Choosing a Topic for Your Argumentative Essay

Assignment Weight: 5%
Learning Objectives: 1, 2

Click the graphic below to review an annotated example student submission. Review the rubric prior to submission.

– Alternative Formats
 

First, read The Norton Field Guide Chapter 47 (pp. 479-488). Many students find it beneficial to also watch the following video on research questions as they formalize their possible two topics:

Then, think about two topics that interest you and are related to your major or line of work. PLEASE VIEW THE KEISER LIVE SESSIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR WORK. THEY ARE RECORDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND LIVE, BUT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING WHAT WE COVER. 

Remember, this is not a debate class, and you should not be arguing for a deeply held religious, moral, or political belief. 

UNACCEPTABLE TOPICS: ABORTION, GUN CONTROL/GUN RIGHTS/2ND AMENDMENT, VACCINES/COVID, ANY TYPE OF TRANS ISSUES, DEATH PENALTY, CULTURAL/”WOKE” ISSUES, CRT/EDUCATION OR BOOK BANNING, OR ANYTHING FAITH OR OPINION BASED OR HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL.

WE ARE ARGUING LOW-STAKES ISSUES IN YOUR FIELD THAT ARE PROVEN WITH FACTS, NOT PERSONAL OPINIONS. THERE ARE MANY TOPICS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS. PLEASE WATCH THE KEISER LIVE SESSIONS FOR A MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION. 

Some previous topics: Nursing burnout, accounting software or hiring an accountant, brick and mortar or online store, sending trash to space, invasive species, college athlete compensation, telehealth options, Electronic records management, latent fingerprints, crime scene contamination, ABA therapy, weight loss surgery or diet and exercise. etc. We discuss many options in the Keiser Live sessions. 

For this assignment, you will begin to explore possible topics for your Final Argumentative Essay. You will analyze two different topics related to your field of study or career and answer the questions below.  After completing the two proposals, write a summary paragraph on which topic you are most likely to choose and why.

Each topic must have

two logical sides to the issue (your viewpoint and an opposing viewpoint).

a connection to your career or degree.

Each proposed topic should be organized into a well-developed paragraph using the prompting questions. After evaluating your topics, write a summary paragraph describing which proposal you are most likely to pursue and why by using the prompting questions.

Topic 1 – Paragraph 1

Answer the following in one full paragraph:

What is the issue in your career or field of study?

What two opposing viewpoints are there on what to do about this issue?

What do you think should be done and why?

Who would your audience be? (i.e. who can make a decision)

What objection might this audience raise and why?

Topic 2 – Paragraph 2

Answer the following in one full paragraph:

What is the issue in your career or field of study?

What two opposing viewpoints are there on what to do about this issue?

• What do you think should be done and why?
• Who would your audience be? (i.e. who can make a decision)

What objection might this audience raise and why?

Summary Paragraph – Paragraph 3

After completing the proposals for the each of the two topics, write a final paragraph including:

Which topic you are leaning towards and why?

What strengths do you bring to this topic?

What challenges are you likely to encounter?

What oneopen-ended question are you starting with as a research question? (see the video above)

Submit this by clicking “Week 1 Milestone: Choosing a Topic” above. It is due by Sunday of Week 1.