Composition II: Essay #3, Researched Argument
Argument essays can be categorized into a number of ways, such as arguing by analogy, definition, induction, causation, etc. Aristotelian structure presents an argument using deduction as to immediately introduce the audience to the claim and relevant information. The argument then proceeds to prove the claim by presenting the writer’s reasoning. Near the end of the argument, the writer summarizes opposing views and responds to them. The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize yourself with deductive reasoning, practice research evaluation, anticipate audience needs/values, and concede or refute opposing views.
Basic Directions
Students will choose their own research topics relevant to their daily lives and/or a community in which they are a member to. Community is any group of people affiliated by a shared interest, quality, or common goal. I.e. Towns, clubs, teams, religious groups, social cliques, organizations, etc.
The student should avoid writing about world or national topics unless they relate to the student’s personal daily life. If a student is an athlete, she or he may choose to write about the benefits of a particular workout routine or how student athletes might best balance school and practice.
A student may either attempt to define characteristics of community membership, propose a solution to a problem within the community, explain the origin/cause of an event, or defend certain ethical or moral choices. For example, a student might write about why it is a more economical and intelligent decision to start college with community college rather than a university. Or, the student might explore the origins of a profession and how education or technology has shaped it.
Minimum Requirements:
• You will write an argument using classical structure (as detailed in “Organization”).
• 5-7 pages (not including works cited)
• You will include at least one graph, chart, or image in your essay. It too must be cited.
• Includes works cited page listing all sources used and must cross-reference with in-text citations and/or signal phrases in the essay. Formatted in MLA.
• Research in essay writing must include from at least six (6) sources; of which . . .
◦ Three scholarly
◦ One personal interview, empirical data, or primary
◦ Wikipedia, encyclopedias, and dictionaries do not count toward your total, but may be used.