See attached document with all the instructions. If possible please have paper too me sooner than the 6th so I can check it before it has to be submitted. If possible please get it to me this weekend.What is an Argumentative Essay?
Essays 2 and 3 in this class are considered arguments, so pay attention and read all the materials I have given you to consider.
According to our eBook, The Hub, “An argument is a piece of writing that takes a position on an issue, provides various types of evidence to support that position, and acknowledges and addresses valid counterarguments” (512).
Let’s examine each of those requirements individually.
Takes a Position
Your position on the issue will be your thesis statement for the essay, and every point you make in the essay should be designed to prove that thesis. For this essay, your thesis statement should be a single sentence that states your view clearly. It should make a point that needs to be proven. It has to be a statement that might cause someone to disagree. That’s what makes it an argument; there are multiple sides to the issue, but you will attempt to convince the reader of your side. Your thesis statement should be clearly stated in the last sentence of your introduction paragraph.
Provides Evidence
Most people who know you probably think you’re pretty smart, but for this essay, you should assume that your readers don’t know you and probably disagree with your opinion. You need help making yourself and your view legitimate. You need some CREDIBILITY. That’s where using outside (expert) sources comes in. Using good sources will do two things: It will show that you respect the reader’s intelligence enough to realize he or she might need more proof than just your opinion. It will also show that you have taken the time to do some research and considered multiple points of view. Part of an argument is WINNING over the reader. No one wants to listen to some blow-hard who thinks he or she knows everything without having to prove it. Using outside sources correctly and accurately with MLA Documentation format also feeds in to that credibility. In the academic world, there’s a certain way to use sources, and if you do it correctly, it helps show that you are a thoughtful, prepared writer.
Addresses Counterarguments
This is another aspect of the credibility you need to build. If you’re trying to win the reader over by getting them to accept your thesis, it helps to show that you have also researched about possible opposing viewpoints. When someone has looked at an issue from all sides, it gives that person a chance to test his or her viewpoint. By examining multiple viewpoints on the same issue, you might even alter your viewpoint a little. If you have looked at all sides, the viewpoint you eventually adopt becomes even more believable and trustworthy. The way to use counterarguments in your essay is to have a sentence or two at the end of each main paragraph that brings up potential disagreement to the main idea you made in that paragraph. Bringing up the potential counterarguments is the first part, but you also should respectfully explain to your reader why the counterargument isn’t as good as your argument. You do this respectfully because that’s another way to build your credibility as a writer and a thinker. Legitimate thinkers don’t bash the other side. A legitimate thinker respects all sides, but still attempts to show through reasoned argumentation that his or her side is preferable.
Please read the additional information on Argumentation in The Hub, pages 512-522.
Essay 2
Argumentation: The Best Way to Choose a Career
In Essay 2, you will persuade your reader of the best way to go about choosing a career.
Since this is an argument paper, all the rules of argument apply:
1.Your thesis statement must argue something significant and explain why your paper is important.
2.You must have at least three major points.
3.You must include counterarguments throughout your paper. So for each of your major points, you need to present a counter-argument and explain why that counter-argument is wrong.
Here are the papers details:
*It needs to be at least 900 words in length, with an additional page for the Works Cited.
*It must include at least two direct quotes and at least two paraphrases from the Career material that you read in Week 4 (“Six Reasons Why Your College Major Doesn’t Matter,” by Ashley Stahl, pages 49-52 and “Introduction: Life by Design,” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, pages 60-62). You may also use the article you found in lesson 4.4 from the HCC database EBSCOhost. Don’t use any other sources other than these three.
*In your essay, I want your words to be in black, paraphrasing and summarizing to be in red, and direct quotes to be in blue. This is only for this class, so you and I can know that you are using paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting correctly.
*Citations must be in correct MLA style, both in-text and on the Works Cited page. For complete information about MLA formatting, read Topic 23 in The Hub. There’s also a sample essay in Topic 23.4.
*The essay follow MLA formatting and should be double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman. It should be saved as a Word file and submitted as an attachment.
