Critically evaluating a classic argument
discuss how you plan to show how your chosen author uses ethos, pathos, logos, etc. Choose one specific example of this support, and explain how it was effective in the essay’s argument. Cite this example correctly using MLA style documentation. Please do not take this directly from your essay. This is an informal discussion.
Finally, consider the following. During this section of the course you evaluated an essay. How can this sort of critical evaluation of another author’s work be used in future courses at APUS?
In your responses, find a classmate who chose a different argument than yours. Do you agree with your classmate’s discussion? See if you can find a different example of where support is used within that chosen essay (or point out a possible fallacy to your classmate). Continue this conversation over a few days. Also, if you find that your chosen classmate has misunderstood the critical evaluation essay instructions (incorrectly summarizing the essay or giving historical/ biographical information rather than offering a critical examination of the work), please help that student get back on track.
Assignment Instructions
Instructions: Your first essay – the critical evaluation essay – is due at the end of week three. In this essay, you will be critically evaluating a classic argument. Do not submit the rough forum draft to me as the final draft–because you will need to revise it heavily based on peer feedback first.
Choose one argument from the historic American or global works listed in the “Supplemental Readings” section of the course lessons. Decide whether this argument is successful or not. If you decide this essay is successful, discuss why. You may use the structure of the argument, the tone, and the various types of support (ethos, pathos, and logos) as proof of the argument’s success. Make sure that your thesis has an introduction that contains a hook and a thesis, body paragraphs that discuss one proof at a time (one paragraph per example), and a conclusion. If you decide that the essay is not successful, then discuss the fallacies that the argument makes. You are still required to have a strong introduction (hook and thesis), body paragraphs that discuss one fallacy at a time, and a conclusion. You may also discuss how the essay is successful with reservations. In this case, point to both the support and the fallacies you have found in the work.
This paper should be at least 700 words, but no more than 850. The paper should be formatted correctly MLA style and written in third person (do not use the words I, me, us, we, or you). The essay should also contain citations and a works cited list based on your selected essay in the assigned readings. Formulate the structured response from your own close reading of the text. Do not use outside sources (open Web) without explicit permission from the instructor.
