For this paper, you will develop and write an informed argumentative essay of at least 750 words in which you will attempt to balance rhetorical appeals in convincing your audience of your position or of the validity of your position on an issue of your choice. (Note: I strongly recommend avoiding the following topics: abortion, gay marriage, gun control, the legalization of marijuana, climate change, or covid-19. If you really want to write about one of these topics, please consult me BEFORE writing so that we can ensure you write a successful argument about a complex, controversial topic.) 

You are to make a claim on the specific issue you have chosen and support it while being fair to your opposition and acknowledging any possible problems people might see in your suggestions or evidence. Make sure you give context and plenty of strong, credible, responsibly used evidence for your argument. 

You may not use outside research on your topic to back up your claims. You should be developing your point-of-view and claims on your chosen issue all on your own. If you feel that you absolutely must get statistics or facts from an outside source in order to build credibility for yourself, or to develop your concession and refutation, then you must get my approval, first for using a source, then on any individual source you choose. Be thorough. Be open-minded. Avoid bias. Use logical reasoning to support your argument, not opinions and biases. Avoid logical fallacies for the same reason—they damage your credibility. Remember that both your credibility and your logical reasoning are intertwined—careless or underhanded use of good evidence does not make a good argument. Use the argument resources that I have posted on Canvas in the Argument Module!

In your paper, you must represent the opposition’s strongest points and address them (“concession”). DO NOT FORGET TO REFUTE THOSE OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS BY OFFERING A REBUTTAL. 

Formatting:

• Effective Title–get the readers’ attention
• MLA format
• 12 pt. Times New Roman font
• Double-spaced
• Essays must be submitted as a Word document or a PDF–other files are not compatible with canvas and WILL NOT be accepted. 

This is our final essay and it is a culmination of everything you’ve learned this semester. Here are a few things to be aware of as you write:

• Your essay should exhibit appropriate spelling and punctuation. 
• Your essay should demonstrate your understanding of your audience. (Show that you took time to understand their perspective and their feelings about your topic–especially in your concession/refutation. Use appropriate diction, word-choice, and tone for your specific audience.)
• Your essay should demonstrate an awareness of your personal biases. 
• Your essay should demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical strategies we have studied this semester. 

The outline at the bottom counts as first draft