argument paper

ENGL 1302 Project #3: Arguing a Position on a Social Issue

Description

For this assignment you will argue a position on a social issue in an essay of 3-4 pages. After receiving approval of your proposed topic and feedback on the sources in your annotated bibliography, you will synthesize your ideas into a paper that persuades a reader to believe your position. Your paper should include an explicit position (thesis statement), an indication of why the topic matters, appropriate background information, supporting evidence, refutation of a counterargument, and appropriate rhetorical techniques. Your paper should also include parenthetical citations and a reference page that lists the sources that you used in your paper. Use both Everyone’s an Author, and the OWL at Purdue as resources for crafting an excellent paper and using APA style. (No abstract required.)

Learning Objectives

Develop critical thinking skills through intellectual exploration and research procedures Develop and communicate ideas, support conclusions, and attribute credit to sources Demonstrate knowledge of individual writing processes Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose using Edited American English

Prompt

Defend a position on a social issue by using appropriate rhetorical techniques and research from credible sources. Your essay should include at least one refutation of a counterargument.

Procedure Complete a proposal and annotated bibliography in order to get topic approval. Review APA style and formatting. Reread your sources (minimum of 4) and consider how you will use them in your paper. Create a detailed outline of your paper, including a thesis, topic sentences, and evidence. Draft your paper using clear paragraph organization featuring cited evidence in the

form of summary, paraphrase, and direct quotations. Revise your draft for organization, sentence structure, transitions, and tone. Edit your draft. Check that you introduced sources when appropriate and cited them

correctly using parenthetical citations. Proofread your paper and use the Student Success Center resources.

Requirements and Rubric

Pts Requirements Comments Pts. 10 pts. Persuasive Argument

and Tone

Use of rhetorical techniques Effective word choice, parallel structure Compelling language, avoids fallacies

10 pts. Refutation of Counterargument

Clear, logical presentation of counterargument Clear, logical refutation of counterargument

20 pts. Clear organization All ideas are clearly linked to a clear position; Thesis statement, topic sentences, transitions

20 pts. APA formatting Margins, TNR 12, DS Cover page – title, name, date, spacing, spelling, font Page 1 Title - caps, center, font Running head: TITLE; page number Page 2 Header – TITLE Paragraphs – indentions, spacing

20 pts. Use of sources Valid sources that support point Seamless integration of evidence Parenthetical citations with page numbers, correctly punctuated

20 pts.

*APA Reference Page

Sources correctly cited with all required information Title, Hanging indent, Alphabetical order *a paper submitted without a reference page will receive an ‘F’

Up to 30 pt. deduction

Well-written (less than 5 errors)

Academic tone – avoids ‘you’ and personal pronouns, avoids contractions Sentence structure –frag. / run-on Comma usage / Punctuation / Spelling

Up to 30 pt. deduction

Length / Development

3-4 pages DS

TOTAL