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Oklahoma City Community College Keith Leftwich Memorial Library

English Composition II - ENGL 1213

Resources to assist students in English Composition II research and write their essays.

Purpose

Throughout English Composition II, you have utilized research skills, problem solving skills, and analytic skills.  The Toulmin Essay provides the student the opportunity to revisit some elements of Classical Argument and analyze another form of argumentative structure.

Requirements

The essay should include the folllowing:

  • MLA Format
  • 3 to 4 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 4 sources

Tasks

To complete this assignment, you should:

  • Begin with the issue you used in the Classical Argument
  • Gather and evaluate sources
  • Establish a thesis and academic level paragraphs
  • Write a rough draft and complete revision exercises
  • Submit a polished, academic level essay using MLA citation and format

Writing Prompt

An argument written in this manner unfolds both the strengths and limits of the argument.  This is as it should be.  No argument should pretend to be stronger than it is or apply further than it is meant to.  The point here isn't to "win" or "beat" all the counterarguments; the point is to come as close to the truth or as close to a realistic and feasible solution as we possibly can.  Toulmin's model reminds us that arguments are generally expressed with qualifiers and rebuttals rather than asserted as absolutes.  This lets the reader know how to take the reasoning, how far it is meant to be applied, and how general it is meant to be.  For this essay, you will craft a Toulmin argument utilizing your working annotated bibliography/research proposal and topic and how it applies to a global audience.

Skills

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, Toulmin argument to expand your knowledge of a topic