Course Critical Thinking Resources and Argumentation Handouts Writing Task

To earn passing credit for the course, writers must produce a passing researched essay on the deadline, an essay that uses sources to support an argumentative solution to a problem, applying and advocating critical thinking skills.
Writers must produce readable sentences and consistently use MLA format. In addition to the essay, writers must complete graded pre-writing assignments: a position paper, an argument brief, a rough planning outline, and a proposed works cited page. Separate instructions on pre-writing assignments will be available on the Canvas Module page. Reading Reference Needs: Minimum three sources not included among the course reading requirements, on a topic and issue related to a guiding purpose or enough from which to conclude and clearly state an effective thesis.
The thesis cannot be a fact or a question. Course Critical Thinking Resources and Argumentation Handouts Writing Task: Compose a minimum four page, argumentative researched essay, based on findings in primary and secondary reading sources, in addition to any appropriate arguments from any authors we have already read or discussed. Argue for a solution or counter balancing response to current or recent issue exposed by online, print media and articles in current periodicals, textbooks, encyclopedias, critical arguments, as well as books. To do the research, writers choose an issue defined by the ways that a population or group agrees and disagrees about a solution to a problem. Writers must take a stand on serious issues that call for resolution to a question at issue for the audience. Topics, Issues, and Requirements First, the essay must be an argument. It is not necessary to write a very long essay, and so writing on topics for the purpose of reporting on or exposing a big body of facts and information—sometimes called a “data dump”—will not be acceptable or sufficient. As well, papers on serious but broad topics such as nativism, fascism, colorism, consumerism, criminalization, mass incarceration, misogyny, racism, bullying, tribalism, gender discrimination, nationalism, and political nepotism are too big for this brief assignment. In other words, narrow your topic to a specific critical question at issue from research on topics such as above that could emerge from your research, especially as relevant to your educational and professional goals. If you are unsure on the nature of a topic size and purpose, please read the model research paper listed on the Module page. Second, writers must apply concepts and principles of critical thinking to make a coherent argument that supports an effective thesis statement on an issue. In other words, the essay will not be adequate if it does not apply the elements, terms, and vocabulary of critical thinking as well as the five parts of good arguments and four kinds of claims and good reasons. Consider that effective strategies should be applied to a solution on a problem that has itself been caused by a lack of critical thinking. Third, writers must argue from reasons and evidence derived from and supported by facts and judgments from valid and reliable sources: books and online articles in recent periodical publications. That way, you can extend or change a current topic and problem relevant to your educational aims, professional aspirations, and personal goals. Fourth, writers may be able to form discussion groups to explore reading and writing ideas; discussion on common topics can facilitate or augment comparisons and contrasts on new or existing solutions or claims. Again, writers should use research writing models, research guidelines and methods among the sources. If possible, sources should be peer reviewed. Approaches can be applied from previous assignments, to do inquiry, research, and argument for the purpose of mediating, convincing and/or persuading a real audience. Refuting Arguments A worthwhile strategy is to refute arguments and solutions that might be made against the support of your position on an issue. For example, acknowledging the objections you find and/or anticipate from an opposing argument— including government, media, or political propaganda—should help your case. Conceding the existence of other viewpoints in order to argue against the flaws in the opposing arguments keeps your argument from being one-sided. If you make an argument that only proposes your side, another arguer could object, but you won’t be there to respond. General Guiding Purposes: Convince: Make a case against or in favor of an idea or principle for reasons and evidence that your audience should accept. Persuade: Likewise, argue against or in favor of an action for the audience to undertake. Mediate: Argue against or in favor of a solution that the audience can use to integrate an idea or action acceptable as a new solution compared to the two sides of the issue. Suggested Prewriting Sequence: Position Paper Argument Brief Planning Outline Proposed (unfinished) Works Cite Page Final Draft should be submitted on the Canvas Speed-grader by 11 December for a grade. Get Started and Go Ahead to the Next Stage Choose a research topic and write out an opinion or position paper, based on an arguable issue that involves several perspectives. As you are writing your side of the topic you should plan to add other viewpoints, including objections to your viewpoint. Use the two sides to formulate a trial thesis, leaving room for changes as your research proceeds. You may state your completed thesis at the beginning (deductive) or at the end of your essay (inductive), but you must tell a position or possible positions near the beginning. After completing the main part of the research, decide which side you are on and state an effective thesis as concluded from the research. Arguments can be inductive or deductive, but the evidence for the thesis must be properly introduced, not over-quoted, and cited in-text. Please follow the MLA format; sources must be listed alphabetically on a separate Works Cited page, according to models of format. Suggested Guidelines for Choosing an Essay 4 Research Topic To compose an argumentative researched essay of 4-5 pages, you may be able to inquire into appropriate arguments of any previous readings by the authors we have read or discussed and are listed on the syllabus (including reading sources) listed on the syllabus). To develop and learn from a good researched essay, the writer needs a very interesting question. Excerpts of Thunberg, Angela Davis, and Le Thi Diem Thuy are posted on the Module page could be helpful. Their speeches, interviews, and narrations may be relevant to other claims on issues of racial injustice, immigration, and environmental preservation. However, Essay 4 as a rewrite of Essay 2 or Essay 3 is not recommended, but research into climate change, racial injustices, and immigration is highly recommended if you choose a narrowed issue and make a specific argument. Once you have chosen your issue, begin research on it using at least two additional and appropriate reasonable texts at hand such as from current articles in current periodicals and viewpoints from online media, and print media library databases. Then argue for a solution or counter balancing responses to current or recent arguments. However, be wary of unreliable and anecdotal social media sources. Arguments can be inductive, inductive, or a combination of both. From your inquiry and research, you can settle into the issue you are interested in and one defined by the ways that arguers agree and disagree on solutions to the problem. Major current topics from a start-up opinion on immigration, racial discrimination, criminalization, drug addiction, mass incarceration, gender discrimination, climate change, and political corruption are likely, but specific critical issues should emerge in your research so that you support a position using several credible supporting sources. Inquiry into the topic could be directly related to your current educational interest or major, e.g., racism in nursing practices. Rely on the five parts of a good argument and use the four kinds of claims: facts, examples, definition and classification, causes and consequences, evaluation, and other judgments from articles in recent periodical publications as well as books. Compare positions and expose current trends that contrast with government and media propaganda, and other controversial discourse. That way, you can extend or change the topic you chose for the essay start up. You can form a strategy to explore reading and writing ideas to augment comparisons and contrasts on new or existing solutions or claims. Further, use research writing models to follow the research style and methods. Other approaches may emerge for inquiry, research, and argument for the purpose of convincing or persuading an audience. Develop a trial thesis to keep testing until it works to achieve your guiding purpose, one that states a solution to an intellectual issue that needs resolution—not an informational “claim” or a one-sided rant on a favorite hobbyhorse complaint. Refute arguments that might be against the support of your trial thesis. However, acknowledging the objections you anticipate from an opposing argument— including government, media, or political propaganda—should help your case because conceding the existence of other viewpoints in opposing arguments keeps your argument from being one-sided. Remember that if you make an argument that only proposes your side, other arguers could object, but you won’t be there to respond. In order to argue against the flaws of other solutions, study over the elements of reasoning, rationality, intellectual values, and intellectual standards in order to apply the concepts of critical in your own arguments. Always be wary of logical fallacies, such as unsupported assumptions or over-generalizations.

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