Your Writing Task

This essay is to be an argument bolstered by research to make readers see things your way (or at least to see the validity of your view).

This will be the final revisable writing assignment for the quarter. This assignment calls for a rather traditional and formal argument. The topic is to be drawn from the reading of "Part Four: Around the World in Five Chapters" from Guns, Germs and Steel. You can choose pretty much any topic you desire as long as you can set it up using a passage from one of the assigned chapters that doesn't distort the context in which that passage was found. As with the second and third essays, the introduciton should lay the groundwork for your argument by providing a passage from the reading to serve as a spring board for the discussion.

Because this is also an introduction to research, you are required to use evidence from research you conduct. Do your best to argue for something because that is a more effective rhetorical strategy than arguing against something. Three outside, secondary sources are required and can include interviews with experts, journals, magazines, books, radio or television shows, films, or any other source outside yourself that is reliable and authoritative. You have some experience with evaluating reliability and authoritativeness based on your second and third essays, so choose wisely.

The essay is expected to contain a thesis that makes a point that should be developed using Aristotelian Argument format, which requires a clearly evident opposing view and its refutation or rebuttal. Each point made in support of this argument is required to have a specific example from your research and an appropriate in-text citation from an authoritative secondary source and a clearly established relationship to the thesis. Additionally, paragraphing, sentences, grammar and mechanics will be under review.

Sources must be cited using proper MLA format both in the body of the essay and the works cited page, which is also required. Three sources minimum are required (in addition to what we read this quarter). Only one of these sources may be from the web. One source must be a book or journal (library database articles count) from the last six months. The essay should be about 4 full pages in length with a 12-point font. The required works cited page does not count toward these pages.

 Process and Timeline

1. Read and annotate "Part Four: Around the World in Five Chapters. Due in class on November 15
2. Submit Draft for response by midnight Friday, November 18.
3. Respond to two drafts by midnight Sunday, November 20.
4. Bring draft for microrevision to class on Tuesday, November 22
5. Submit draft for grading by midnight Wednesday, November 23.

Sample Argument Essay