General Education Capstone – Week 6 Assignment
You must receive your instructor’s
permission to write on any topic that is not on the approved “List of Topics” below.
For this
assignment, you will research a topic, choose a position, and write a paper
that clearly supports one side of the argument, with the intent of challenging or
changing a reader’s viewpoint. You will
write a 3-5 page paper (not including the title page or references page) with
3-4 references used (paraphrased) to support your points. The aim or purpose of this essay is to
clarify your position on your chosen topic/issue, develop that position deeply,
and write an essay explaining your opinion in such a way that you challenge
your reader to evaluate his or her own position. The underlying goal of the persuasive essay
is to persuade the reader to agree with your position, and possibly to change
his or her own position on the issue.
Structural requirements:
•
A
focused presentation of the issue. The
writer presents the issue so the reader understands it. Issues need more or less explanation and
examples, depending on what the audience already knows.
•
A clear
position. The thesis is positioned
effectively, usually at the beginning or end of the essay, and repeated for
emphasis and clarity as needed.
•
Plausible
reasons and convincing support. The writer must provide reasons for supporting
the position. The writer must go beyond simply asserting reasons, by including
examples, statistics, expert testimony, and/or anecdotes to support the
reasons.
•
Anticipating
opposing position and objections. An effective argument for a position includes
recognizing and refuting opposing arguments, as well as anticipating and
answering a reader’s questions. You must clearly and objectively articulate the
opposing position.
•
Careful
use of sources. Sources must be used and documented in APA format.
Questions to address as you write your
Persuasive Essay:
•
Purpose
and audience: Does the writing meet the assignment requirements and engage the
audience?
•
Idea
development: Is the topic appropriate, neither too broad nor too narrow? Is the
writer’s position clear? Are the major reasons for support included, and are
they clear and logical and specific? Are the reasons supported with convincing
specific examples? Are opposing arguments recognized and countered?
•
Organization:
Does the title capture the central focus? Does the introduction capture
attention, give necessary background and convey the position? Is the thesis
clear? Is forecasting, if used,
effective and clear? Do transitions and the overall organizational pattern
provide a smooth flow? Does the conclusion provide a sense of closure and make
the topic relevant to the reader (Is it more than just a summary)?
•
Style:
Are the sentence and word choices appropriate to a college essay? Are words vivid, exact and correct? Does the sentence structure add impact? Are
sentences complete, smooth, clear, correct and efficient?
•
Conventions:
Are there few, if any, mistakes in following the conventions of Standard
Written English?
•
Citing
Sources: Do the sources used provide reliable and adequate information? Is source material properly cited and
documented in a standard format?
List of topics
Select one of the topics below.
Choose a side – agree or disagree and support your points with
research. If you are passionate about a
topic that is not on the list, seek your professor’s approval before moving
forward with your paper.
1.
Is gun
control an effective method of reducing crime?
2.
Is
death penalty justified?
3.
Do you
believe euthanasia (assisted suicide) is right?
4.
Torture
is never justified.
5.
Smoking
in public places should be banned.
6.
Legalization
of marijuana in some states is wrong.
7.
Production
and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
8.
Cross-cultural
marriages contribute to racial tolerance.
9.
Single-parent
children behavior is different than that of children with both parents.
10. Women are less engaged in criminal activity
than men.
11. Young people are predisposed to negative
influence because they are more rebellious by nature.
12. Sexual content on TV has a negative impact
on teenagers.
13. Homeschooling is an ideal way to obtain
quality education.
14. Forests are the lungs of the Earth. Should
rainforests destruction be prohibited?
15. Should countries drill for oil in protected
areas to reduce gas prices?
16. Global warming is a myth.
17. To what extent are electric cars a solution
to global pollution?
18. Media influence the female perception of the
body image.
19. Violent video games directly correlate to
violence in schools.
20. Domestic terrorism is not really an
overwhelming issue in America.
21. A border fence will solve the dilemma of
immigration.
22. Cyber-attacks are a vital intelligence tool
for all countries.
23. Sex orientation is determined in childhood.
24. The capital punishment is a crime.
25. The humans are the main causes of a climate
change.
26. Euthanasia should be allowed.
27. The U.S. Supreme Court should allow the
federal, a state, or a local government to ban same-sex marriage.
28. The ways to solve the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict exist.
29. Defending yourself should be a
constitutional right under the Second Amendment.
30. Illegal immigrants shouldn’t be put in
prison and forced to work to pay for their upkeep.