The Persuasive Argument Paper #1 is an integrative assignment that supports synthesis and the three course learning outcomes:
apply knowledge of cultural and historical influences, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings on conceptions of gender, gender roles, and gender similarities and differences to make informed decisions regarding human behavior
effectively communicate information about gender, gender roles, and gender similarities and differences to individuals, communities, and organizations
value diversity and different perspectives on gender, gender roles, and gender similarities and differences; tolerate ambiguity; and act ethically to interact appropriately with various sociocultural and international populations
Objective: Write a well-developed argumentative essay on a topic of your choosing that specifically relates to concepts, theories, and issues introduced in this course. Submit a 3- to 5-page, APA style persuasive argument essay, that communicates how specific topics, theories, and research findings discussed in this course: 1) shaped your opinion on the topic and 2) support a psychological research-based argument designed to persuade others to share that opinion.
What an Argumentative Essay?
The argumentative essay is a specific type of writing in which the author chooses
one side of an argument and supports the claim with evidence.
The evidence is collected through research and used to reinforce the author’s
opinion and to develop arguments designed to persuade others to accept or adopt the author’s position.
Instructions Summary: The principal steps for the assignment are…
Select an issue or dilemma of interest, inspired by the content of this course.
Review the pertinent literature.
Decide on your perception; take a stance based on the consensus from the psychological literature you have reviewed (you will need to cite your sources throughout this paper).
Write and submit for grading a well composed, 3- to 5-page (APA style formatted) persuasive argument paper that …
Presents your perception in the form of a thesis statement.
Summarizes the issues; demonstrates an understanding of the controversy.
Defends/argues in favor of your perception using all psychological research and resources available.
Finishes with a strong summary statement that reinforces your thesis.
Proofread your work; use grammar/spellcheck functions.
Revise; submit final draft.
Constructing the Paper:
Your selected topic can revisit a psychology of gender question, issue or dilemma discussed in class, found within the empirical literature, or be one you have developed. Each approach will afford you the opportunity to synthesize information from the course
Within the document…
a. Introduce. Concisely introduced the reader to the topic.
Hook: Open the first paragraph with a “hook” statement. This is a brief introduction to a generally related topic that grabs the reader’s attention. (Usually 1-2 sentences in length.)
Anchor the introduction discussion with a clear, concise, and defensible thesis statement. The thesis statement should be a persuasive statement that introduces the reader to the topic, the position you will take, and how you will support that position within the essay. That is, your thesis should be specific, accurate, and arguable (i.e., seen from at least two points of view). The thesis statement is often positioned as the last sentence in the paper’s opening paragraph. The order of points made within the thesis often match the order of the arguments in the paper.
b. Present your arguments. Within the body of the paper construct paragraphs that are dedicated to each argument. A useful (but not necessarily required) rhythm for building a paragraph in support of an argument is:
Topic sentence: Open with a persuasive statement that clearly explains a reason from your thesis that you intend to defend. *
Example: Provide a concrete example that will show/prove your topic sentence. This is where evidence pulled from the literature will be valuable.
Explain: Do not assume the audience understands how the example connects to the topic sentence. Explain what examples prove within the context of your argument.
Closing sentence: provide a statement that demonstrates why the topic discussed in the paragraph is so important.
c. Conclusions. In your conclusion review the points made. Do not just reword or repeat your thesis. Readdress it within the context of the provided evidence. Incorporate the “so what.” That is, close with a statement that calls your audience to do, change, or believe something. You can also close with a thoughtful statement on why the information discussed is important on a larger scale.
* Construct logical transitions between paragraphs.
d. Connect. Throughout the paper support assertions made. Express interrelated ideas coherently and logically. Anticipate your audience’s counter arguments or objections and address them. This is necessary for the essay to be truly persuasive. Responding to counter arguments and pointing out why they are not valid can be as important as presenting your own.
e. Include sources. Incorporate information for the pertinent literature. The paper should include references from the text, outside reading assigned by your instructor, and relevant peer-reviewed psychological journals. A minimum of 3 peer-reviewed journal articles are required, in addition to the sources found within the course. The paper may also include material from other sources.
f. Use Authorial Voice. Discuss materials in your own words and your own writing style and structure. Avoid excessive use of direct quotes. Doing so may incur a point penalty for each occurrence or not be accepted as content towards the page count.
g. Apply APA Style**. Neatly and concisely present an APA formatted 3-5 page document containing
Title page (not included in the page count)
Introduction
Body
Conclusions
References page (not included in the page count)
Properly formatted in-text citations and references
