https://www.npr.org/2021/05/24/999975843/texas-gets-ready-to-allow-unlicensed-carrying-of-handguns
For Project One, you select one of the following articles and write an argument about why the article’s topic is important to reasonable people, even those not directly interested or involved in the topic (no other research is needed or allowed; this just your own thinking):
Your essay title should clearly tell me what your specific, narrowed-down topic is, what your genuinely debatable claim is about the topic’s IMPORTANCE (meaning other people might argue differently and they could be just as right as you are), and you have to use the word “because” to provide the warrant for your claim (why you make the claim that reasonable people should pay attention whether they agree or not with what is happening). Here’s an example you can follow: The . . . Law in Texas: Important Because. . .. Be sure your title is capitalized correctly. If you don’t know capitalization rules, take the time to look them up and get it right. I don’t want to have to spend time correcting basic errors; we need to focus on larger-order concerns with your writing.
Like the title, your thesis should clearly tell me what your specific, narrowed-down topic is, what your genuinely debatable claim is about the topic (meaning other people might argue differently and they could be just as right as you are), and you have to use the word “because” to provide the warrant for your claim (why you make the claim). The title and the thesis might sound very similar, so use / adjust the model I gave you above for the title to write your slightly more detailed thesis.
Organize your argument essay about the topic’s importance in the classical system framework: Introduction, with your thesis at the end of the intro, background (help readers understand this topic), lines of argument (supporting your arguable thesis–why you think you are right about its importance), consideration of alternative arguments (where you demonstrate that you are fair by considering and addressing how readers might disagree with your thesis), and conclusion (where you emphasize the larger significance of your claim–why does it matter that you are correct?).
Your essay should present a thesis that is your arguable claim about the value of your topic (depending on which article you select) from the list above. By “value,” I mean why is the topic important and why should reasonable people be informed about it, even if they are not interested or involved directly in the topic? What can happen if people don’t pay attention to the topic or don’t think it’s important? I’m not asking for an argument from you that takes a position on the topic–instead, I want an argument about why the topic is important. That makes it a bit more challenging. For example, I don’t want a “pro-gun carry without licensing in Texas argument” from you–instead, I want to know why what Texas is doing with this law is important to everyone, even those not directly involved or even interested. What are the larger ramifications of what Texas is doing? Just use your article from the list and do your own thinking about how to answer these questions–no other research is needed or allowed here. Each student in the class is going to approach this assignment differently–and that’s OK! To be clear, any use of outside research (besides the article you pick from the list, which you can certainly use) results in a failing grade for this assignment.
MLA format, 2 pages w/ workcited page
