Supported Argument Project

The Supported Argument Project is the culmination of your course work in that you will draw on skills gained throughout the course. You may draw on one of the following as a starting point for crafting your persuasive working thesis.

• Social issues in Enrique's Journey
• Themes and patterns from your Ethnography Project
• An issue of concern in your local community (GSU/campus, your neighborhood/dorm, Atlanta, Georgia)

The origin for the project should be an issue that you feel strongly about, something that you have identified as a problem or need and something you wish to see a change in. Our goal is to craft a narrowly-focused, well-organized, well-supported argument to a specific audience to achieve a specific change in thinking, belief, or action.

The Supported Argument paper is a 3-5-page paper in MLA format directed to an audience of your choosing that is appropriate for the persuasion you intend to make. You may provide evidence from your own thinking (use of appeals and anecdotal experience), primary research (systematic observation, interviews, surveys, original texts), or secondary sources (carefully selected popular and scholarly resources appropriate to your argument). You must cite all sources of evidence in text and on a works cited page.

Our process will follow the path outlined below.

1. Identify an issue or topic to address
2. Craft a working thesis that is specific and persuasive, directed to a specific audience
3. Create an initial research plan and topic outline to guide your work
4. Find credible and relevant research sources to support the claims you wish to make in your argument
5. Draft your supported argument
6. Participate in peer review of your supported argument
7. Revise your supported argument

Our textbook readings, Acrobatiq modules, and class handouts will assist you with all aspects of this process. For more assistance with research using our library resources, you may use the research guide available through our library available at
http://research.library.gsu.edu/c.php?g=115705&p=751658.

For assistance with citation of your sources, you may use the Research and Documentation chapter in our textbook and consult online resources such as the Purdue Owl available at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/.