Instructions for Argumentative Research Essay
Assignment Description
The objective of the argumentative research essay is to investigate an important issue or problem in
todays world and take a stance in the debate surrounding the issue. Your task is to make a claim
about a debatable topic and to persuade the reader to accept your claim.
For this assignment, you must choose one of the following questions:
Should the federal minimum wage be increased?
Should college athletes be paid for their participation in college sports?
Should there be mandatory minimum sentences for drug related crimes?
Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
Should the U.S. government provide free higher education?
Should the U.S. government provide free health care for all?
Should the electoral college be abolished?
The essay you write is to be both informative and persuasive. This means that you are expected to
fully report on the topic and to stake a position in relation to it. Your essay must therefore proceed
from a clear thesis statement (a clearly stated claim, assertion or proposition). You will support and
defend your thesis with information and evidence gathered in your research, so be sure to examine
your topic from various perspectives and carefully consider the controversies or debates that might
surround it.
Your paper must be written so that it is convincing even for a skeptical audience. Your essay must
therefore include a counterargumenta view that is different from your own. In various lessons, you
may see words like opposing viewpoint, opposition, objection, and naysayer; these are all terms for a
counterargument. When you insert a counterargument into your argument essay, you are essentially
making a preemptive strike by anticipating objections that an opposing side might bring up and
exposing their weaknesses.
Your essay must also then include a refutation. A refutation or rebuttal is a paragraph that comes
after the counterargument and disproves it. In other words, the refutation paragraph explains why
the opposing view (counterargument) is incomplete, problematic, or simply wrong.
Steps to take:
research.
. Conduct Research
Complete.
Sources
You are required to have a minimum of five sources for this research project. Your sources should
be of diverse types. To help you achieve this, you are required to have at least two newspaper
articles and one scholarly journal article. Note that these can all be accessed through the
Electronic Databases in our library.
Be sure to record the details about every source you find (authors, titles, publication places and
dates, page numbers, etc.) for the Annotated Bibliography and your Works Cited list.
Annotated Bibliography:
An Annotated Bibliography is merely a standard Works Cited list that includes a brief description
and/or evaluation of each source cited. Your Annotated Bibliography shows what resources you
have consulted and how useful they have been
3. Write Your Argumentative Essay
As you draft your essay, but sure it contains all of these elements:
An introduction. This first paragraph provides context for the reader; it should include general
information about the topic being addressed as well as the more specific concerns or issues to
be examined as part of the debate. You introduction should also include your thesis
statement.
A thesis statement. This sentence should be direct and make clear your position or stance in
the debate.
At least three supporting claims/points for the thesis. Be sure to organize your essay around
the concerns and/or supporting claims, and not around authors or articles.
At least one counterargument (i.e., a naysayer voice or an opposing viewpoint)
At last one refutation of a counterargument (i.e, a rebuttal)
Focused and well-organized paragraphs with clear topic sentences. Each topic sentence
should offer a claim that addresses a specific concern and concern and functions to support the thesis.
In-text (parenthetical) references to any sources directly quoted or paraphrased.
A clear concluding paragraph.
A Works Cited page listing your sources
Minimum Requirements
Approximately 5 pages, not including the Works Cited page
A minimum of 5 credible sources
An interesting and informative title
A clear thesis statement
At least one counterargument and one refutation
MLA format with in-text citations and a Works Cited entry
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