Project Assignment: Argumentative Essay

"I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me." - Dave Barry, author and columnist

One of the greatest benefits of developing the ability to conduct, organize, and assemble research is being able to use that information to form an argument. An additional benefit of learning how to argue a position is that doing so prepares you to write various types of essays for classes in different disciplines.

According to Bullock, Goggin, and Weinberg, the characteristics of an essay that argues a position include a clear and arguable position, necessary background information, reasons supported by evidence, a counterargument, an acknowledgement of the strengths of the counterargument, and a conclusion (119-123). Project Two asks you to use what you have learned about your topic, writing as a process, rhetorical awareness, organization, style, information literacy, and MLA conventions to compose a 1200-word essay that argues a position for your topic. Your paper should include at least four sources that have been accessed through the HCC library catalogue. These sources may be the ones you located in Project One, as long as those sources can be located in the catalogue.

Your peers and instructor comprise your audience for Project Two; however, your goal will be to persuade us that you have formulated a strategically designed, appropriately supported, and well written argument, not to convince us to adopt your view.

Learning Outcomes

• The student will demonstrate the ability to formulate a thesis statement by creating a thesis statement for an argumentative essay.

• The student will demonstrate the ability to develop an outline by creating and following an outline for an argumentative paper.

• The student will write a 4-6 paragraph paper with an adequate introductory paragraph, sufficiently supported and developed body paragraphs, and an effective concluding paragraph by producing an argumentative essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion on a controversial social topic.

• The student will use appropriate grammar by demonstrating knowledge of comma usage, capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and complete sentences.

• The student will have a basic understanding of MLA format by applying MLA conventions to the argumentative essay.

Documents

• Early Draft for Peer Review
• Intermediate Draft for Peer and Instructor Review
• Final Draft.