Argument 4: EVALUATION (20% -- 200 points)

Directions   

Compose an argument of evaluation that constructs a ranking or comparison between two items of the same kind. To make sure your claim and argument are debatable, be sure to select two items that are somewhat similar in quality. [If one item were clearly better than the other, then there would be nothing to argue, nothing to debate.]

Once you have decided on two items, you then need to establish some criteria for judging the quality of the kind of items you have selected.  Explain and defend these criteria as necessary. Then apply each criterion to the two selected items in order to support your claim that one of the items is of greater quality (in other words, better) than the other. 

As part of your argument, be sure to take into consideration at least one opposing position or counterargument.

Note: Alternate Version of Sources List Required with Final Draft.    Since five of the six sources used for this argument will be web sources, you need to submit an additional (alternate) version of your sources list. Not only will you submit the usual print version of your sources list (as the last page of your final draft) but you'll also submit a digital version of the sources list. We'll call this digital version a webliography, and it will contain the same five web sources that are listed on the print version of the sources list (you can omit the one print-based source from the webliography). In fact, this webliography will look exactly like the print version of your sources list, except for the following changes:

• the title of each web source will be a hyperlink taking the reader directly to the source's location on the web

• the URL (web address) for each source will be omitted [URL's are unnecessary when hyperlinks are available to the reader/viewer] 

• the list itself will be a web page, not a word document, and will need an appropriate file name:

  •  to make the list into an appropriately-named web page, do the following:

    • first open the print version of the sources list as its own document in Microsoft Word (in other words, separate it from the essay)

    • then do a "Save As" and, in the  Save as Type field at the bottom of the "Save As" box, select Web Page

    • in the File Name field of the "Save As" box, name the file with the first four letters of your last name, followed (without a space) by the first letter of your first name, and then (without a space) the word web.  Examples: my web list would be named shebgweb; someone named Nancy Brower's file would be named brownweb. 

requirements for the list of possible SOURCES   
(for preliminary list due Monday  10.27.03)

A list of possible sources will be due on Monday, Oct. 27. This list should include 10 possible sources, broken down as follows:  

• 2 sources with page numbers

• 3 articles from at least two different online magazines, journals, or newspapers

• 5 miscellaneous web sources that you find by using at least two different search engines. 

  • To demonstrate to me that you have used at least two different search engines,, do the following: from each search engine print out a page (or screen) of search results that includes a link to one of the five miscellaneous web sources included in the list. Highlight the link.]

How to set-up your list for submission on the 27th:

1. Heading: At the top left of your list, include the following info:  your name, the words A4 Possible Sources List, your topic (the two items you plan to evaluate)

2. Listing of Sources: . List the Paginated Sources first, the Sources from Online Periodicals second, and the Miscellaneous Web Sources last. Provide the following info for each kind of source (note that MLA/APA format is not required for this list):

• paginated sources: author, article title, title of publication, and the date (for books provide author, title and date only)

• sources from online periodicals: author, article title, title of publication, and URL  

• miscellaneous web sources: provide only the title (make one up if the title isn't obvious) and the URL.

3. Search-engine print-outs: Staple the print-outs of your two search engine pages to the back of your list, with the link to the listed source highlighted in some way.

• View a sample of what a Possible Sources List will look like.

• View a sample of what a bonus web version of the Possible Sources List will look like.

A late or incomplete sources list will result in a 10 point penalty for the final A4 total. Failure to submit a complete sources list will result in a 20 point penalty on the final A4 total.

Rough draft requirements

• at least 600 words

• identification of items being evaluated

• explanation of evaluative criteria

• sources list (APA or MLA format)

• use of  at least 3 sources, with at least 2 quotations and at least two places where you paraphrase and/or summarize from a source  

• inclusion of necessary in-text citations and/or signal-phrases
  

Final draft requirements

• 1000-1200 words 

• clearly-stated claim, explanation and defense of criteria, application of criteria in a carefully organized evaluative comparison, and some consideration of an opposing position or counterargument  (see Directions above)

• MLA or APA format for opening page, header, in-text citation, and sources list

  •  Note:  URL's on the print version of your sources list should not appear as hyperlinks. Click here for MLA's solution to this problem. 

• additional webliography, or digital sources list, for all web sources (see details above in Directions section)

• use of  6 sources

  • at least 4 well-integrated quotations

  • effective paraphrasing and/or summarizing from sources [and remember to use signal phrases and/or in-text citation when paraphrasing and/or summarizing]

• 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 11.05.03) final draft (stapled) print-out of the webliography that you will submit digitally print-outs of the first page (only the first page, please) of all sources: arrange your source print-outs in the same order as they appear on the sources list, and staple them together. photocopy of the title page of any printed book that you use (if you use a book)

Useful links and resources

• Chapter 10 in ea (pp.135-151)

• Finding Web Sources (page from this web site)

• How to make a Hyperlink using Microsoft Word  

• MLA guidelines in LBCH (pp. 348-389)[5^th ed., pp. 356-398]: specifically  

  • all pages listed for Argument 1 and Argument 2, plus  

  • LBCH 4th, 367-75 (citing electronic sources in a WC list)[5th 374-84]

    • in LBCH 4th, see especially # 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, and 41

    • in LBCH 5th, see especially # 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, and 43

  • as an alternate set of guidelines for citing web sources in MLA format, you can use pp. 351-355 of ea, along with the Citing Web Sources in MLA Format  page from this web site.

  • Guidelines for in-text citation with web sources (page from this site)

• APA guidelines in LBCH (pp. 392-409)[5^th ed., pp. 401-425]: specifically

  •  all pages listed for Argument 1 and Argument 2

  •  for APA guidelines for web sources, use the 5th edition of LBCH, pp. 411-18 [LBCH 4th is out of date for APA], or use the 5th edition information provided by the APA at their website. [When you go there, the links for Reference Examples and General Forms will help you the most.] 

  • Note: for this assignment you can ignore the APA requirement for an Abstract.