Writing Assignment One | Writing Assignment Two | Writing Assignment Three | Writing Assignment Four | Final reflection

Writing Assignment 1: The Definitional/Categorical Argument "X is (or is not) a Y"

Deadlines:
Topic ideas due 2/7
First drafts due 2/14
Final drafts due 2/28

The Argument's Structure:
For this assignment, you are to write an argument that develops a categorical or definitional claim as described in Ramage's Chapter 10: Categorical and Definitional Arguments. Your claim will argue that "x" is or is not a "y" where "y" is a widely debated term with a disputed definition. Be sure that you engage some level of controversy as you choose your topic. For instance, you may argue that America is or is not a democracy, assuming that America is "x" and that democracy is "y." Or you might argue, as some of our text's authors have, that same-sex marriages do or do not constitute marriages as we have traditionally defined marriage in American culture. Here same-sex marriages are the specific "x" and marriage in general is the larger category "y." Typically your argument will have a criteria section in which you develop an extended definition of your "y" term and a match section in which you argue that your "x" does or does not meet the criteria for "y." So for each of these sample topics, you will need to provide extended definitions of "democracies" or of "marriages" before you can begin to make claims about whether America constitutes a democracy or a same-sex marriage functions in the same way as a heterosexual one does. You may choose any subject matter you wish, so long as you have clearly explained the criteria for your category and have provided an original and provocative definitional or categorical claim.

Readings:
We will be reading sample arguments that use definitional claims for you to evaluate and review. These include:

Vicki Schultz's "Sex Is the Least of It: Let's Focus Harassment Law on Work, Not Sex" (223)
Andrew Sullivan's "Here Comes the Groom: A (Conservative) Case for Gay Marriage (659)
Lisa Schiffren's "Gay Marriage, an Oxymoron" (666)
Jonathan Rauch's "For Better or Worse? The Case for Gay (and Straight) Marriage" (668)

You may explore similar themes if you wish, so long as your claims and support are original and persuasive, and do not merely repeat the logic of our sample essays.

Other Requirements:
No outside research is required for this assignment, but if you do include secondary material, use MLA documentation procedures. (Provide in-text citations and a Works Cited page). There is no specific length requirement, though few essays can sufficiently develop and support persuasive claims in fewer than 3 typed pages. This essay is worth 150 points, 15% of your final grade.

Writing Assignment 2: The Ethical Argument "X is (or is not) ethical"

Deadlines:
Topic ideas due 2/28
First drafts due 3/7
Final drafts due 3/21

The Argument's Structure:
For this project, you are to choose some controversial issue (for instance, an emerging technology or medical procedure such as in vitro fertilization, or the use of torture in combating terrorism) and examine and assess its ethical implications. This is not a simple pro/con argument; however, you will need to address oppositional viewpoints to fully develop and support your own position. In short, your task is to argue that "x" emerging technology (in vitro fertilization, for instance) or military tactic (torture) is or is not ethical for "y" reasons. You should have a minimum of three primary reasons why you have decided that your "x" is ethical or unethical. Use Ramage's Chapter 15 to guide your organizational structure. You may argue from principle, suggesting that "x" is not ethical because it violates some moral tenet or absolute philosophical belief, or you may use utilitarian ideas to support your claims, arguing that ''x" is not ethical because it has negative consequences, hurting more people than it helps. Of course, the most successful ethical arguments tend to combine both approaches.

Readings:
My examples of possible topics are culled from your readings for this unit; they include:

Michael Levin's "The Case for Torture" (356)
Thomas A. Shannon's "Eggs No Longer Cheaper by the Dozen" (675)
Kathryn Jean Lopez's "Egg Heads" (677)
Katrien Naessens' "Egg Donor, or Seller?" (680)
Richard Taylor's "Reproductive Medicine and Ethics" (689)

These are merely intended as springboards for your own ideas and discussion, so feel free to write on any topic that has ethical dimensions you wish to explore.

Other Requirements:
Incorporate at least three secondary sources (these may be print or electronic) into this assignment, and cite paraphrased or quoted material using MLA documentation (again, this means in-text citations and a Works Cited page). Be sure to provide your readers with enough history about the controversy surrounding your issue so that they may be well informed as well as persuaded by your argument. This essay is worth 150 points, 15% of your final grade.

