Objective
This particular argumentative essay gets you to strategically present arguments about an issue, in a very particular style, so as to acknowledge a hostile
audience in a collaborative manner. The argumentative essay format may be familiar to you, but this essay has added techniques that are persuasive in nature.
The spirit of this essay is to imagine you are writing to a hostile audience (See GRM! Chapter 1 for definition of hostile audience). You are approaching the issue with a neutral, curious, and collaborative tone. In doing so, you are avoiding the “war” mentality that Cohen discussed in his Ted Talk For Argument’s Sake. The ru
ic below outlines the different parts of such an essay. To learn more about a collaborative style of arguing, review Rogerian arguments (link provided on e-Class).
This essay is about writing clearly, concisely, convincingly, and collaboratively. This is not solely a research assignment, but you must research your arguments and cite the sources you use. This entails in-body citations and a Reference page. Refer to the APA Guide for assistance. There is a link to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab on eClass, but if this fails to provide the information you need, then you can research other APA information sites or ask for help on the eClass forum.
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Instructions
1. Choose an issue below.
- Should the police be defunded? - Should polygamy be prohibited? - Is euthanasia ethical?
- Does money make us happy?
2. Research arguments for the issue. Each issue has arguments from different perspectives. Compile these different arguments. This is a short essay, so you are looking for main arguments from different stances – this research does not have to be very detailed/extensive. Your paper will discuss main arguments (and elaborate them, argue for them), not document them all.
3. Your research will inform your answer to the issue – which is your argumentative thesis. You don’t start writing your essay without knowing your thesis. In this case, your thesis should be something that becomes clear at the end of your essay (this makes it different from a typical academic argumentative paper).
4. Start writing your essay; follow the template below (see p. 3).
How are we being graded?
Out of 100 marks
Essay Component
Note:
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- Title
- Introductory paragraph that clearly states the issue you’re writing about
- gives some background information for context
- This is a delayed thesis essay – we should not know your position until the end of the paper.
- This is a collaborative approach to a controversial issue; however, if done neutrally and with a curious mind, we should not know that you don’t agree with this position
Once you state these views, continue being collaborative by noting common elements between the different views shared in Body 1 and Body 2. This is a technique that helps a hostile audience see your views too.
The conclusion is where you clearly state and justify your thesis.
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Body Part 1:
- Discuss the arguments that do not support your position (thesis)
- Choose the strongest arguments for this perspective - This can take as many paragraphs as needed based on the arguments you explain
- Point out what makes the arguments good, etc. This is what makes the persuasive style collaborative. Remember, you can still note the strengths of positions you don’t agree with. Strong thinkers are able to do this.
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Body Part 2:
- Discuss the arguments that support your position (thesis)
- Choose the strongest arguments for this position
- This can take as many paragraphs as needed based on the arguments you explain
- Point out the connections between the different positions in body 1 and body 2 – even though they are different positions, what is common among them? Shared values? Even if you disagree with your audience, strong reasoners try and find common ground.
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Conclusion:
- Explain why the second set of arguments are stronger - State your thesis now
- This can take one or two paragraphs – you decide
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Grammar, Collaborative Style/Tone, References (must be APA), Word Count (1000 to 1200 words – does NOT include References)
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