Essay Assignment

For this essay, you will select a topic and develop a narrowed argument about it. You are NOT allowed to use sources, so make sure you have enough opinion about and personal experience with your subject that you can write 3-4 pages.

Choosing a Side

In this argument, you must choose one side of the issue, so if you want to write about the dangers of facebook, for instance, you must narrow it to a workable topic since there's much that can be argued about the dangers of facebook. Then, you must choose a side of that particular issue. You're also required to consider the opposing side, too, so be ready to write a counter-argument to keep your ethos
intact.

Essay Requirements:

• Introduce the topic, its background, and the problem, making it clear which side you support.
• Discuss how the issue relates to you and your audience.
• Make an argument through claims, reasoning, and evidence.
• Include a counter-argument against of ONE of your reasons.
• Be sure to consider ethos, pathos, and logos in your reasoning.
• Use a narrative/anecdote somewhere in the essay.
• Each reason should easily lead to the next through transition language.

Specifications:

• No less than 3 pages
• MLA-style format

Here are some questions that might help guide your development or help you control and clarify your argument and purpose:

• What is the background information important to your narrowed topic?
• What is your specific argument about the narrowed topic?
• Why does this matter to you and why should it matter to your audience?
• What are your 2-4 good reasons to support (reasoning) your claim?
• What is some possible opposition to one of your reasons?
• In what ways does the opposition seem reasonable?