentative essay go back to this tutorial below for using the General Social Survey…
This assignment will show you how to use and interpret data and statistics. Since, your major argumentative paper (100pts) requires the use of statistics and 1 or more graphs, you will need to become acquainted with legitimate data sources and also how to interpret it. (IMPORTANT: You are encouraged and permitted to re-use write-up portions of this assignment for your argumentative essay or big social problems paper!!!!)
So, let’s explore some data! I have looked for user-friendly websites and believe that the General Social Survey is as by far the friendliest and user friendly.
First, you will need to go here:
http://gss.norc.org/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Second, click on “ GSS Data explorer” on the very top. Next, click on “ Key trends” at the very top.
You will now see the following themes displayed “Gender &Marriage,” “Current Affairs,” “Civil Liberties” etc.
I will let you decide which social problems issue you want to examine in your argumentative paper. They only condition is that there you should be data on it unless you plan to make your own data via a survey or interview. For my example, I will look at attitudes towards police striking citizens
I click on the “Civil liberties” link first. The auto survey question related to the “death penalty” will now show first. I’m not using this one so I click on the up-side down small green pyramid icon and a long list of other survey questions will appear.
My survey question is: “Approve of policeman striking male citizen.”
Notice the full graph and also the two top areas called “Question Response” and
“Breakdown.”
I will let you decide if you want to focus on those that said “Yes” or “No” in the survey question. I will look at both and see if there is something relevant for sociology here.
The break-down function lets you pick 12 different “breakdown” areas like Age, Race, Sex, and Political Affiliation etc.
In your write-up, I will ask you to do the following:
First, inform the reader what data source you are using, what the specific survey question was used, what specific years you are looking (or what years the survey was available from) at and why. The original survey question is often listed at the bottom of the page. Mine is “Are there any situations you can imagine in which you would approve of a policeman striking an adult male citizen? Again, this should be detailed and give the reader some background why you think this is a good data source to demonstrate how attitudes on this important issue will likely vary and continues to vary when other factors like Age, Sex, Politics are included. Normally, this is also called the “Methods or Data Section” in standard sociology articles.
Next, do not yet look at specific “breakdown” features like Age, Sex, or Political Affiliation. Look at the whole map ( total function) and try to interpret the graph if there is a decline, increases in specific years data was taken etc. The years that you can analyze data from is from 1970 -2015.You can move the cursor over the years and it will show you details for every year. You can chew and interpret on this total year data if you want or you think it is worth to mention
Next, pick 3 “breakdown” features you plan to analyze. I suggest doing one at a time and writing a little for each. There is a way to take a screen shot pressing the “Print Screen” button on your key-board and then copy-pasting this into the Microsoft Art editor program which lets you edit the graph before you copy-paste it into Microsoft Word (I have not yet figured out how to use the right-click mouse function to just copy the whole table from the website). In total, you should only have 4 graphs. Do a write up on every graph and discuss the numbers in each graph.
