Format/length:
3-5 pages (3 full pages minimum,
please), typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font using
MLA format (see p. 575 in ST. MARTIN’S GUIDE). 1-inch margins on all
sides.
Taking a Position:
Take a position on a controversial
issue which is, in some way, related to your life. Choose an issue you
feel strongly about and that you think is relevant to other students or
people in your position, and develop a convincing argument supporting
why you feel the way you do. The campus and local newspapers often
contain opinion pieces (such as letters to the editor) and might be a
good place to look for topic ideas, as well as Internet newspaper or
magazines you’re interested in. We’ll also help each other generate
topics in our Discussion Forum.
Using Sources for Support:
You can write a successful argument
based on your own logic and knowledge, but for some topics, you may find
you want to do some outside research. Sources can be either secondhand,
print sources (books, articles, Internet) or firsthand research
(interviews, experiments, surveys). A good way to be sure you’re fairly
addressing counter-arguments is to use a source supporting a viewpoint
opposing your own (that is, a counter-argument). Please do not use more
than 2 sources; your paper should be more your own words than your
sources’.
If you do use outside sources
(again—optional, not required), you must also include a Works Cited page
as the last page of your paper that lists the sources you used. You
will also need to cite in your paper where you used information or
quotes from a source. This basically means putting the author or title
in parentheses after the material used. I am not worried about these
citations being perfect, but the information does need to be there or it
is plagiarism. You will learn much more about citing sources in
Composition II, in which you do more research-based writing. For now,
see the MLA Documentation section (beginning on p. 554 in ST. MARTIN’S
GUIDE) and do the best you can. As long as you provide both
in-text (in the paper) citations and a Works Cited page at the end of
the paper, I will not deduct points for errors in the citations.
Audience:
Your readers are people who may or may
not agree with your side. Therefore, you need to consider most
thoughtfully those readers who would disagree with you–and how you
might best reach them.
Counter-arguments:
Good arguments openly acknowledge
differing viewpoints, and respond to them either by 1) conceding
(admitting the opposing viewpoint’s validity, but showing how it doesn’t
wholly defeat your argument) or 2) refuting (disproving the opposing
viewpoint by giving stronger evidence or pointing out faulty logic or
facts). Be sure you address at least one counter-argument in your paper