Definition: A sound argument makes a claim and offers reasons and evidence in su

Posted: September 20th, 2023

Definition: A sound argument makes a claim and offers reasons and evidence in support of that claim. A sound argument also anticipates opposing viewpoints and acknowledges, accommodates, and/or refutes them. Argument essays contend with controversial issues, problems, or ideas in which people disagree. Remember, when you are writing an argumentative essay you are taking a stand and posing a solution or providing “a call to action.”
Research and writing are very closely connected. No matter what you intend to write, you will almost certainly gather information from credible sources to appeal to your reader; also, when you use credible source materials you also become a credible writer.
Assignment: Write an argument essay on one of the following topics below. Make a claim about the issue and develop an argument in support of your claim – take a stand for or against something. You must find a controversial issue concerning one of the options below; narrow your focus because the choices below are very broad. Be careful, if you are too you, narrow you will not be able to reach your page length. If you are too broad, you will not be able to thoroughly explain your topic. Be sure to use various types of examples to support your claim.
Educational System
Media/Technology System
Prison System
Medical System
Format:
6-8 pages
MLA (in-text citation and work cited page)
6 or more outside sources (consider stories read from text, Library sources such as books and/or scholarly journals, and any .edu, .gov, .org websites)
Writing center assistance (recommended but optional)
Write the essay in the third person – Avoid: I, You, We, Us…
The system will check for plagiarism – you are allowed to have 20% or lower on the originality report
Try to lower this number if your essay has a higher percentage (the system is not 100% accurate, so 20% is acceptable)
The system will highlight all of your sources that should be sited
Make changes in punctuation, see rules on proper in-text citation to bring this number down
Seek support from the Learning Center
A Successful Paper Will:
Use credible sources from the places stated above;
Have a strong, focused claim that clearly states what you are for or what you are against;
Incorporate an analogy;
Meet the page length requirements;
Use MLA appropriately;
Thoroughly edit the final draft;
Address con points and refute or accommodate them;
Propose a solution or a call to action;
Use various types of examples: facts, and expert testimony.