The Exploratory and Argument Analysis Essay
Description: This assignment is crucial and draws from the research that you completed on your topic for the annotated bibliography; it allows you to explore various positions on your issue and prepare some research before you dive into your position paper assignment, where you will be asked to take a position on your issue. It also provides you with the opportunity to analyze the academic arguments of other writers before attempting to construct your own.
NOTE: YOU CANNOT USE SOURCES FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB! You must use sources from the library's databases or other sources from a library (i.e. books, magazine, journal, or newspaper articles, videos, etc.)
At this point you should have completed all of the necessary research to complete this essay earlier in the term in your Annoated Bibliography. Of those sources from that assignment you should have sources that will present three different perspectives and positions of your issue (for, against, and middle ground). These will also be important to you later on in your position paper. Currently, however, you only need to concern yourself with presenting the three varying perspectives.
First, choose three sources from your annotated bibliography that you feel best represent each of the following positions: for, against, and neutral (one source for each).
In the body of your exploratory paper you should summarize each article in depth by attending to the following questions:
• Who is the author? What was the author's position and what is their purpose in writing this piece? Who is the auidence that the author is writing for (For this consider age, race, sex, socio-econmic background, educational level, etc.)? What do you think prompted the author to write this piece? How does this author build ethos? Is he or she credible for you? Why?
• What is the source? Who, if you can tell, is the intended audience for the source?
How does the author enter into the issue? What is the urgency for him or her?
• What is the main claim in the article? Are there any subclaims? Is the claim stated, or do you have to infer what the argument was about? What do you consider a significant piece of evidence? A particularly strong or weak point?
•What articles or other sources does the author use for evidence? How is the support presented? How does the author incorporate pathos and logos?
You should include some direct quotations in your summaries; choose quotes that make the main points in the article, but do not over quote.
NOTE: IN THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER YOU MUST CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE MAIN CLAIM, THE AUDIENCE, AND EXPLAIN THE AUTHOR'S USE OF THE RHETORICAL APPEALS. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU SHOULD STATE: "THE MAIN CLAIM OF THIS ARTICLE IS...", "THE AUTHOR'S INTENDED AUDIENCE IS...", THE AUTHOR APPEALED TO PATHOS BY ...", "THIS AUTHOR IS CREDIBLE BECAUSE... & APPEALS TO ETHOS BY ...," ETC.
The form for the exploratory essay is easy. For your introduction write a paragraph that introduces the issue and then explains how your three sources fit together (or not). In your introduction you must explain the exigence. Why is your issue conidered controversial? Why is there disagreement? What is the disagreement about? Who are the interested parties and why do they disagree? etc. Next, explain why you chose your three issues: Did they present contrasting viewpoints? Did they present the issue in different ways? Remember, you are not talking about your own position here; rather, you are reporting what others have said and how their positions fit together (or not). After you introduce your issue, you will go through the summaries of your three articles. These summaries can (and should) be more than one paragraph each: You want to be as thorough as possible. You will also analyze each author's argument by identifying their claim, eplaining their use of rhetorical appeals, etc. In your conclusion you can talk about which article of the three was the most persuasive for you and why, but you do not have to if you have yet to decide. You should also discuss why you agree or disagree with the other two articles as well. This is the only place in your essay that you are allowed to directly insert your own opinion.
AN OUTLINE MIGHT LOOK LIKE THIS:
I. Intro: Explain why issue is controversial (exigence), why there is disagreement, and who the interested parties are and why they disagree; Claim: one sentence that explains how your three sources fit together (or not)
II. Source #1 (For)
A. Introduce the source and the author, explain why it is or isnt' credible (appeal to
ethos), explain who you think the itended audience is, and identify the main claim;
note whether it is directly stated or inferred.
B. Summarize some of the main points that the author makes in the body of the article
(the subclaims).
C. Does the author have a strong appeal to logos? In other words, does each piece of
evidence logically support the claim that the author is making? Explain. Is there an
appeal to pathos (emotion)? Do you think it is effective?
III. Source #2 (Against)
A. Introduce the source and the author, explain why it is or isnt' credible (appeal to
ethos), explain who you think the itended audience is, and identify the main claim;
note whether it is directly stated or inferred.
B. Summarize some of the main points that the author makes in the body of the article
(the subclaims).
C. Does the author have a strong appeal to logos? In other words, does each piece of
evidence logically support the claim that the author is making? Explain. Is there an
appeal to pathos (emotion)? Do you think it is effective?
IV. Source #3 (Neutral)
A. Introduce the source and the author, explain why it is or isnt' credible (appeal to
ethos), explain who you think the itended audience is, and identify the main claim;
note whether it is directly stated or inferred.
B. Summarize some of the main points that the author makes in the body of the article
(the subclaims).
C. Does the author have a strong appeal to logos? In other words, does each piece of
evidence logically support the claim that the author is making? Explain. Is there an
appeal to pathos (emotion)? Do you think it is effective?
