Eng301 Writing and Rhetorical Conventions
Classical Argument Essay Guidelines
Peer Evaluation: Drafts must be posted to your group's topic thread in the Discussions section of Blackboard by the start of class on Friday, February 9. Evaluations must be complete by the start of class on Monday, February 12, in order to receive credit.
Revised Draft Due Date (to the instructor): 12 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, in the Essays folder in Blackboard. Instructor notes and feedback will be posted by Wednesday, February 21.
Overview:
The Classical Argument arose from a desire and need for Greek audiences to be able to understand and anticipate the order and logical foundations of arguments. What began with oration evolved to writing structures, and you will still see the Classical Argument used in speech and writing today. Indeed, it could be argued the "five paragraph" or "three part" essay is a simplified version of this model.
As Mauk and Metz observe in Inventing Arguments, the Classical argument draws on claims of fact, value, and policy; the use of evidence, examples, and appeals to "prove" our claims; and the use of appeals, primarily ethos, pathos, and logos, to further support our claims (5-6). These principles remain the foundation of most Western arguments today.
A good argument presents a clear main claim (what are we arguing and why?), supporting claims, supporting appeals and evidence, a response to critics and/or the identification of critics/naysayers' views and the flaws in their views, OR the situations in which and reasons for why others' views or logic may not valid, and a final appeal or call to action (what do you the arguer want your audience to do or think?).
Keep in mind rebuttals and refutations can be more than direct responses to the "other side." We might agree with or concede the validity of some of our critics' claims and support, and rebut those with which we do not agree. We might agree in principle and disagree on the best course of action. A good argument recognizes more than one viewpoint and a good arguer establishes their ethos by placing their position and solution/resolution within existing and potential discourses.
Assignment:
Find a published argument from a professional journal in your field you would like to respond to, either in support of or as a rebuttal, with the goal of adding to the conversation. You will need to begin by asking what you know about the conversation, how to respond, and what you can contribute. What question do you want to answer by entering the conversation?
Next, using the Classical Argument to structure your ideas, write a persuasive essay that enters and contributes to that conversation, with a strong claim, support, refutation and/or rebuttal, and call to action.
Your argument should be written for the professional journal in which the essay you have chosen appears; you may respond directly or indirectly to the author(s) of the essay. Keep in mind other professionals will be reading your argument. They may agree with you or disagree with you--choose an approach with this in mind, including how you address differing views (if your readers disagree with you, for example, how should you address the rebuttal?). Use appropriately professional language, bearing in mind this is a formal effort to argue and persuade an audience who may be your peers in the workplace.
Goals and expectations:
- 4-6 pages typed and double-spaced, with an appropriate heading and descriptive title.
- works cited/reference pages do not count toward the page requirement.
- Clear establishment of the issue or problem, its importance, and appropriate context to frame your approach.
- Presentation of a specific and focused main claim that is followed through the entire essay through subclaims, support, warrants, and qualifiers.
- Clear and logical organization, including well-developed supporting paragraphs, and effective transitions.
- Clear engagement of others' perspectives through counter-argument, rebuttal, and/or concession.
- Use of an appropriate amount of evidence and appeals, with
- at least three credible sources to support your claims, warrants, rebuttal, and qualifiers.
- the internet will be accepted only after you have two library sources on the topic. No more than 50% of your total evidence, however, may come from outside library sources (i.e. the internet; please note the online databases from the library do not qualify as “internet sources” and therefore may be used beyond the 50% requirement).
- A conclusion which presents a specific solution or other means of resolving the issue or problem.
- Clear use of MLA or APA documentation styles to document all ideas not your own. Drafts without a works cited/reference page will not be accepted.
- Revised drafts should demonstrate careful proofreading and revision, including but not limited to revising claims, support, organization, grammar, and sentence mechanics.
Your draft must include a half-page to full-page Draft Reflection, in paragraph form, on:
- the author(s) you are responding to, the publication you think would be an appropriate audience for your argument, and why
- the main question(s) you hope to answer by the end
- how you believe your essay will contribute to the conversation
- your draft's strengths
- your draft's main areas for improvement
- your plan for revision.
Drafts which do not have a Draft Reflection and which have not been submitted for peer evaluation will not be accepted and will not receive credit for submission.
Our overall goal for this essay is to continue practicing the key skills learned and applied in your first essay and to introduce the concept of rebuttal to our repertoire.
Final Note: All essays will be randomly checked for plagiarism. Any and all sources may be randomly checked to verify credibility and authenticity.