Criteria Sheet: Refutation

For this assignment, write an essay that refutes a political argumentrelated to a Covid-19 conspiracy theory that someone in a position of power has expressed in a specific “published” document.

Find an argument you find interesting yet unsuccessful and write an essay that explores, argues and explains why the logic is unsound or why the argument is otherwise flawed.  You must use research to do this.For your first essay,  you were analyzing the argument and displaying a knowledge of it.  Do that for this one too, but I am asking you to calmly and methodically disagree with it.

Remember what our textbook says about presenting arguments in a fair and reasonable manner.  You must treat the author and the argument (or at least appear to treat them) with dignity and respect.  

Some suggestions:

*Context:  Why is the issue important now and what events have led us to its present context?

*Audience:  Who is interested in the position and why is it important to them?  Who is or will be

primarily affected by the position?

*Ethos/Logos/Pathos:  How do emotion, logic, and credibility factor into the author’s position?

*Coded Language/Baiting:  Is the author really saying something else? Is the position subversive or              misleadingin any way?

*Repercussions:  What would be the effects if the author’s position is implemented, continued, or stopped

in its tracks?

*”Conservatism” and “Liberalism”:  Is the position you’ve chosen to refute a “conservative” or

“liberal” one?  How do you know and what does that mean?

*Race/Class/Religion/Gender/S.O.:  How do race, class, religious views, gender, sexual orientation, and other types of identity effect your author’s position?

Format:

*MLA style

                                *Four to seven pages

                                *At least 4 credible sources

Content:                *A clear purpose throughout your essay.

                                *A debatable claim presented in a carefully crafted thesis statement

                                *Evidence that you have read Read Up, Write Up

                                *Clearly presented reasons that support your claim

                                *Quality of thought

*A logical argument

*A clear organization

                                *Evidence of solid research

*Correctly documented sources

*Consciousness of audience (our academic community)

                                *No spelling or grammatical errors

                                *A consistent point of view