V. Conclusion: Restate your claim: explain how your three sources fit together (or not); Finally, youshould explain which article of the three was the most persuasive for you and why, but you do not have to if you have yet to decide. You can remain neutral at this point, but you must explain why. You should also discuss why you agree or disagree with the other two articles as well. This is the only place in your essay that you are allowed to directly insert your own opinion.
PURPOSE
What do I want to accomplish with this essay?
The goal of this paper is not to argue but to inform your audience about the various perspectives and postions on this issue by providing a clear explanation of what each side believes and why.
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, you want to provide your audience with the background about your topic. In other words, assume they know nothing about it. When they finish reading your essay, they should have a good understanding of the issue. Secondly, in addition to explaining the issue, you are also analyzing the arguments of each of the three sources that you use in the paper. In other words, you are identifying their overall claims, explaining who you think they were writing for (who their audience was), and explaining how they tried to appeal to that audience using the three rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos), etc.
Your claim will be one sentence that explains how your three sources SPECIFICALLY fit together. In other words, you can't just say they represent the for, against, and neutral positions.
AUDIENCE
How will audience affect the content of your paper? Who am I writing for?
Imagine you are writing this essay for an academic, peer reviewed journal.
This would mean you are specifically addressing experts in their fields, professors, scholars, and academics. Based upon their educational levels and levels of expertise, you need to consider what they likely already understand about your topic. In other words, if you are discussing the obesity problem in America, you really don't need to define the word "obsese." This would be basic, common knowledge for someone of this level of intelligence. Please keep this in mind.
How will audience affect diction (word choice)?
Since your audience is highly educated and you are essentially writing an academic piece, how will this affect the type of language that you will use?
Since you are essentially writing an academic, researched paper, your essay should have a very formal tone. You should NEVER use first person or contractions. In addition, you should completely avoid the use of slang and explicit language.
RESEARCH REQUIRED
The Annotated Bibliography is the research portion of this assignment. You must use information found in the library or on the library's databases. YOU CANNOT USE SOURCES FOUND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB.
You should have a Works Cited page and should clearly introduce each source the first time you use it, make use of author tags when quoting and paraphrasing from the source, and use qualifiers when using your own academic voice. This assignment will also require in-text MLA ciations. Essays that do not meet these requirements will receive a grade of zero.
Format
Your essay should have a title. It should also be typed, double spaced, with one-inch margins all around, Times New Roman Font, & 12 pt. Your essay must be a minimum of 4 FULL pages and not more than 6 typed, double-spaced, and documented using MLA style (see owl.english.purdue.edu for questions about MLA). Be sure you include a works cited page.
You will be graded on the following:
• All sources are credible and serious
• How clearly and thoroughly you explained your issue
• How accurately you explained the exigency (background) of the issue
• That you included three or more perspectives and explained each perspective in-depth using fair, unbiased, balanced language.
• That you clearly and succintly analyze the argument of each source.
• That your conclusion includes your own clearly and explained opinion.
• That you have written with clarity and with few mechanical errors.
• That you have followed all instructions: correct length using correct format, annotated list of works cited, correct format of in-text documentation, copies of all sources identified and highlighted, reflection memo, drafts, notes, and well organized in a 2-pocket folder.
NOTE: For Further Study, See "Abstinence Only in Sex Education: Is it Really the Best Choice?" by Susan Long
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Total Possible Points: 60/
Final Draft, evaluated on the following criteria:
Focus (16 points): Does the essay help to establish common ground with the reader and explain the issue? Does the essay describe the rhetorical situation (exigence, interested parties, and constraints)? Ideas, examples, and reasons developed in the body of the paper are clearly related to the main focus?
Development (16 points): Does the writer present several opposing positions along with the reasons for accepting them? Does appropriate research support each position? Does the writer show how or why evidence is relevant to each position?
Does the writer identify the predominate claim and various subclaims? Does the author explain how each article uses logos, pathos, ethos? Does the author present their perspective and explain why it is compelling to them? Does the author set forth a claim in the conclusion? Does author include three images to accompany written text? Are these images properly labeled? Do the images adequately reflect three differing perspectives?
Organization (16 points): Do ideas and paragraphs proceed in logical and apparent sequence or pattern? Does writer use sufficient audience cues to let the reader know what has been discussed, what is being discussed, or what will be discussed? Does writer use attention-getting title and lead-in, essay map, summary and forecasting statements, paragraph hooks, transitional words and phrases? Do effective conclusions guide the reader from beginning to end?
Style (6 points): Is language clear direct and readable? Are sentences clear, concise, and easily read by intended audience? Is word choice appropriate for audience? Do sentences reveal and sustain appropriate voice and tone?
Mechanics (6 points): Are there obvious errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar? Are there patterns of error?
NO 1ST DRAFT ON DUE DATE (-5 POINTS)
NO PEER CRITIQUE (-5 POINTS)
NO REFLECTION (-5 POINTS)
NO PROCESS=NO GRADE
Grading scale:
A 54-60
B 48-53
C 42-47
D 36-41
F 0-41
