English Composition I - ENGL 1113

The purpose of Essay 3 is to build on your research skills to take a position in an argument.  For this assignment, you will write a classical argument based on an issue that is arguable and defendable.  Ultimately, an audience will be persuaded by effective rhetorical appeals and sound evidence.

The essay should include the folllowing:

• MLA Format
• 2 to 3 pages (double-spaced), not including the Works Cited page
• In-text citations in the body of the essay
• Works Cited page with your credible sources
• A minimum of three sources

• Utilize invention techniques: Before writing the essay, begin identifying your issue through a series of invention techniques, including but not limited to the following: brainstorming, listing, clustering, questioning, and conducting preliminary research.
• Plan and organize your essay: After the invention process, it is important to begin planning the organizational pattern for the essay.  Planning includes identifying your thesis, establishing main ideas (or topic sentences) for each paragraph, supporting each paragraph with appropriate evidence, and creating ideas for the introductory and concluding paragraphs.
• Draft and revise your essay: Once you have completed the planning process, write a rough draft of your essay.  Next, take steps to improve, polish, and revise your draft before turning it in for a final grade.  The revision process includes developing ideas, ensuring the thesis statement connects to the main ideas of each paragraph, taking account of your evidence and supporting details, checking for proper use of MLA citation style, reviewing source integration, avoiding plagiarism, and proofreading for formatting and grammatical errors.

Write an essay that situates your belief in a broader argument.  For example, if you believe everyone is essentially good, you might argue that mass shooters are socialized into making poor decisions.  If you believe that professors are really mentors, you might argue that the current structure of traditional education is antiquated.  If you believe everyone has a soul, you might argue that online dating software increases the odds of someone finding a soul mate.  If you believe that no one should go hungry, you might argue that every citizen of the United States should receive a monthly food allowance.  If you believe anyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps, you might argue that social assistance is unnecessary.

This assignment helps you practice the following skills that are essential to your success in school and your professional life beyond school.  In this assignment you will:

• Access and collect needed information from appropriate primary and secondary sources
• Synthesize information to develop informed views to produce and refute argumentation
• Compose a well-organized, classical argument to expand your knowledge of a topic