4-6 full pages, + Works Cited, +Learning Letter, minimum 4 secondary critical source, don’t forget to add a unique title
Goal: Write a 4-6 page argument essay that persuades a specific audience to change a belief or action, or the essay can propose a solution to a problem. Use logical reasons and refute the opposition’s strongest arguments with credible sources and document sources using MLA.
Topic: You must have direct personal experience with your topic as it is from your Course Lens, know your position (opinion) on the topic, and be able to understand opposing viewpoints. The topic must be arguable and have logical reasons. The issue must be same as one developed in Argument Outline. (See Persuasive Project instructions for more details about topics.)
Skills: This assignment builds on previous essays. You will not only practice past skills, but you will also continue to develop new skills. Therefore, work hard on each step of your writing process and spend ample time developing your essay, writing effective sentences, a strong introduction and conclusion, and well supported and connected body paragraphs. You will need to develop a thesis that clearly shows your view to persuade a specific audience.
Source Information: The number of sources will vary depending on the topic. Most essays will need at least four credible secondary critical sources. Many essays will need more. Of these four sources, at least two must be scholarly magazines, academic journals, newspaper articles, or government documents that can be found in electronic databases or government web sites, unless an exception has been negotiated with me. Keep track of all sources you find and your search methods, but for your essay do not list all sources that you found. In your Works Cited, only list sources used in your essay to support your thesis. Wikipedia should not be used in college essays, but it can be a good place to find out general information and possibly to discover more reliable sources that can be used in the essay. Avoid summary sites and sites that sell you essays.
The Internet offers a vast amount of information; however, most sites are not monitored so beware. You need to find reliable websites that provide accurate and current information. As a general rule, .gov and .edu sites are more reliable than .com and .org sites. Stay away from personal homepages, blogs, and sites sponsored by advocacy organizations because they lack credibility. Question everything you read on the Internet. Print sources and electronic databases are usually more reliable so start searching in them. Use a variety of credible sources to support your argument. (See Source Credibility document
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You can include primary research such as an interview with an expert on the subject. In your essay, you will need to show that this person is a credible source of information by explaining his/her expertise. Primary research can offer support for secondary sources. (Only one interview allowed as a source for this essay so choose wisely. An interview is an option but not required.) Your Course Lens is considered a primary source.
Argument: Use your logs to help you research and write your essay. You do not need to stick to the outline; instead make changes as you write, revise your argument, and add your research.
