Assignment You are writing in support of an assertion, meaning that your essay will demonstrate support for a cause

 

Assignment

You are writing in support of an assertion, meaning that your essay will demonstrate support for a cause or position. You are not arguing both sides but staying strong to your position throughout the essay. Your stance should be explained clearly and precisely, and your justification for this position should include textual support from approved academic sources.

 

 

 

 

Specifics

 

·       Your topic may be chosen from the list of suggested topics provided in Blackboard, or you may choose an original topic of your own. However, the following topics are not allowed on this essay: abortion, religion, games.

·       Your essay should be written in 3^rd person.

·       It should include a strong one-sentence thesis statement with three parts.

·       Topic sentences should begin each paragraph and should link clearly to the thesis.

·       Each paragraph should provide solid examples with research to back them up.

·       Each paragraph should end with a closing sentence.

·       Before the conclusion you will include an opposition paragraph in which you anticipate the opposition and refute it.

·       Your sources for this assignment will be the same sources used for the Annotated Bibliography assignment; however, these will be written in classical works cited format, so you do not copy/ paste the Annotated Bibliography assignment onto the works cited page.

·       The length is 1300 words (4 full pages, Times New Roman double-spaced) not including the Works Cited page. You may go over the word count but no more than 1700 words (5 pages Times New Roman double-spaced). Points will be deducted for going under the 1300-word count.

 

 

 

 

Essay Outline

I.               Introduction

A.   Background Information: basic information about the issue and the position being argued (no research)

B.   Thesis Statement: states the position or claim being argued with three reasons

II.             Reasons that Support the Thesis Statement

A.   Reason/ Argument 1 (main point #1)

Discussion with supporting evidence (research to back it up)

B.   Reason/ Argument 2 (main point #2)

Discussion with supporting evidence (research to back it up)

C.   Reason/ Argument 3 (main point #3)

Discussion with supporting evidence (research to back it up)

III.            Counter Arguments (Opposition) and Responses to Them

A.   Mention the arguments from the other side of the issue – opposing interpretation

B.   Briefly refute the other side’s arguments (research optional)

 

IV.           Conclusion (no research)

V.             Works Cited Page

 

 

 

In-Text Citations

There is not an exact number of quotes or summaries allowed on this assignment, but the bulk of your essay (approximately 80%) should be discussion, not in-text citations. In-text citations only reinforce your stance. .

·       Provide a frame (attribution phrase) regarding each source discussed in the essay

·       As a general rule quotes should not open or close a paragraph

·       For each quote provided, explain its significance, relevance to the stance, etc. discussion about the quote rather than just providing the quote itself.

 

 

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