Argument Essay Assignment

Assignment Description

For this essay, you should choose a topic from the list of opposing viewpoints provided in this unit and write a 4-5 page essay that argues a clearly defined position about that topic.

The essay should have an introduction that has a clear thesis statement and demonstrates the relevance of your topic, several body paragraphs that each make focused claims, and a conclusion.

Due Dates

Refer to the assignment calendar for due dates for this assignment.

Remember, the grade for the peer review is separate from the grade for the essay. See the guidelines for peer review for instructions about completing the peer review process.

Purpose and Learning Objectives

Your purpose in writing this essay is to defend a particular point of view with good reasoning and research.

My purpose in assigning this essay is to develop your skills in synthesizing research, evidence, and claims into a well-reasoned argumentative essay.

You should develop a clear and concise thesis statement that prepares readers for the arguments in the essay. Be sure to especially work on paragraph development: each paragraph should include a topic sentence, evidence, and commentary about the evidence.

Minimum Requirements

1,200-1,500 word essay (4-5 pages)

An interesting and informative title

A document formatted in correct MLA format

5 sources (peer-reviewed journals, books, and reliable web sources)

A works cited page written in correct MLA format and included in the same document as the essay

A clearly stated argument that uses reliable and well-reasoned evidence to support claims

A refutation of opposing arguments

Process for Completion

Here are a few steps that might help you develop your essay:

1.Choose your topic from the ones provided for this unit (see below).

2.Once you've found a topic, determine if it needs to be narrowed or if a particular focus might help the argument.

For instance, if you were writing about obesity, you might need to find a slant that creates a more interesting argument than "obesity is a problem" (of course it's a problem!).

Narrowing helps a bit, but not enough: "to avoid obesity, Americans should exercise more" (of course Americans should exercise more!). But what if we narrow the topic further: "schools in Texas need to ban unhealthy foods from the lunch menu and eliminate vending machines with unhealthy snacks and sodas."

This sentence establishes a more focused and nuanced argument than the earlier topic of obesity. To create a more interesting topic, you might then move to question who is responsible for obesity. Is it individuals, corporations, cultural norms, the government, or some other entity?

What can we do to change the culture in the United States so that obesity is not so prevalent? The more focused and nuanced the topic, the better the paper usually is. Starting with the topics from the list below, try to find a focused topic for your essay.

3. After narrowing your topic, you should make a list of everything you know about the topic and everything you want to know. This list will guide your research.

4. Now, you're ready to start researching. Be sure to only include reliable sources in your research and to take careful notes to avoid accidentally plagiarizing your sources later. As you research, remember that plagiarism is still a serious offense even if you just forget to cite a source. Always keep notes of where you get information and be prepared to cite the information correctly.

5. Be sure to allow a few days to draft your essay. You want to be sure you don't forget any of the wonderful arguments you developed during the invention and research phases. You may also want to outline the major points of the essay before drafting.

6. Always allow several days to revise the essay. You will get comments during peer review, and you should consider those comments carefully.

7. Finally, be sure to edit your essay for mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and proofreading.