Argument Project English 102, Spring 2017 Dr.

Duffus

Components: Concept Map, Synthesis and Evaluation of New Sources, Argument Essay

Transition from Inquiry and Textual Analysis Projects

The Argument Project will emerge from the research you completed for the Inquiry Project and
the Analysis you did on the TED Talk. For this project, you will eventually make an argument
about a debatable question or problem within your topic. You can use the sources you have
found so far, including your TED Talk, and you will find five new scholarly sources during our
next library session. You will need to focus on library sources for this project: scholarly
articles from the databases and / or books.

After you locate 5 new sources, you will evaluate them so you can create a Concept Map
and a Synthesis and Evaluation of the 5 new Sources.

After these two assignments, you will compose an Argument Essay that will use sources for
support. You will be required to use library sources in this essay. We will work on the
essay in three drafts a preliminary one, a peer review one, and a final, graded draft. You
will also give a presentation on your argument.

Essay Genre: Argument

Purpose: Your argument essay should accomplish the following:

Argue a debatable point. This will be expressed in your claim or thesis statement.
Demonstrate originality: Either take an unusual side or choose an unfamiliar topic or
point of view.
Apply Toulmin argument style that demonstrates engagement with a particular
audience and that addresses the opposition (rebuttal).
Appeal to the audiences logic with concrete information from research and with use of
logical argumentation.
Appeal to the audiences emotions (generally, positive emotions are more effective,
such as fairness, equality, sympathy, freedom).
Appeal to the audiences background knowledge of your topic and their
beliefs/values associated with your topic
Incorporate research using MLA In-Text Citations using Signal Phrases/ID tags
Employ MLA Formatting of the Document, In-Text Citations, and Works Cited Page.

Audience: You will designate the audience for your argument.

Style and Tone: Your writing should conform to the style and tone appropriate for a classroom
setting and for a formal, argument essay.
Organization: The essay should be organized into an introduction, body, and conclusion. The
conclusion should take the reader in a new direction rather than just summarize your essay
the conclusion is a good place to show the reader why this debate is important to answer the
so what question. You could also make a proposal or suggest a plan of action, relate your
argument to something greater, warn the reader, etc. Conclusions that just summarize the essay
are repetitive and unoriginal.

With the Final Draft, you also need to include a cover letter explaining the following:

What are you most proud of with your Argument Project? (Concept Map, Synthesis and
Evaluation, Argument Essay)
Do you think your argumentative skills have changed? If so, how?
What did you struggle with during the process of the assignment? How did you overcome
this obstacle?
Please comment on how you contributed positively to your writing group, and how
feedback from your peers helped you revise your Argument Essay.
Please describe how you addressed the errors in your Proofreaders Guide in your Final
Draft of the Argument.

Writing Process / Due Dates:

Thurs., March 23 Introduction to Project/Getting Started
Tues., March 28 Library, Meet in Belk-Ellis Computer Lab
Thurs., March 30 Bring five (5) new sources to class as well as sources from Inquiry Project.
Work on Concept Map.
Tues., April 4 Hybrid Day upload Concept Map of 5 new sources and Synthesis and
Evaluation of 5 new Sources by 9:15 am to Bb
Thurs., April 6 Bring preliminary draft of Argument Essay for Input; Discuss
incorporating sources and creating an audience.
Tues., April 11 Bring Draft of Argument Essay for Peer Review; Upload Draft to Bb by 8
am
Thurs., April 13 Easter Break
Tues., April 18 Writing Conference #2
Thurs., April 20 Presentations
Tues., April 25 Hybrid Day, Final Draft of Argument Essay + Cover Letter due to Bb by
9:15 am