ENC 1102 ARGUMENT ESSAY

Assignment:  Your assignment is to write, revise, and edit an academic argument essay in which you will utilize at least two of the following argument approaches: Rogerian, Proposal, Ethical, Causal, or Definition.  You will develop a research question and conduct scholarly research, utilizing five to seven credible database or book sources published within the last six years. This is a formal research paper.  You will be writing three drafts of this paper, so choose a topic you are interested in and want to learn more about.

Steps for developing, researching, and writing your argument:

· Decide on a general topic, then narrow it to a specific topic. For example, legalizing marijuana is a general topic.  Legalizing CBD (cannabidiol) in food and drinks is a specific topic. This is still a topic, though, not an argument. An argument will make a claim about the issue and discuss/support it in detail. 

· Write a 1-2 page (1 complete page minimum) freewrite on the topic in your Comp Notebook. What do you already know about this topic? What do you want to learn more about regarding this specific topic? What are some questions or issues about the topic? What are some different perspectives on the topic?  How would you define or explain the topic to those not familiar with it? 

· Complete some preliminary research on your topic using Opposing Viewpoints in context or reference sources. What are the general issues involved? Does it look like you will be able to find sources from within the last six years on the specific topic/issue on which you have decided to focus? 

· Consider which of the argument approaches might work best: Rogerian argument (win-win/compromise), ethical argument (something should or should not be done based on what is right or wrong), proposal argument (propose a detailed solution regarding the issue), causal argument (attempt to find causes or identify possible effects and takes a stand), and definition argument (how/whether something corresponds to the definition of a particular item or category of items).  Include and refute opposing views. 

Essay Requirements:

· You are required to utilize at least two of the argument approaches listed above in your essay. 

· Use specific examples/evidence in each body paragraph to prove/support your claim and the claim in that specific paragraph. Utilize the means of persuasion (logos, pathos, and ethos--review in Practical Argument 108-109) and incorporate two of the stylistic techniques such as repetition of key phrases for emphasis, rhetorical question/s, metaphor, or analogy (review in Practical Argument 110-112).

· For a strong essay, follow the guidelines in Practical Argument Ch. 7 (p. 253, Planning, Drafting, and Revising and Argumentative Essay) and that we have discussed in class for writing effective intro, body, and concluding paragraphs. Use five to seven credible database or book sources published within the last six years. The sources must add to the essay in a meaningful way. Search the database sources such as Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ProQuest, or Academic Search Complete. You can also use books as sources—remember to utilize the index/table of contents to locate information within the book on your topic.