Major Assignment: Argument Paper (1,500-1,800 words ≈ 5-6 double-spaced pages)
This assignment asks you to identify in your paper a specific target audience who either has the ability to affect the problem (for problem papers), or who is actively debating the issue (for issue papers), that you are writing about. Secondary audiences are recommended but not required. Your goal is to make your readers respond to your paper by thinking, feeling, and/or doing something specific, which you should state clearly throughout your paper. Toward these ends, you should:
Concisely explain only necessary background information and history of your topic, including for problem papers: who/what is to blame and how, or for issue papers: what is at risk and why.
Categorize and summarize relevant existing knowledge on your subject. For problem papers, this summary constitutes a “Symptoms and Causes” section; for issue papers, it’s called a “Literature Review” (see the separate literature review assignment). In either case, you must also explain here how your paper “fills a gap” in this pre-existing information on your subject. Your paper cannot pass without contributing something new to your subject area, nor can your paper pass if you present your ideas in it as if you were the only person to have ever addressed your subject.
Make your case for a solution/improvement (for problem papers) or for your opinion (for issue papers), and support that with at least five (5) annotated researched sources (see the separate annotated bibliography assignment).
Make an informed prediction about the future of your issue and argue for its significance in terms of your readers’ values (i.e., why they should care).
Cite and document your research using the current (8th edition) MLA format and an annotated works cited list.
