Argument Essay Assignment Sheet
Guidelines
General:
This is a logical argument supported with credible evidence. Our purpose is to find and further
“the truth.” We are entering public discussions with other experts and positioning ourselves
among them.
Requirements: 6+ pages (meaning 6 full pages to the last line of page 6 is the minimum, not
including Work Cited page), MLA format (double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1-
inch margins, Work Cited age, parenthetical citations, etc.)
Topic Criteria:
Current event;
Arguable and reasonable people disagree;
Not a matter of personal taste;
You don't already feel strongly about it.
Purpose: (It is not to be “right!” but to educate and persuade reader of a “truth”)
To get to the truth and then inform the reader;
To persuade your reader of your position;
Possibly call the reader to action.
Sources:
You need at least four credible sources (use library training modules to find these), to get
information on your topic so that you can form a claim/argument. Two of your sources needs to
be scholarly, peer-reviewed sources. You will need parenthetical (in-text) citations and a Works
Cited page. Use the resources we have discussed!
Claim:
Make a claim (refer to "Writing a 'Working' Argument Thesis") that you can support with logic
and evidence . Remember there are three types of persuasive appeal. You need to consider
what combination of these three are going to be the most effective in arguing your claim (you
must use logic and establish credibility):
Logos—logic
Ethos—credibility
Pathos—emotion
Audience:
Who are they? Mostly the people “on the fence” (people who are interested but don’t know
much) and those who disagree are your target audience. Remember you don’t want to offend
the people you are trying to convince.
Address the opposition
There are always more than positions on every issue--address at least two alternative
perspectives in your draft. There are at least three ways you can address them:
Negate/counter them
Give credit but establish why your position is stronger
Find the common ground between your position and an alternate position
Avoid logical fallacies!
Review the Owl@Purdue website for more information on these.
Draft Requirements:
Pre-writing/early-draft essay (to be used with the posted revision activities for the first
revision): Minimum of 3 full pages, plus 1 source, with parenthetical citations and a Work Cited
page;
Draft #1 (to be distributed in workshop groups): Minimum of 4 full pages, plus at least 2 sources
(one should be peer-reviewed), with parenthetical citations and a Work Cited page;
Draft #2 (to be responded to by instructor): Significant revision from Draft #1 and minimum of 5
full pages plus meet source expectations-
Portfolio Draft: Fully meets all draft requirements, is another significant revision, and is
polished.