English paper #3

Paper #3: Argumentative Response

One of the supplemental reading for Module 3 is an article by Todd Taylor which originally appeared in Razorcake #74. In this article, Taylor is analyzing and responding to Robert W. McChesney’s book Digital Disconnect. What Taylor does in this article is essentially what you will be doing in your second paper: you will respond to an article or book (chapter) that falls within your general field of inquiry for the semester. Your response will be an analysis, (i.e., an explanation) of that text which also presents an argumentative assessment of that text and the ideas therein.

Your first step to complete this assignment is to find a source to analyze and evaluate it—for yourself, not for submission—according to the source evaluation assignment you did for Module 2. You will then develop a three- to four-page paper in which you engage in an argumentative response to that work. You can develop your response in three possible ways: 1) argue against the ideas presented in that work; or 2) argue in support of the ideas in that work; or 3) assess the chapter and argue against some claims and in support of others. Regardless of the argumentative option that you choose, your paper will ultimately be based on your response to the text, so make sure that you take notes on your response to it. Moreover, the best way to choose your subject matter is to write on the aspects of the text that elicit a strongest responses from you; start with an idea with which you either agree or disagree with wholeheartedly and use that as your starting point.

This paper will be three to four pages in length, and you will be required to use at least one reputable (preferably academic) outside source to support your argument. (This supporting source is in addition to the source which you are analyzing.) You may use more than one outside source in support, but try not to use more than two. Also, this outside source must be effectively and consistently integrated into your argument as support. Don’t simply quote it once in a superficial manner; rather, use the source at several points in your paper to create a more consistently credible argument.

Read the “Paper 3 Strategies” handout for more information on how to develop your paper. The draft of this paper will be due on Monday, March 26, and the finalized version will be due on Thursday, April 5.