Evaluates a representation of your debate topic
For the final paper you will write an essay related to your debate topic. You have two options for this final paper: an argumentative essay or an evaluative essay:
Argumentative Essay:
If you choose this option, you must write a 5-6 page essay that takes a side on your debate topic. You are not obligated to argue the same way you did in the actual debate (for example, if you were on the “con” side during the debate, you are welcome to take the “pro” side in your essay). The best argumentative essays will do the following:
– Include a thesis that directly answers the debate question: Your thesis must directly answer the central question presented in your debate. More importantly, your thesis must forecast the logic of your argument.
– Have a well-presented subject: Among other things, think about how you are defining your subject and what contextual information your reader might need to understand it.
– Support the argument with diverse types of evidence: The best essays will approach the topic from multiple angles and use different types of evidence (statistics, case studies, etc)
– Anticipate and respond to likely alternative arguments. Consider the most obvious ways an informed reader might oppose your argument and counter that opinion.
Evaluative Essay:
If you choose this option, you must write a 5-6 page essay that evaluates a representation of your debate topic. For example, you might evaluate how well a movie/documentary, news report, magazine article, etc. portrays either your debate topic as a whole or a specific side of the debate. The best evaluative essays will do the following:
– Have a well-presented subject: Among other things, think about how you are defining your subject and what contextual information your reader might need to understand it.
– Integrate the subject into the essay: Efficiently summarize key elements of your selected representation of the debate topic. However, remember that the heart of this essay must be analysis not description. As such, your description of exhibit details must be used to support your ultimate evaluation.
– Establish clear criteria for your evaluation. Rather than simply stating that the subject is a “good” or “bad” representation of the debate topic, you must establish specific criteria to evaluate the subject against. What 2 or 3 specific things must the subject do to qualify as a “good” representation of the debate topic?
– Present a clear and well-supported judgment. Clearly indicate whether you think the subject does or does not do a good job of representing the debate topic. Use sources to support both your choice of criteria and your evaluation of how the subject does or does not meet that criteria.
– Anticipate and respond to likely alternative evaluations of your selected exhibit. For example, you might consider the different criteria others might use to evaluate your subject and/or different evaluations of your selected criteria.
All Quality Essays Will Do the Following:
– Be well organized: Your essay must have a clear thesis, topic sentences for paragraphs and transitions between paragraphs and or sections.
– Be well written with few grammatical or structural errors.
– You must use at least 3 sources in your essay. Of the three sources, at least two must be outside the readings provided for your debate topic.
– You must cite your sources whether you are quoting or paraphrasing them. Failure to do so will result in a failing essay grade. You are free to format your citations in whichever format you are comfortable with (parenthetical, footnotes, or endnotes)
– You must include a works cited page
Structure: Your paper needs to be 5-6 double spaced pgs in length (excluding the works cited page). Aim for a minimum of a full 5 pages, in other words I do not want 4 full pages and 2 sentences on the next page, nor do I want more than 5 pages.
