Mass Extinction

Topic Limitations: You may not write your paper on the following topics without specific prior approval from me: gun control, media violence, the legalization of marijuana or other drugs, school uniforms, prayer in school, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or eating disorders. You also may not write on any topic founded on ideas that are racist, sexist, homophobic, etc.

You must address a specific, opposing audience in your essays, identifying it at the top of each paper under the heading. No “preaching to the converted” allowed. Consider carefully the type of evidence this audience would be persuaded by as well as your presentation of both this evidence and yourself as the writer. Remember, too, that the essay will be included in your final portfolio

Sources: Your essays should present opposing sides of your issue and the evidence to support your position, both evidence from your knowledge and experience and evidence from the library and/or other outside resources. In addition, you must include the main arguments of opposition to your stance (counter-argument) and your refutation of it. Document all borrowed material, whether quoted or paraphrased, using MLA format.

Highlighted photocopies or printouts of all sources used MUST be submitted with the final copies of these essays. I will not accept either paper without these source copies.

NOTE: Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and popular magazines (Reader’s Digest, Sports Illustrated, etc.) are not suitable academic sources. If in doubt about the appropriateness of your sources, check with me.

ANOTHER NOTE: The source material you use should enhance, not dominate your paper. Most of your text should be your own words and ideas, discussing, explaining, and developing your argument. A good way to check that your paper is not over-using source material is to temporarily remove all quotes and paraphrases. The support should, obviously, be weaker, but the paper should still make sense, and it should still make its point

Assessment

I will assess each essay based on the following criteria:

FOCUS: Does the essay contain a clearly stated, arguable thesis? Is that thesis clearly related to the assignment? Do the points in the paper work together to clearly support that thesis?

DEVELOPMENT: Does the essay show a sense of audience awareness? Does the essay clearly introduce and integrate support material? Does the paper utilize an appropriate number of appropriate sources in meaningful support of the argument? Does the outside material enhance rather than dominate the argument? For paper #3, are counter-argument and refutation integrated smoothly into the paper?

ORGANIZATION: Do the introduction and conclusion work effectively to open and close the paper? Are the ideas organized in such a way as to build a strong, logical argument? Is the logical connection between points made clear through strong transitions? Are the points clearly organized at the paragraph level (controlling topic sentences) and at the sentence level (clear, well-crafted sentences)?

MECHANICS: Has the paper been carefully proofread? Is it clear of spelling, typographical, and grammatical errors?

* Base on the outline I have the following sub-topic
– Reduce the burning of fossil fuels.
-Reconnect with nature and protect the Earth’s landmasses and oceans
-Stand up to illegal wildlife trafficking.

Argumtentive Essay