Objective: Employing what we have learned of argument (evidence, appeals, opposition, etc) and of audience (targeting, rhetorical strategy, sensitivity of delivery) to construct a reasonable, balanced, position argument essay over a controversial topic. Research and document sources employing methodologies recommended by the Modern Language Association (MLA), described in our textbooks and in class.
The Assignment: Persuade a designated audience toward your perspective in a documented position argument.
Length: 6 pages in length in proper format as per syllabus. (The Works Cited page is NOT included in the word/page length. You should have the minimum of YOUR text.)
Audience: Satisfying audience is the objective of this assignment. The objective is to reach your reader. The best method of working that audience toward your ends would be (at the very least) acknowledging the other side and establishing common ground.
Sources: Use at least 6 quality sources. Quality will be determined not only on how generally credible and sound a source may be, but how relevant and appropriate that source is for the particular rhetorical situation you have created (ie. for your audience). Two resources must come from the Butler Library databases. Give your readership what it needs, from sources it will attend to.
You may not use all of the same source. This means you cannot use all internet sites or all scholarly journal articles or all books. You need to show that you have gotten research from a variety of places in a variety of types.
The employment of sources must clearly be supportive of the overall argument. Sources should be evidence, not the argument itself.
Documentation: As sources are used in the body of the essay, they must be cited appropriately according to MLA documentation guidelines both in-text and on the works cited page.
