Argument-Research Essay:
Writing with Evidence and Voice to Persuade
English 1301 Composition I | Fall 2010
Argument/Research (AR) Essay: 20% of final grade
Length: 1,000 (minimum) – 1,500 Words, 3.5-4.5 pages (no maximum)
Layout/format: follow MLA guidelines, see Purdue OWL online
Final Draft Due Date: Mon. Nov. 22 (M/W) or Tues. Nov. 23 (T/TH)
PROMPT | Write a 1,000+ word persuasive essay with at least 5 credible sources on one of the five
topics developed by your class. To review topics, see Learning Web (You may choose from any
topics developed by any of the current 1301 classes; however, you are encouraged to choose from
your own section).
Mon. Nov. 15/Tues. Nov. 16: Working thesis + Outline + Works Cited Page (Works Cited page will
be turned in for a portfolio grade)
Wed. Nov. 17/Thurs. Nov. 18: Rough Draft (at least 800 words) (once you’ve turned in your final
draft with rough draft + revision notes your level of revision will be evaluated for a portfolio grade)
Mon. Nov. 22/Tues. Nov. 23: Final Essay – Upload to TurnItIn.com: 1,000 word minimum not
including heading or works cited page.
The FINAL DRAFT should be submitted as follows:
In HARDCOPY and UPLOADED to TurnItIn.com (instructions are posted on the Learning Web. Class
ID#s and passwords are in your syllabus.)
The HARDCOPY FINAL DRAFT should also include a correctly formatted Works Cited page and a
copy of your rough draft.
Layout: MLA
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Typed on white paper (8 ½ x 11) with black ink (handwritten assignments not accepted)
Double-spaced, with 1” margins, 12 pt font (Times New Roman)
MLA heading (if you need a review of MLA paper format, visit:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/)
Staple them and include your name and page number on each
Your paper will not be accepted until:
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it is submitted in both hardcopy and to TurnItIn.com.
it is in the proper MLA format (it must be typed and have the correct heading)
you include the WORD COUNT in your MLA heading.
the essay is at least 1,000 words (word count does not include the heading or works cited page).
Writing to Persuade
What does it mean to persuade?
We use argument to persuade audiences. Think of argument as the mover of persuasion. We can’t
effectively persuade unless we provide effective argument.
To persuade is to inspire change; it is a different way of seeing an issue. Don’t think of persuasion as
“I want my audience to see that I am right.” Rather, think of persuasion as “I want my audience to
see this perspective and consider it as a possibility.”
Strong argument is developed through a balance of ethos (ethical), logos (logical) and pathos
(emotional) appeals. Just as we can’t persuade strongly though giving a wholly emotional, tearjerking argument, we also can’t win over an audience entirely by giving fact over fact.
In general, we must always cater our balance of the appeals through analyzing what kind of audience
we are trying to persuade. For the purpose of this assignment, your audience will be myself and your
peers. In essence, you are trying to persuade a “wavering” audience; this means you need to have
both pathos and logos in your argument.
Logos
Logos is a critical element to this essay because it will most strongly validate your claim and bolster
your overall ethos. Use a combination of both logic constructs to argue and evidence to show
outside perspective, validation, and precedence.
Successful logos depends upon your ability to:
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show sound logic constructs (compare/contrast, problem/solution, cause/effect)
analogies
provide credible sources that back up your claim
 testimony
 statistics
 precedent
Evidence also needs to be fluidly synthesized into your writing. You are still the writer. You are
merely using these “second voices” to show your audience that you have a valid perspective.
Sources/types of evidence you might consider: experts, history, anecdotes (first hand witnesses),
studies (contain statistics), etc.
Where to find them: journals, texts, documentaries, studies, websites, etc.
You must utilize a minimum of five credible sources and correctly internally cite them, as well as
prepare an MLA Works Cited page.
Make sure your sources do not account for more than approximately 30 -35 percent of your paper.
Vary your citation method: quote, summarize and/or paraphrase. Quote what you need to, not what
fulfills the word count limit.
Pathos
Keep in mind, tone is the attitude or feelings about the subject matter. How do you feel about the
topic you’ve chosen? Try to find one that already evokes a strong emotion in you, a topic that you
are passionate about or find important/interesting/engaging.
Once you’ve determined the topic, you need begin developing a firm thesis/claim: As the topic is
considered and claim/thesis being formed, it will help to determine the purpose:
Are you going to …
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Support a cause
Promote a change
Refute a theory
Stimulate interest
Win agreement
Arouse sympathy
Provoke anger
Purpose: Purpose is the specific reason
or reasons for the writing. It conveys
what the readers have to gain by
reading the essay. Purpose is the
objective or the goal that writer wishes
to establish.
