Required Length: 1000 words minimum
Worth 10% of final grade
In the past few weeks of class, we’ve looked at different styles of arguments and what those styles look like. This essay is the first of two different styles of argument you will write in for class. The good thing about the Toulmin argument is that it’s nothing you haven’t had to do in previous English classes. It’s your standard argument with a fancy name to it. Remember that the goal of the Toulmin essay is to prove that you’re right and the other side is wrong.
To complete this assignment, you need to find a debate or discussion that is going on (I highly prefer that you find a debate or issue that is going on in your general academic discipline so that this assignment is a lot more useful to you than the traditional English assignment). Once you have found that, I want you to write your essay with at least the following criteria:
- Claim with evidence, warrant, and qualifier
- At least 3 points that support the claim with evidence
- One rebuttal (states the other side but notes why that side is wrong with evidence from your side)
- APA style only
- Use at least 3 sources
- One book
- One database
- One online
You may feel free to add more to your essay, but you are required to at least have the above criteria. However, though this should go without saying, but you need to have a references list at the end of your essay on a separate page. I will take points off if you do not have one. You will also lose points if it is not correctly formatted.
If you need help finding a topic, let me know. I can guide you in the right direction.
