Essay Three will call for you to practice an argumentative strategy you have selected.
At least 900 words, and no more than 1300, not including works cited (2-4 credible academic sources).
Assignment adapted from the guidelines for College Composition II assignments, written by Dr. Amy Woodworth.
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Essay 3: Definition, Rebuttal, Causal, and Ethical Arguments
For essay 3, you will construct a definition, rebuttal, causal, or ethical argument, using 2-4 credible academic sources.
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Select your audience: If your audience is a neutral, educated audience, they will be skeptical; that is, they may not yet adhere to any one viewpoint on the issue, but they will be reading critically. If your audience is opposed to the value you are arguing from, you will need to take up an approach that includes and honors their perspective.
No matter what, you should anticipate possible objections and carefully include appropriate acknowledgements of alternative views, along with necessary refutations and/or concessions. As part of your attempt to persuade your audience, remember to clearly state what is at stake in resolving your issue.
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Goals:
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Format:
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Please see chapter 4 of A Little Argument for discussions of these forms of arguments
Option A: Definitional Argument
There are two possible ways to construct a definitional argument based on your research:
In either case, you need to put thought into the source of your definition. If you are using an existing definition, it should be from a source or authority that your reader will respect and that gives you an edge (so consider a few before choosing one). If you must create your own definition, indicate to your reader why it is necessary to do so.
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Option B: Rebuttal Argument
A rebuttal argument is one where you argue against an existing argument. Rebuttal arguments involve refutation (identifying where the existing argument is wrong, flawed, or not complete) and/or counterarguments (offering argumentative points that differ from the original argument). For this paper, you will choose one of the texts/sources you have found on your issue to rebut and use at least two sources to support your rebuttal claims.
The goal of a rebuttal argument is to dismiss or weaken an argument so that it becomes irrelevant or questionable to an audience who might be or has been persuaded to accept it. |
You need to determine how you will support your rebuttal —in other words, what will be your evidence and/or reasoning to support your claims about the argument? What will be your evidence and/or reasoning if you are offering a counterargument? You must use at least two sources in support of your rebuttal.
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Developing a Rebuttal Argument
You need to determine the elements of the argument that can be rebutted. For example, it could be one or more of the following:
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You need to determine the grounds of the refutation:
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Option C: Causal Argument
Within your general topic, identify an issue about the causes or consequences of a particular phenomenon and create a thesis that asserts which cause(s) or consequence(s) seem most relevant for better understanding and responding to the problem. Be careful to distinguish between types of causes (immediate vs. background), to acknowledge other important causes/contributing factors, and to avoid inductive fallacies in your reasoning. To generate ideas, consider the causes or consequences of trends related to your topic, or the consequences of actions being taken or proposed. |
Option D: Ethical Argument
First, identify a moral or ethical issue within your research. Next, attempt to identify both the relevant principles that underlie the issue and the possible consequences that will/might follow a decision on the issue (measure the benefits vs. the costs). From there, take a position based on principles or consequences (if you do both, be careful not to get caught in irreconcilable contradictions). As part of the argument you construct, acknowledge alternative positions and explain why the principle(s) or consequence(s) on which you are basing your position should take priority over others.
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