Researched Argument 1
Researched Argument Essay
Spring 2022
For this assignment, you will write a researched argument essay about an issue, its effects, your stance,
and how it compares/contrasts with other viewpoints.
To begin, refer back to our textbook: Chapter 7 (Structuring Arguments), Chapter 10 (Evaluation),
Chapter 13 (Arguing a Position), Chapter 17 (Academic Arguments), Chapter 18 (Finding Sources),
Chapter 19 (Evaluating Sources), and Chapter 20 (Using Sources).
Your work on the visual and rhetorical analyses should set up the skills necessary to analyze sources,
synthesize research, and make your own rhetorical choices for your subject, context, and intended
audience.
Your response should have a clear introduction with an argumentative thesis, well-structured body
paragraphs that contain credible sources, and a conclusion. Be sure to use transitions at the beginnings
of new body paragraphs to make connections for your reader and clarify your logic.
The Assignment
In addition to academic conventions used for each essay you have written for this class when the revised
paper will:
• Be focused, narrowed, and audience-based
• Use ethos, logos, and pathos appeals, when appropriate, to effectively convey the argument
• Demonstrate attention to rhetorical choices appropriate for the subject, context, and intended
audience
• Signify the meaning and importance of the argument throughout the essay
• Attribute, integrate, and cite source material (from at least five sources) using MLA guidelines
• Be formatted using MLA guidelines
Planning and Drafting Your Researched Argument Paper
Feel free to use these steps to help plan and write your paper:
1. Select a topic that interests you, one that you will benefit from learning. Keep an open mind
when researching. Reading sources on multiple perspectives may challenge and/or alter your
opinion.
2. Review the resources posted in Blackboard on library databases, evaluating sources,
incorporating source material, rhetorical elements such as organization, style, appeals
(pathos/ethos/logos), delivery, etc.
3. Re-read and, if necessary, source material and identify each author’s purpose, audience, and
context.
a. Context: Where and when did the text initially appear? What historical background is
essential in defining this context? What does the background tell us about reader
expectations and reading conventions?
Researched Argument 2
b. Purpose: What does the writer want the readers to do, think, feel, or decide after
reading the text? What does the text enable readers to do while reading—compare
facts, apply information, implement an action, etc.?
c. Audience: Who are the intended readers? What does the text imply about readers’
knowledge or feelings about the subject? What sort of relationship does the writer
establish with the readers?
4. Note important questions, claims, and supporting evidence used in each source. Consider how
the information compares to notes on other sources. Do the sources agree, disagree, question
or challenge one another? How do your opinions and understanding of the topic fit into the
conversation? Your prewriting notes will form the bulk of your body paragraphs.
5. Begin drafting by writing a working thesis that avoids merely reporting on the topic. Instead,
include a clear and specific argumentative thesis statement. The thesis, after all, should
demonstrate the complexity of the issue and the value of your argument. As you work on a
rough draft, you may need to revise your thesis, but developing it early in the process will give
you a solid base upon which to build your rough draft.
6. Now that you have prewriting notes, you are ready to write a rough draft. (Need an example?
See the sample argument essay on page 667.)
Due dates, etc.
COMPLETE ROUGH DRAFT DUE (at least 1200 words, written in complete sentences and paragraphs,
with complete MLA or APA format and documentation): by no later than 11:59 p.m., Saturday, April 9,
2022. Upload your rough draft as an attached file in the Evaluating Sources rough draft + peer
evaluation discussion thread in the Blackboard week 7 folder. No late drafts allowed for rough draft
submission—please see the course syllabus for details on late work.
PEER AND SELF FEEDBACK DUE: Saturday, April 16, 2022, 11:59 p.m. or before. This assignment
requires you to submit feedback on the essay drafts of two classmates + a self-review of your draft (3
reviews total) as part of the Evaluating Sources rough draft + peer evaluation discussion thread in
Blackboard.
FINAL DRAFT DUE: Saturday, April 30, 2022, 11:59 p.m. or before. Upload your revised, edited, and
proofread final draft in the Blackboard Week 9 folder. You are welcome to ask Beth questions at any
point throughout the process and schedule a conference if desired. If you do wish to conference, please
make an appointment in advance. You should seek feedback from DMACC Online Tutoring (DOT) and
Smarthinking.com, even if you also arrange a conference.
You will submit your paper to the final draft link in Blackboard.