Writing Assignment 3: The Proposal Argument "We should (or should not) do X"

Deadlines:
Topic ideas due 3/21
First drafts due 3/28
Final drafts due 4/11

The Argument's Structure:
For this assignment, you are to research a current social problem without a clear existing solution, and around which there are strongly conflicting perspectives. Then, after conducting your research, you should compose an original argument in which you propose what you feel is the best solution to the problem. In other words, you will argue that we (and this "we" could stand for any group with which you identify, such as Americans, ASU students, etc.) should or should not do "X" to solve some current problem that we are facing. Your argument must be organized after the general structure set up in Ramage's Chapter 14, including 3 main components:

1) description of a problem (convince readers that a problem exists)
2) proposed solution (be specific about its details)
3) justification of the proposed solution (convince readers that your solution is better than others)

As you write, remember that you will need to engage your reader's emotions through vivid language, details, scenes, and examples in order to overcome a natural lack of interest in or energy for acting on or changing complex problems.

Readings:
Ideas for organizing a proposal draft (322)
Ideas for revising (323)

Sample proposal arguments on how to deal with the problem of pornography and hate speech on the Internet:

John Carr's "It's Time to Tackle Cyberporn" (602)
Ann Beeson's and Chris Hansen's "Fahrenheit 451:2: Is Cyberspace Burning?" (589)

Other Requirements:
Incorporate at least four secondary sources (these may be print or electronic) into this assignment, and cite paraphrased or quoted material using MLA documentation (again, this means in-text citations and a Works Cited page). This essay is worth 150 points, 15% of your total course grade.

Writing Assignment 4: The Revision Argument

Deadlines:
Topic ideas/revision plans due 4/11
First drafts due 4/18
Final drafts due 5/2

The Argument's Structure:
For this assignment, you are to substantially revise one of your writing projects from this semester. This revision can take several forms, including the following possibilities:

1)a shift in argumentative approach. Use your topic and research from a former paper with a new rhetorical pattern; for instance, if you had an ethical argument on cloning that you want to turn into a definition or proposal argument, this is your chance.
2) a shift in the major claim of your argument. For instance, if you argued that cloning was ethical, your revision would argue that it is unethical.
3)a shift in terms of audience, purpose, or rhetorical situation. Radically revise the paper to account for an audience with an entirely different set of perspectives, or for a different situation or purpose. You may want to turn your argument into a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, or a letter to a member of congress or some other political figure.

Whichever approach you use, the goal is to seriously reconsider your previous work. This may involve (but will not require) additional research. Seek creative ways to reframe existing sources so that they remain useful for your current project. You will need to make a plan for the project that will demonstrate the ways in which your revision will differ from the original work. How will the evidence be used differently? What changes in style, tone, or arrangement of key points might you need to make? The goal here is to find new ways of seeing and arguing on familiar topics, so be creative!

Readings:
There are no sample essays in your reader for this project.

Other Requirements:
Incorporate at least five secondary sources (these may be print or electronic) into this assignment, and cite paraphrased or quoted material using MLA documentation (again, this means in-text citations and a Works Cited page). This essay is worth 150 points, 15% of your total grade.

Final Reflection

Deadlines:
Final Reflections due 5/2

The purpose of this assignment is to critically reflect on your growth/change as a writer over the course of ENG 102. You will probably want to make specific references to moments in your own writing that evidence this growth (and this may include drafts, reviews, or final essays). While many students use this as an opportunity to discuss what improvements and successes they experienced, it can also be useful to focus on how you grappled with challenges you encountered in the writing process. For instance, what processes did you go through in selecting topics? How did you negotiate multiple perspectives in framing your arguments? What did you learn about research as you looked for support for your arguments? How have your perceptions of writing or revising changed? How have your perceptions of argumentation changed? Did you encounter any topics (your own or your peers') that you have reevaluated since taking this class? Did taking the course online impact your perceptions of writing or argument in any way, and if so, how?

I'm really interested in your responses to this last question in particular. As for the rest, please feel free to add to the list or use these merely as a springboard for your own ideas. Reflections are worth 50 points, comprising 5% of your total course grade.