Fall 2003 English 1551: Writing 2
 

 

 


Argument 2: Definition (15% -- 150 points)

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Due dates Rough Draft:  Weds. 9.24.03       Final Draft:  Weds. 10.1.03
Topic

Choose something related to one of the following broad areas:
music, education, human relationships, work and/or the workplace

REQUIRED
Sources
A total of 3-4. All sources must have page numbers. 

       Bonus Options for Sources:

I’ll add five points to your A2 score if you use a book that you access via OhioLink from a library other than YSU's Maag. To get the full bonus you have to provide three items:

  1. a photocopy of the OhioLink strip from the cover of the book

  2. a print-out of the OhioLink Catalog page showing which libraries own the book [YSU cannot be one of the owning libraries]

  3. a print-out of your Maag Circulation Record indicating that the book is charged out to you

Directions  

Compose an argument that revolves around a question of definition. As Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz point out in Chapter 9 of ea, you'll know you're "entering an argument of definition" if you are doing one of the following: "formulat[ing] a controversial definition," "challeng[ing] a definition," or "try[ing] to determine whether something fits an existing definition" (122). 

Because definition-based arguments are more difficult to develop than proposal arguments, you might want to work with an issue of definition that relates to you personally. If you do so, then compose your essay using a first person (I) point of view.

Be sure the final version of your argument includes the following (see ea 120):

  1. a claim involving a question of definition 
  2. consideration of at least one alternative view and/or counterargument
  3. effective incorporation of your 3-4 required sources  

Rough draft requirements

  • at least 500 words
  • sources list (APA or MLA format)
  • use of  2 sources, with at least 2 quotations
  • inclusion of necessary in-text citations
  • a clearly stated definition-based claim in the first or second paragraph
Final draft requirements
  • 750-1000 words 
  • MLA or APA format for opening page, header, in-text citation, and sources list
  • use of  3-4 sources, with at least 4 well-integrated quotations 
  • good organization, including consideration of at least one alternative view or counterargument  [some possible models for organization]
  • careful editing and proofreading 
Folder requirements

 Left Side (top to bottom)

  • rough draft
  • rough draft peer response written for you

Right Side (top to bottom)

  • cover letter (in class 10.01.03)
  • final draft
  • print-outs of the first page (only the first page, please) of any PDF articles or print articles
  • photocopy of the title page of any books you use (The title page usually shows if a book comes from a library; if, however, the title page doesn’t indicate the owning library, then photocopy an additional page which does indicate the owning library.) 
  • Bonus users only: provide items needed to verify your use of an OhioLink book from a library other than YSU's Maag. [see list in Sources section above]
  • NOTE: please arrange your source print-outs in the same order as they appear on the sources list, and staple them together

Useful links and resources

  • Chapter 9 in ea, pp.109-26; especially helpful will be pages 122-26
  • Using Academic Search Premier (page from this web site)
  • Finding Books (page from this web site)
  • MLA guidelines in LBCH, 4th ed. (pp. 348-389) [5th ed., pp. 356-398]: specifically
    • all pages from Argument 1, plus
    • 4th ed., 358-63 (how to cite books in a Works Cited list) [5th ed., pp. 364-370]
  • APA guidelines in LBCH, 4th ed. (pp. 392-409) [5th ed., pp. 401-425]: specifically
    • all pages from Argument 1, plus 
    • 4th ed., 399-401 (how to cite books in a References list) [5th ed., pp. 407-409]
    • Note: for this assignment you can ignore the APA requirement for an Abstract.