HW 6

Beck COM 221: Technical Report Writing 1

March 25, 2017

ASSIGNMENT #6: ARGUMENT

For this assignment, you will be preparing a brief (2 - 3 pages) argument in which you

argue for the adoption of a specific solution to a given problem. This argument is NOT a

Memo but is instead a short paper in which you explore the given problem, suggest a

solution, evaluate that solution, and persuade the reader to adopt the solution.

Research-based Argument

The problem will be assigned during class discussion. You will be required to undertake

research to explore the problem (and perhaps the solution as well). At least TWO (2)

sources are required for this assignment, although you may use more.

In preparing the argument, all elements of a successful Toulmin-style argument (i.e.,

claim, data/evidence, authority, chain of logic, and counterargument) should be included

and smoothly integrated. The entire argument should support your claim (i.e., your

document should be claim-driven.) The entire argument should use ethos/pathos/logos in

ways that are valued by your discipline. Finally, the entire argument should be free of

logical fallacies.

Format

This argument should be formatted according to the conventional standards valued by

your discipline, as you identified in your article analysis in Assignment #5: IMRD

Analysis. Formatting elements include

 margins,

 headers,

 footers,

 one- or two-column prose,

 paragraph spacing,

 paragraph indentation,

 font size, and

 style of headings.

The citation style that you identified in your analysis should be used for the References

page and the in-text citations (i.e., APA, AIAA, IEEE, AMS, or other). Be correct, and be

consistent in your use of conventions.

Beck COM 221: Technical Report Writing 2

March 25, 2017

Graphics

Graphics may be included if they support the argument. They are OPTIONAL. If

included, graphics should be introduced, placed, called-out, captioned, and commented

upon as valued by your discipline (e.g., if publications in your discipline allow you to

“dump” your graphics, you may do so; otherwise, do NOT data dump). The article you

selected for Assignment #5: IMRD Analysis should be used as a model of how your

discipline embeds graphics.

Organization

This argument will be written in four sections: Problem Definition, Proposed Solution,

Conclusion, and References. You may use whatever style of section heading your

discipline uses to mark out these sections.

Section 1.0: Problem Statement should answer the following questions in smooth,

coherent flowing prose:

 What is the purpose of this document? (Give a purpose statement, and state the specific claim the paper will make/the solution the paper will offer.)

 What is the problem (i.e., what is undesirable)? (State the problem in a declarative sentence.)

 What are some causes of the problem? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 What are some negative consequences of the problem? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 Who is affected by the problem? How? To what extent? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 What is the next section? (Give a transition sentence.)

Section 2.0: Proposed Solution should answer the following questions in smooth, flowing

coherent prose:

 What is one possible solution to the problem? (State the specific claim/the proposed solution.)

 How would the solution work? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 What resources are needed for the solution to work? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

Beck COM 221: Technical Report Writing 3

March 25, 2017

 Is the solution practical? Workable? Ethical? Cost-effective? Logistically feasible? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 Who supports the solution? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 What are the benefits if the solution is adopted? (How do you know? Research may be required.)

 What is the next section? (Give a transition sentence.)

Section 3.0: Conclusion should answer the following questions in smooth, flowing,

coherent prose.

 What is the purpose of this document? (Restate the specific claim the paper made.)

 What are the key details of the proposed solution? (Summarize in a paragraph.)

 What is the counterargument against the proposed solution? (State the counterclaim, i.e., the weakness or flaw in the proposed solution.)

 Why is the proposed solution the best option despite its weaknesses? (Offer a rebuttal or refutation that explains away or limits the counterargument.)

 What is the final claim? (Make a recommendation to the reader to adopt the proposed solution.)

Section 4.0: References should cite all sources (a minimum of two).

Citation

Use the citation style valued by your discipline (i.e., APA, AIAA, IEEE, AMS, or other).

Refer to the article you selected for Assignment #5: IMRD Analysis and to your own

analysis of the discipline’s citation style.

All sources should be cited in-text as well. All in-text citations should use the style

valued by your discipline, the same style used for the References (i.e., APA, AIAA,

IEEE, AMS, or other). Be correct, and be consistent.

Submission Information

This argument is due, by hard copy only, with signed title page and attached grade sheet,

by Monday, April 17. It will be graded using the rubric posted on Canvas. It is worth 100

points (i.e., 20% of your course grade).