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The Assignment:
Compose a 6-7 page argumentative or persuasive essay focusing on a debatable issue. The audience will be the audience you target in the Audience/Rhetorical Analysis portion of P3. Argumentative essays enlighten your readers to the rationale behind your position on a debatable issue. However, argumentative/persuasive essays not only enlighten your readers to an informed position on an issue, but also attempt to compel readers to take some sort of action.
You have been writing about this same issue all term and might be able to use content from those previous assignments for this assignment as well.
Format: A Word-processed essay, formatted in either MLA or APA style for page layout, in-text citations and Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA)
Sources required:
At least 6 credible sources (5 attached in document included) Free to use them or provide new.
Audience: My intended audience would be potential and current electric vehicle owners. This paper will pertain to an audience that is 18+ and does not include any gender specific information. The target audience doesn’t need any to have any background information on electric vehicles. The writing will provide background information needed to understand the advantages of electric vehicle ownership.
Step 1:
Preliminary research – explore the issue:
Define your issue; develop your claim.
What do you understand about it already? Brainstorm and list what you know about it. Explore your position.
What has been written or said about your issue by others?
How does your issue impact others?
Research the history of the issue.
Is your issue focused enough to be analyzed successfully in a 6-7 page paper? Is it so narrow that little has been written about it, or that few will express an interest?
Step 2:
Consider your audience:
How will most of your readers probably feel about this issue?
What do you expect them to know about it already?
Should you address your essay to an audience who disagrees with your position, or will you “be preaching to the choir”? Are you going to have to impact their underlying beliefs and values? Remember, you must address opposing arguments.
Also, you are *not* “raising awareness” with this assignment…. that was project one.
Step 3:
Reassess your choice:
Has your research supplied enough ammunition for you to maintain your position in the argument?
Is there enough information available to address opposing arguments?
Do you need to learn more about it?
publishing Stage
Step 4:
Construct your argument – prepare to address those who disagree:
List every reason that you can think of that will help state your argument and convince your readers to reconsider their position and adopt yours.
Consider effective (Aristotelian) appeals (logos, ethos, pathos).
Number your points or assertions in order of strength or plausibility
Under each point or assertion, list potential objections or questions that it could raise.
Consider how you would respond to that objection or question
Consider how you would refute any illegitimate or illogical objections or questions.
Review the Map and “Superstructure” guidance provided in Canvas. Click HERE for the superstructure document
Step 5:
Anticipate opposing arguments:
List widely known opposing positions to your claim/thesis
Meet in groups and allow other students to play “devil’s advocate” by arguing the opposing side.
Number the opposing points or assertions in order of strength or plausibility; you will address the strongest points in your paper.
List reasons for the opposing points.
Prepare to accept or concede portions of plausible opposing arguments.
Prepare to refute an implausible point or assertion. Validity of opposing arguments may be addressed by:
Giving a counterexample
Questioning the authority or source, the validity of the facts
Questioning the universality of the point
Demonstrating that the point is insufficient or reveal it in a new context
Questioning the timeliness of the evidence
Questioning the logic of the opposing point
The publishing Stage Continued:
Introductory paragraph
Determine your thesis statement – state your claim clearly in your opening paragraph.
Define the issue and your purpose to your readers. Why are you writing about this? Why should your audience be interested?
Getting the reader’s attention – anecdote (telling a story), startling statistic, interesting quote, significance of your concerns
The background/history of the issue (if significant)
Establish the appropriate tone for your subject and your audience
Body paragraphs:
Addressing potential opposing arguments.
This section should come immediately after the introduction and needs to be supported by credible research. The purpose of this aspect of argument writing is to show you have read about and considered the opposing viewpoint but that your argument is valid because of the supporting claims that make up the main portion of the essay. You may either:
Concede the validity of an opposing argument by qualifying part or accepting all of it while explaining why your position is stronger, or
Refute the opposing argument by stating why it is invalid or weak (see Step 5 above).
See also this online resource for writing effective transitions: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/transitions/Links to an external site.
Not having an effective counterargument is a red flag that your thesis is not valid or debatable.
Body paragraphs:
Supporting claims:
State your reasons for supporting your position along with evidence. These should *not* be personal reasons. Recall the four types of claims we have been working with for several weeks now: fact/definition, cause/effect, value, policy/problem/solution
Go beyond simple assertions; consider the nature of your appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) that you will use to prove your claims.
Use meaningful transitions.
Remember to arrange your supporting claims from weakest/least supported to strongest best supported.
Conclusion:
Remind the reader of your central claim/thesis and review the previous argument in a succinct manner.
State the significance of your position. How does it affect the future?
Make a final emotional appeal if appropriate
Appeal for further study or research (explain why/how, etc.)
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