Reference no: EM131571006

Argument Paper Assignment

The topic of Argument Paper should

Selecting a Topic. Your topic must relate in some way to the overall class theme of religion. (See last week's announcement for specific suggestions.) If you have any questions at all about whether your topic will work, contact me as soon as possible through Course Messages so that I can give you guidance before you start your research.

An effective topic will be

(1) A problem or issue with two or more sides (for example, don't argue that we should stop religious violence, or that religion is an important part of life for most people throughout the world. There's no serious disagreement about either of these claims.)

(2) A problem or issue about which reasonable people might debate and disagree (there are many, many debated topics related to religion--see the previous announcement for some ideas)

(3) A problem or issue that interests you and possibly impacts you personally (if you're not interested, you'll find the research and writing drudgery--and your readers won't be interested, either--so pick a topic that matters to you in some way)

(4) A problem or issue you would like to know more about and understand better (this relates to being interested in your topic; think of a topic you are curious about and would like to know more about, something you might research even if you didn't need to fulfill a class assignment)

(5) A problem or issue that you do not already have an extremely strong or passionate opinion about (pick something you are interested in but able to be open minded about; if you unshakeably believe that one side is absolutely right and the other absolutely wrong, you will have a much harder time researching and synthesizing your topic objectively)

In other words, this is a chance to learn about an intriguing side topic of your choice, related in some way to the core readings and to issues of literacy! Later, in the Argument Paper (Writing Project 4), you'll be able to take an informed position on your topic, but for now, you should focus on simply researching and understanding your selected issue.

Cover letter

• Minimum 200 words (successful cover letters are often longer)
• Address letter to your instructor
• Answer at least 3 of the 6 questions below (where applicable) provide brief, specific examples of the following in your cover letter:

o What is your primary motivation or purpose for writing your draft? Who is your intended audience? What revisions did you make in order to improve how you accomplish this purpose and/or appeal to this audience?

o What feedback did you receive from your peers? How did you use this feedback to revise your draft? How do these revisions improve your draft?

o What feedback did you receive from other sources, such as your instructor or tutors? How did you use this feedback to revise your draft? How do these revisions improve your draft?

o What have you decided to revise in your draft, apart from feedback you received? Why? How do these revisions improve your draft?

o What problems or challenges did you encounter while writing or revising your draft? How did you solve them?

o What valuable lessons about writing effectively have you learned as a result of composing this project?

• Place the cover letter at the beginning of your final draft, before the first page of your actual composition; delete your purpose statement

• An essay taking a stand and making arguments in support of a view or course of action on the issue, problem, or controversy developed in Writing Project 3.

• Clearly focused, debatable, and supportable thesis statement advocating your view on the problem or controversy

• Use of evidence from sources, objectively and accurately interpreted

• Effective reasoning that demonstrates how the evidence supports the thesis and the specific arguments being made

• Opposing views that are accurately presented and effectively refuted with reasons and evidence

• A logical organizational structure that clearly and effectively guides readers through the arguments being made

• Use of evidence from sources (at least 10 quotations and/or paraphrases), clearly discernible from each other and from the writer's voice and cited using correct in-text citations

• Use of at least 5 relevant and highly credible sources, at least 4 from the Ivy Tech Library databases. (No Print Sources.)

• APA or MLA manuscript style, as specified by your instructor, with in-text citations and a References or Works Cited list including ALL sources used. (References or Works Cited list does not count in the minimum word-count requirement)

• Awareness of diverse audiences and use of respectful, inclusive language

• Observation of the conventions of Standard English

• 1500 words minimum for final draft (the minimum 200 words for the cover letter is not included in this count).