Researched Argument
Length: 5-7 pages, MLA Style
Peer Review Workshop: Upload to Canvas for peer review on Monday, April 11. Group members must respond by Thursday, April 14.
Due to Canvas: Monday, April 18 by 5 pm
Special Note: Remember, we are writing about food in this class, so your annotated bibliography and researched argument must both connect to food in some way.
The right to be heard does not include the right to be taken seriously.
– Hubert Humphrey
To make an argument is fundamental to modern America: we argue about everything. We argue with our friends and families; we argue with our neighbors and citizens everywhere on the internet. The arguments are sometimes friendly and obvious (Nickelback is the worst band of our time) and sometimes heated (U2 is the most overrated band of our time). We argue for fun and we argue with purpose.
In the business and academic worlds, the ability to make good arguments is of paramount importance. We advance our jobs and we advance knowledge through our arguments. An accountant in a multi-billion dollar corporation will have to make an argument for the millions of dollars out of balance on annual fiscal reports (unless his name is Donald Trump). The small businessperson will have to make an argument to a loan officer about the financing of the business’ expansion. The teacher will have to make an argument for the beneficial effects of a new pedagogy. In academia the sociologist will have to make an argument for a new concept based on empirical data or the literature scholar an argument for a new interpretation of an Elizabeth Bishop poem.
Where in our personal lives we can make arguments based on little more than our own opinions with little to no evidence and in some cases little to no logic, in academia and the professions, rhetoricians and writers, to be taken seriously, must adhere to the aforementioned critical factors. Imagine the small businessperson approaching a loan officer for money to expand her business. When the loan officer asks why she should get the loan, the businesswoman replies with the fact that she has a gut feeling that the expansion will be good for her business. Or imagine the teacher who replies about the benefits of a new pedagogy with the fact that it seems exciting. These are arguments that don’t typically wash. Instead, imagine the businesswoman with market analysis and demographic information and the teacher with research studies. These are claims with evidence.
The Researched Argument has you writing about a topic in an informed way. Here are some things you should consider as you begin this project:
Scope: You want to be careful after choosing a general idea not to leave it too big. Think about your topic: does it seem like one could write a book or number of books on the topic? You’ll want to narrow down your topic to a workable, not overly general, size. Global warming is too big; the various green energy sources are too big; an argument against clean coal technology is a little better. An argument against eating meat is too big; an argument supporting the ban on froiegras is better. Think narrow, narrow, narrow in relation to your topic.
Credibility: How do you establish your credibility? In this context you establish it by showing that you have command (good knowledge) of the issue. Using good sources is only one part of this. Thus, for this paper, you must utilize at least three articles from peer-reviewed scholarly journals as research (as well as quote and cite them correctly). You must also be able to make logical claims and anticipate other, opposing positions; in effect, show that you know the conversation surrounding the issue. Credibility also has to do with how you express your ideas. You should present your argument using more or less correct grammar/mechanics and good organization of your ideas.
Academic Form: Academic arguments have in common that they include assertions, context, and evidence. Remember! You are a writer making an argument to an audience in a given context.
Paper Format Requirements:
- MLA style formatting and citations
- A descriptive paper title
- Double-spaced throughout
- 1 inch maximum margins
- Page numbers
- 12-pt maximum font size