Compose an essay of 1,500-3,000 words whereby you take a position on some relevant topic

ENGLISH 1101

WEEKS 6-7 ASSIGNMENTS

Fall 2020

Dear All,

Please see below for Weeks 6-7 assignments. Read them carefully and follow the directions for each. Assignments are due no later than Monday, October 12 (unless otherwise noted). Let me know if you have any questions or run into any problems.

Stay safe and well,

DLD

ASSIGNMENT 1
Please read the entire document carefully. That’s it. Just read the position paper guidelines/requirements closely and carefully. There is nothing to turn in for this assignment. Again, you are just reading the assignment guidelines/requirements.

THE POSITION PAPER

Please read this entire document carefully.

     Your next paper for this course will involve writing a position paper, complete with documentation and all of the other bells and whistles.  Ideally, the position paper is a place for discovery, as well as a place to reason through your own personal convictions on some relevant topic. Position papers are persuasive in design, with argumentation serving as the primary framework.  Writing a position paper requires insight that is driven by informed, logical, and well-reasoned arguments. 

     That said, you have already begun the initial research for this paper. You have identified three topics, crafted thesis statements for each, and created a short annotated bibliography for those topics. Now, you must choose one of those topics and begin outlining your paper (see sample outline template included).

NOTE
*An outline is essential and will serve as a test grade. The outline should also be completed and submitted first (see due dates below).

*Your final paper will include the formal outline, the position paper, a works cited page/annotated bibliography, and any appendix (if applicable). 

Please see due dates below.

CHECKLIST

     Make sure you keep in mind some of the problems that occur in argumentation.  Some of those traps include:  argumentum ad hominem (the attempt to discredit a view by discrediting the person holding the view, rather than the view itself); appeals to emotion (arguments that try to establish conclusions solely by attempting to arouse or play on the emotions of a listener or reader, rather than deal with the issue being argued); red herring (a general term for those arguments that address a point other than the one that is at issue); begging the question/circular reasoning (more or less assuming the very thing that the argument is intended to prove—for example– Politicians cannot be trusted. Only an untrustworthy person would run for office; the fact that politicians are untrustworthy is proof of this. Therefore, politicians cannot be trusted.” Such an argument is fallacious because it relies upon its own proposition [in this case, “politicians are untrustworthy”] in order to support its central premise. Essentially, the argument assumes that its central point is already proven, and uses this in support of itself.).  You will also need to pay special attention to grammar/usage/mechanics.

GUIDELINES

1. Compose an essay of 1,500-3,000 words whereby you take a position on some relevant topic. Remember, you have already identified three potential topics. Select one of those topics. You must follow all MLA OR APA guidelines (i.e., parenthetical citations, works cited page, etc.).
   Note: You may select the manuscript format of APA or MLA depending on your field of study. If you are undecided on your major/field of study, choose either format. MLA will give you fewer headaches. It is a user-friendly manuscript format.
2. Sources Needed:
   1. 3 scholarly resources (e.g., scholarly journals/research studies, news periodicals)
      *Use Galileo or Google Scholar for your research to ensure credibility of your sources.
3. Create a formal outline of your paper/position. Your outlines will count as a test grade and must include your sources with specific evidence (author, page #s, publication), along with a works cited page/annotated bibliography.
4. Submit ALL notes, drafts, feedback, etc. (Place this in your appendix).

SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR POSITION PAPER

1. Introduction

___A. Introduce the topic

___B. Provide history or background on the topic

___C. Describe your view of the issue (thesis)

2. Opposing Argument

___A. Briefly describe some of the counter arguments

___B. List some facts or details that support the counterclaim

___C. Refute the opposing view using facts or details that support your side

3. Your Argument – 3 Points of Attack, try to make your points directly refute the counter argument points when possible.

___A. State the first point of your argument

_____1. Give your personal opinion about the point

           _____2. Provide evidence, research, testimony, other detail that support your opinion

___B. State the second point of your argument

           _____1. Give your personal opinion about the point

_____2. Provide evidence, research, testimony,
           ___C. State the third point of your argument

           _____1. Give your personal opinion about the point

_____2. Provide evidence, research, testimony, other detail that support your opinion

4. Conclusion

___A. Restate both sides of the argument

___B. Summarize your three argument points

___C. Provide a plan of action

Here is a link to a more detailed outline – https://valenciacollege.edu/wp/cssc/documents/SampleArgumentOutline.pdf

*Please copy & paste the above link into a search window.

Sample Position Papers

MLA format: https://projects.ncsu.edu/eslglobe/nmswishe/Model%20Argument%20Paper.pdf

APA format: https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Hacker-Sample%20APA%20Formatted%20Paper.pdf

*Please copy & paste the above link into a search window.

ASSIGNMENT 3

• Choose ONE topic from the ones you submitted last week. That will be the topic of your position paper.
  Note: There is nothing to turn in. You are just choosing ONE topic for your paper.

ASSIGNMENT 4

• Once you have selected your position paper topic, begin your research and create a formal outline of your paper. See sample outlines provided above. Your outline will count as a test grade and must include your sources with specific supporting evidence (author, page #s, publication), along with an annotated bibliography.
  • What to turn in: Formal Outline and Annotated Bibliography.
  • Due Monday, October 5, 2020 by 11:59 pm.

ASSIGNMENT 5

• Compose an essay of 1,500-3,000 words whereby you take a position on your chosen topic (see Assignments above). You must follow all MLA OR APA guidelines (i.e., parenthetical citations, annotated bibliography, etc.).
  Note: You may select the manuscript format of APA or MLA depending on your field of study. If you are undecided on your major/field of study, choose either format. MLA will give you fewer headaches. It is a user-friendly manuscript format.
  • Counts as 2 test grades (1 for content, 1 for conventions of language/format).
  • Due Monday, October 12, 2020 by 11:59 pm.