“The Impact of Remote Work on Urban Development.”
Write an essay of 1200-1500 words (not counting a Works Cited/References page, if applicable) that argues a position on a topic of your choosing. When choosing an issue, keep in mind that it must be:
Controversial — an issue that people disagree about
Arguable — a matter of opinion on which there is no absolute proof or authority
One that you care about
Choosing an issue about which you have special interest or knowledge usually works best. Also, if you are thinking about addressing an issue of national concern, focus on a local or a very specific aspect of it. For example, instead of addressing censorship in general, write about a local lawmaker’s recent effort to enact a law censoring the internet, a city council’s attempt to block access to internet sites at the public library, or your school board’s ban on certain books.
Purpose: Outside of the classroom, the ability to construct an argument is a useful skill that allows our voices to be heard and taken seriously. Even a job interview can be seen as an argument since the interviewee is basically arguing that they are the best person for the job. Not only this, but constructing sound arguments also asks that we consider others’ points of view, which develops open-mindedness and empathy. In our class, this assignment meets objectives such as, “Practice writing processes, including brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, revising, and reflecting, in academic writing,” and “Compose expository writing using methods of organization and structure that are clear and appropriate to the form.”
Steps:
For this assignment, you will complete following steps:
Decide on a debatable issue you feel strongly about; have it approved by your instructor.
Consider whether your audience is likely to agree or disagree with you. Either way, you should present your argument in a respectful manner (those who disagree are not “opponents”).
Develop an arguable statement into a thesis that asserts your position and at least one reason why.
Use ethical appeals to establish your credibility, use logical appeals to strengthen your points, and use emotional appeals with caution (consider whether they would appeal to your audience or deter them).
Organize your argument effectively, which may mean using the classical, Toulmin, or Rogerian methods of organization.
Present counterarguments in a fair manner and concede or refute them effectively in a way that does not detract from your position or confuse your reader.
Decide if you need to research your topic further and if so, cite sources using MLA, APA, or similar guidelines (both in-text and Works Cited/References page citations are required).
Adhere to MLA, APA, or another format. Rough drafts will be graded not on content, but on completion. The final draft will be due in Achieve, where a rubric is also available. You will also upload your final essay to SL&L:
Find SL&L (Formally Via) on navbar and click on it.
Find your Composition 1101 course on the In Progress page
Click on Activity ENGL 1101 Assessment
Upload your Arguing a Position essay