(Washington OSPI)
Establishing the purpose will help determine your overall tone. For instance, if you are attempting to
“arouse sympathy,” you will most likely be looking for evidence that delivers that ‘tug on the
heartstrings’ (pathos). If you are “supporting a cause,” consider using more excited, positive
language.
Consider using:
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Image (image is an excellent device in introductions)
Word choice (use more colorful language, adjectives, active verbs, adverbs, etc. Consider
using metaphors, similes. Avoid repetitive and/or flat language)
Anecdotes (if you have any experiences related to the topic consider including)
Creative constructs (perhaps write a satire, create a narrator, distill reality and write in a
more hypothetical sense)
Tonal shifts (allow your tone to slightly shift to keep the energy up)
Ethos
Ethos is an appeal that should be felt throughout any piece of writing. It includes:
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Following grammatical conventions
Fair treatment of the subject matter
Strong presence
Strong demonstration of research
A desire to genuinely want to communicate with the audience
Solid organization and flow of ideas
Following grammatical conventions:
It is very important to project a knowledgeable, trustworthy persona in an argument. One of the most
crucial components of this is writing that reflects understanding and use of proper grammar. It is very
much about “following the rules.” However, if the standards of grammar are not upheld, it
compromises the level of trust with the audience and the overall effectiveness of your argument.
Fair treatment of the subject matter:
You will most likely work with a controversial issue. It’s very important to keep the level of bias low.
Yes, you are arguing a specific perspective, but you want to make sure not to offend or come off
inappropriately sarcastic, glib, haughty, or snide. Make sure you fairly reflect the major perspectives
of the argument. You will be able to do this in several ways: keeping the tone somewhat diplomatic,
incorporating a variety of resources, including a moment of concession wherein you genuinely
address the most likely objections to your claim.
Strong presence:
Ethos is all about voice. An audience doesn’t want to listen to a faceless or emotionally neutral
speaker…do you? We tend to gravitate to more personable speakers/writers, writers that approach us
with humor, intelligence, charm, wit, conviction, passion, etc. While you may end up playing with
several tones, it is important to allow yourself, who you are, to show through the writing. You do
want to follow grammatical and MLA conventions and maintain a certain level of academic tone, but
you also want to bring personality to your argument. Voice can sometimes be just as compelling as a
statistic or an anecdote.
Strong demonstration of research:
Ethos is presented through a carefully crafted argument. This means, your use of logic conventions
should reflect a well thought out plan, and your use of sources should reflect careful time evaluating
the best sources to illustrate your claim. Keep in mind, you select your sources, and those sources
speak for you just as much as if it was you writing them. Make sure they are of high caliber quality,
not simply the first thing that popped up on a Google search that you included to meet the source
requirement.
A desire to genuinely want to communicate with the audience:
Try to find a way to truly invest in your claim. Your attitude will show in your writing, and part of
ethos is the ability to engage the audience, establish common ground. How can you do that if you
aren’t interested in what you are trying to communicate?
Solid organization and flow of ideas
Just like grammar conventions, organization can greatly help boost your ethos. Faulty organization
and/or confusing flow will also compromise your ethos and overall argument. Spend time checking
that each paragraph is focused and that each one connects to the next.
PLAGIARISM CONTRACT
Make sure that all of your ideas are your own.
Working with research can lead to intentional and unintentional plagiarism. Because you work
with outside sources and also should read a great deal about your subject matter, you need to be
careful that you cite appropriately and don’t accidentally (or purposely) steal another’s work.
Plagiarism is one of the grossest strikes against ethos. It is unethical and reflects poor character on
behalf of the writer. In addition, depending on the gravity of the plagiarism, it can result in a
significant deduction, a zero for the paper, a zero in the class, or expulsion.
Do not use a paper you have written before.
Do not use a paper someone else has written and claim it as your own.
Make sure to “quote” and/or cite any and all outside references.
Do not use ideas from other sources without identifying them (this may be especially the case with
typical argument topics such as lowering the drinking age, reproductive rights, etc).
Keep in mind, by this point in the semester, I am fairly familiar with your writing style and ability.
In addition, by this point, you have already invested a great deal into the course. It is not worth it
to plagiarize.
Just put quotes around it.
It’s a research paper—that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Sign the below to confirm you have read the above material, are aware of the plagiarism and general
academic dishonesty policies outlined here and in the syllabus, and that you have full understanding
of what plagiarism means and includes.
In addition, by signing, should an instance of academic dishonesty be found, you agree, understand,
and accept the penalties discussed on this page and in the syllabus.
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