English essay

 Is Technology Actually Good for You?

this course will be a researched argument answering the question 

“Is Technology actually good for you? Our goals this unit are to use research to back up a position and to argue a position thoughtfully, with the goal of starting a conversation. We’re also working within a limited topic, so another goal is finding an angle in a provided set of readings. Let's look at the basic requirements of the essay

There are five major strategies writers use to write position papers (adapted from Reading Critically, Writing Well). These are worth considering in depth here, though they are all covered in They Say/I Say:

1. Presenting the Issue: Writers need to contextualize the debate. Remember that an argument must be arguable, so you’ll need to present the various sides on the issue.

2. Asserting a Clear, Unequivocal Position: This is, in essence, your thesis, and an argument is not complete without one.

3. Arguing Directly for the Position: This is where you back up your argument with reasons. Facts are the best source, though statistics, examples and anecdotes, and expert opinions and analogies are other ways of doing this.

4. Counterarguing Objections and Opposing Positions: Writers anticipate readers’ objections and address them. This can include concession or refutation.

5. Establishing Credibility: If a writer isn’t seen as credible, readers will likely not give the argument serious consideration.