Researched Argument Rough Draft

Throughout this course, we have been focusing our attention on the practice of arguing to find meaning. Because of that, it is important to practice balancing opposing viewpoints of a single issue. This essay allows you the chance to do just that.

Much of the writing you will be doing throughout your academic and professional career will be argumentative; thus, this essay will help you to hone your rhetorical skills in several ways:

1. First, this essay will help you to establish an environment of civilized discourse within your writing (essential for productive argumentation);


2. Secondly, this essay will allow you to practice your research skills in both identifying and integrating sound arguments;


3. And thirdly, this essay gives you a chance to practice your critical thinking skills—skills you will need for success throughout your academic and professional life.

Remember, the purpose of this essay is not to prove whether you are right or wrong, but instead prove that you can fairly present two sides of an argument and logically determine the best solution to the problem you are faced with. With that in mind, we ask that you withhold your personal opinion, personal judgments of the material, or personal narrative until the concluding remarks of your essay.

*Note that no one writes a polished essay in a single sitting. Start early and give yourself time for multiple revisions.

The rough draft of your essay should meet the following guidelines:

• is between 900 and 1200 words in length;


• includes direct quotations and paraphrased passages from four or more scholarly texts representing more than one side of the issue;


• qualifies each of the authors (authors representing each side of the debate should have compatible credibility);


• withholds personal opinion until the conclusion of the essay;


• is written clearly, concisely, and accurately;


• is written primarily in third-person;


• includes a References page;


• has been closely edited so that it contains few or no mechanical errors.

Researched Argument Checklist: Use this to evaluate your rough draft against the assignment requirements:

• Does this essay present a clear argument on a topic?


• Does this essay treat two sides of the argument equally and fairly?


• Does the essay cite, at minimum, four scholarly sources?


• Are the authors for the articles qualified? Who are they? Use signal phrases/attributive tags to introduce the authors.


• What is the purpose of this essay? What does it do to meet that purpose? How effective is the argument?


• Does this essay avoid second person language and limit first person language?


• Are there elements of pathos, ethos, and logos in this essay? Do these appeals work together to propose a solution?


• Does the essay avoid logical fallacy in the reasoning behind the solution?


• Does the essay use APA in-text citation and is there an APA format references page?