p2

English 1302 Project 2: Comparing & Contrasting as Argument 100 points/3 pp ds, 3 sources +1original image ©2016 Stacia Campbell, Ph.D.

Relevant Reading: Chapter 6 of Argument Today textbook

ASSIGNMENT:

Using your chapter readings, class discussion, and

instructor’s guidance, WRITE A COMPARE CONTRAST

ARGUMENT of at least three pages double-spaced

MINIMUM (not counting header, blank lines, or title lines,

but actual original text written by you!)

SPECIFICATIONS:

Your COMPARE CONTRAST PAPER MUST BE well organized to manage the

similarities, differences, and concluding judgment of your two subjects. You must

create powerful and logical STRUCTURE and SEQUENCE OF POINTS to sort out

differences and “help people better understand where others are coming from”

(Johnson and Sheehan 119). WE WILL BE USING THE “SIMILARITIES-AND-

DIFFERENCES” STRUCTURE OUTLINED ON PAGE 108 (not the point-by-point

model).

In this compare/contrast paper, it’s OK to have a BIASED VIEW; in fact, you MUST

have a bias – a PREFERENCE for one over the other—that will inform your

ARGUMENT for why one is better than the other even though they show

similarities.

CHOOSE A TOPIC FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOMAINS:

2 social media interfaces

2 movies or 2 video games

2 levels of schooling (high school vs. college)

2 types of outdoor adventures

2 restaurants offering similar menus

2 course formats (face-to-face vs. online)

2 exercise practices (pilates vs. yoga)

2 musical instruments (in terms of lifelong enjoyment)

2 smartphone platforms

Two novels for teens 2 parenting styles used with teens and/or young adults

2 music bands labeled in the same genre

HELP FROM OUR TEXTBOOK!:

 Revisit the “Quick View” on Page 108 of your textbook, noting that “some persuasion is needed in comparisons, especially if you are arguing that one of your subjects is superior in some way to others. You will need to support your claims about your subjects’ strengths and weaknesses” (Johnson and Sheehan 108).

 Use the Venn Diagram on Page 110 to think through your own topic and to IDENTIFY COMMON AREAS in a visual way! DRAW a Venn diagram of your own. Take a photo of it and insert that image into your paper (or create one using an online drawing tool!)

 Use the good advice on Page 111 to find a “GOOD ANGLE” for comparing your subjects in a “unique and interesting way.” (See the comparison of McDonald’s and Five Guys for the “college relevance” angle, or the “impact on the environment” or “what if my friend doesn’t eat meat?” angle!) ALSO ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT FRAMES ARE TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH SUBJECT?” (If you can’t remember what “frames” are—go back to Chapter 2, Page 26)

 CREATE A QUESTION that will focus your argument! (for example, which Smartphone is better for college students having to create, save, and access files?) (Remember, you can use this question and your Venn diagram in the paper!)

 REVIEW PAGE 117 for “Ten Things You Need to Know” about comparing!

 Don’t forget to READ THE STUDENT SAMPLES on PAGES 119-122 AND 123-126. You will find these helpful as you are creating your own topic for P2!

Brainstorming Question:

WHAT INTERESTING

COMPARISON/CONTRAST COULD I

MAKE OF TWO SUBJECTS THAT

WOULD persuade readers to agree

with my biased argument that one is

better/worse than the other?

RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS (THERE ARE THREE THIS TIME):

1) Find, Use, Place, and Cite AT LEAST TWO IMAGES that you find online (and

are related to your subject). Use graphic design to place them where they

are intentional on your part and meaningful for the reader.

2) Place your own Venn Diagram as an image inside the paper (at a location of

your choice).

3) Incorporate AT LEAST ONE DIRECT TEXT QUOTE AND ONE CITED

PARAPHRASE from a published source (could be a review, a usability study,

a page from Consumer Reports magazine, a specification list from the Best

Buy website, etc.)

Don’t forget that you will need to create a CORRECTLY FORMATTED WORKS CITED PAGE

with at least 3 entries this time (2 images and one text source)! (Visit Pages 396-397 and

405 in our Argument Today textbook if you are having trouble remembering how to do a

Works Cited page from English 1301! You are accountable for this skill being already

developed when you begin English 1302; see a tutor if you need a review!)

Reminder: Your Works Cited page is a SEPARATE double-spaced LAST PAGE with a centered

header “Works Cited” (always!) and DOES NOT COUNT toward length!

GRADING CRITERIA:

1) ORGANIZED essay that shows logical structure of a “similarities and differences”

compare/contrast essay.

2) A THESIS STATEMENT clearly revealing the one subject that is judged to be better/worse

than the other

3) An ANGLE that reveals the writer’s specific approach to the argument (see question-

writing prewriting technique in this assignment sheet)

4) Minimum length met and minimum research requirements met

5) Incorporation of writing strategies that build coherence, including practical reasoning,

evidence as support for claims, transitions (spatial, temporal, logical, as needed),

interesting title, etc.

6) An introduction and conclusion that PROVIDE AND REINFORCE the ARGUMENT for

which subject is better/worse than the other.

7) College-level sentence structures that are free of serious grammar errors such as run-

ons and comma splices, and reveal attempts at style and sophistication (intentional

syntax, parallel structures, evocative word choice, etc.)

8) Correctly formatted Works Cited page with at least two entries per assignment

specifications