Project 4: Researched Argument
Purpose: The purpose of Project 4 is to compose an original argument that is supported by credible, high-quality sources. Completing this assignment will bring together your skills of research, analysis, argumentation, and incorporation/citation of sources (by way of summary, paraphrase, and/or quotation).
Assignment Descriiption: In this essay, you will persuade your reader to agree with you on a position that you take. So, early on in your essay, you want to identify what your position is on the issue, and spend the body of your essay providing reasons to defend why your position really is the best one. You should use sources throughout your essay to help you explain your position, to develop your discussion of each reason you have to defend your position, and to identify and respond to your counterargument. The topic of your essay will be the one you wrote about in Project 3. This essay should be at least 5 pages (1250 words) in length, and should be citing at least 5 credible, high-quality sources.
Course learning outcomes: This assignment fulfills the following learning outcomes for this course:
Rhetorical Awareness 1a: Students will be able to identify, explain and apply the components of the rhetorical situation: purpose, author, audience, genre, medium, and context.
Rhetorical Awareness 1b: Students will write as an academic contributor to their chosen subject area, communicating clearly in writing for an appropriate academic audience and for an academic purpose.
Critical Use of Texts 2a: Students will read examples of student, professional, and academic writing to generate ideas, and respond to ideas in their own writing.
Critical Use of Texts 2b: Students will demonstrate a solid proficient understanding of correctly incorporating outside texts and sources to develop their own academic researched argument.
Critical Use of Texts 2c: Students will evaluate the quality of printed and online sources, and will be able to select the most appropriate and highest quality sources to support their own writing.
Writing Processes 3a: Students will write multiple drafts independently.
Writing Processes 3c: Students will practice all steps of the writing process, with an emphasis in drafting and revision.
Writing Processes 3d: Students will practice revising their own papers and their peers papers, integrating feedback from their instructors and peers
Grammar/Mechanics 4a: Students will have a solid proficient understanding of the rules of Standard English grammar and be able to apply those conventions to their own writing, in particular grammatical tools to provide unity and cohesion in sentences, which may include but not be limited to (coordination/subordination, parallelism, transitional words and phrases).
Grammar/Mechanics 4b: Students will demonstrate a solid proficient understanding of academic documentation.
The purpose of this essay is to persuade your reader to agree with you on a position that you take. So, early on in your essay, you want to identify what your position is on the issue and spend the body of your essay providing reasons to defend why your position really is the best one. You should use sources throughout your essay to help you explain your position, develop your discussion of each reason you have to defend your position, and identify and respond to your counterargument. The topic of your essay will be the one you wrote about in Project 3.
Paper Length and Sources:
The length of this essay should be 5-7 pages, and you should be using at least 6 high-quality sources in your project. These sources can be from anywhere (online, library, print or digital), as long as youve vetted the sources for credibility and accuracy and that they will be credible enough to help persuade your reader to agree with you. Make sure to choose the best sources possible for your topic.
Reminders:
A clear, specific title
An introduction
A clearly-stated thesis to explain what your position is on the issue
Several reasons, focused in separate paragraphs, to defend your thesis about why your position is the strongest one (why the reader should agree with you)
A counterargumentsomewhere in your essay, identify a possible flaw with your position or a reason why someone might not agree with you. Then, tell us either (1) why the other side is mistaken in some way, or (2) they are correct, but this flaw isnt enough to weaken your entire argument
A conclusion
At least 6 sources cited correctly in APA format, using in-text citation and a works cited page.
A length of 5-7 pages, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, not counting the Works Cited or References page
