Argument essay brief

Activity

On page 84 in The Aims of Argument is a section titled "Preparing a Brief." Begin reading that section until you get to page 99 and study the section titled "Student Sample: Using Evidence." Finally, complete the "Following Through" activity on page 100, which states the following:

After you prepare a complete brief as shown on page 99, I want you to also complete a bibliography for your argument essay. This bibliography should reflect the sources you plan on using for your argument paper. Be thorough and use correct MLA style for your bibliography.

Guidelines

You will write a argument brief reflecting what you plan on including into your argument essay. Along with this brief should be your bibliography using correct MLA guidelines. There is no paper length to this assignment, but typically the brief is 2 pages and the bibliography is 1-2 pages.

Suggestions

My first suggestion is to first complete your reading and researching before you write your brief. Next, write down your thesis sentence and your main reasons for supporting your thesis. You may only need or have 2-3 reasons to support your thesis, and that is fine. Lastly, include a list of evidence you have accumulated for your reasons. Your evidence list could easily go into lots of detail to support your reasons, but do not go into too much detail. Be short and to the point with what evidence you plan on using in your argument essay, as shown in the example on page 99.

Argument Essay

Activities

The writer Erik Muller defines argument as "the result of thinking and reasoning, presenting evidence to support a point." Since the research section of this essay has been completed, it is now time to write your argument essay. Keep in mind the aims you have learned this semester: to inquire, to convince, to persuade and to negotiate. With this in mind, make sure to include in your essay a thesis statement or claim, supporting evidence for your claim, counterarguments to your claim, and your response to those counterarguments. Your brief should be a big help in organizing the early stages of writing your rough draft.

Guidelines

You will write an argument essay to a general public interested in your topic. The purpose is to persuade your audience, taking a position on the issue, discussing the pros and cons, and seeking to persuade us toward your views. Your paper will be 6-8 pages typed, double-spaced, using MLA style for internal citations and works cited. Use the sources you discovered this semester in your bibliography.

Suggestions

The single most important element to this assignment is to save and collect all of your assignments throughout the semester. You will rely on this compilation for writing your paper. Each small assignment in some way adds to this paper. Take a stand on the issue, develop your ideas with supporting evidence, discuss opposing views to your position, and respond to those opposing views.