5.2 Essay 2 Details
5.4 Submit Essay 2, final draft
?You should have read the material in 5.1 and 5.2, so you have a good idea of what needs to be in Essay 2.
Now, I want you to write your first draft of Essay 2 and then revise your draft according to the following statements. I don’t need to see your first draft or your answers to these statements. My goal is to teach you how to do your own proofreading and revising. Of course, you can ask me specific questions, and you can also get help from the HCC Writing Center.
In addition to checking your essay for basic technical issues, such as grammar, spelling, and mechanics, you should also check your first draft with the following statements:
1. My first sentence is an attention-grabber that makes everyone want to keep on reading.
2. My introduction ends with a clear thesis that makes my point about the best way to choose a career.
3. Each of my body paragraphs begins by stating a different reason that supports my overall thesis.
4. In each of my body paragraphs, I not only have my main point but I also include convincing explanation and details, and I also have quoted or paraphrased from outside sources to support my points.
5. For each body paragraph, I have a counterargument that I argue against in order to show that my side is correct.
6. I have used transition words and phrases to flow from one paragraph to the next.
7. My conclusion re-emphasizes my thesis and ends thoughtfully.
8. I have written my essay in Microsoft Word (not Google Docs and not Safari Pages) following MLA format.
9. I am certain I have written all my in-text citations correctly. In the areas I am unsure of, I have consulted The Hub MLA Documentation chapter, pages 650-686.
10. I am certain I have written my Works Cited page correctly. In the areas I am unsure of, I have consulted The Hub MLA Documentation chapter, pages 650-686.
Argumentative Essay
What are we doing?
In Module 3, you will work through a variety of learning activities in order to do the following:
1. Read and understand the main points of articles about careers and how to choose a career.
2. Conduct research through the HCC Databases.
3. Use outside sources in your writing.
4. Practice writing an argumentative essay that attempts to persuade readers to adopt your position.
What competencies are we gaining?
Researching and writing to persuade will help you gain all eleven competencies in this course:
1.To read a written text with understanding: to identify its essential elements (major conclusion, supporting reasons, issues, evidence); to assess the strength of an argument, with specific reference to alternative hypotheses, logical soundness, sufficiency and quality of evidence.
2.To research a subject; to work with library research tools and resources.
3.To develop a written argument with reference to audience requirements: to provide essential information, define issues and terms, respond to anticipated questions, and refute or otherwise respond to anticipated counter-arguments.
4.To summarize, paraphrase, and quote from text.
5.To integrate summaries, paraphrases, and quotations correctly and fluently.
6.To attribute and document sources honestly and correctly.
7.To provide writers with the opportunity to share their writing and their writing processes with other writers.
8.To increase the fluency of their writing by critiquing several published articles.
9.To refine skills learned in Writing I.
10.To recognize relationships among essays, articles, etc., and to synthesize these ideas into a coherent piece of writing.
11.To research information and organize findings in a correctly documented paper, using the current MLA style.
You’re going to write an essay about choosing a career. In this phase of the assignment, you’re conducting research. I want you to read the following articles from The Hub about career choice. Read them closely and jot down some notes because these articles could be used as outside sources for your Essay 2.
Article 1
“Six Reasons Why Your College Major Doesn’t Matter,” by Ashley Stahl, pages 49-52
Article 2
“Introduction: Life by Design,” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, pages 60-62
Here’s some more information to consider before submitting:
Grading Rubric
In general, the following aspects will be examined when I grade the essay:
Organization
Is there an organizational pattern that makes sense, supports the thesis (or central point), and moves the reader effectively from one point to another?
Content
Does the essay follow the goals of the assignment?
Is there a clear thesis (or central point)?
Do the examples provide ample support?
Is the support specific and concrete?
Is the essay interesting?
Does the writer provide effective transitional words and phrases?
Is the introduction effective?
Does the conclusion wrap up the essay nicely?
Mechanics
Does the essay follow MLA style?
Does the essay use correct punctuation and grammar?
Does the essay use correct spelling?
Does the essay use a variety of sentence structures?
Save your essay in Microsoft Word and attach the file in the Submission area below.
