Here is a discussion of writing Paper 2.
Read the article youve chosen (be sure it is an argument and that it deals with your approved issue) until you understand it and all the words in it. As you read, identify the techniques the author uses to try to persuade his audience. On a piece of scratch paper, list these techniques as you find them.
You need at least three techniques your paper, but, of course, you may use more.
For this paper, credibility refers to the authors ability to convince a critical audience (not necessarily his intended audience) that he and his argument are worthy of trust or belief. This does not necessarily mean that the critical audience will agree with the writer, but that audience should be willing to admit that the argument is fair and bears merit. To determine credibility, you will NOT check an authors facts or claims. Under no circumstances should you look up anything the author says to determine whether it is right or wrong. That is argumentis he right or wrong? Instead, youll just look at the article itself to see whether the author upholds the standards of credibility a critical audience expects.
Youll use the techniques to analyze the credibility of the argument exactly the way you analyze something in literatureprovided you were taught proper analysis in high school. Heres an example.
Say you find that your author uses statistics as part of his argumentative technique. It isnt enough for you to say that his argument is or is not credible because he uses statistics. And you certainly should not say that his numbers are correct or incorrect. Instead, look at how he uses his numbers. Does he write about an average of something, for instance? If so, does he explain what he means by average? If not, his credibility is hurt because critical readers dont know which means of achieving an average (mean, mode, or median) he used to arrive at the statistic, so they cant judge how reliable the number is.
Does he tell where the statistic came from? Did he do a study? Did he find the information in a study done by someone else? It isnt necessary for the author to stop arguing his point and give readers all the relevant information about the study, but a credible argument will always acknowledge the source so that critical readers can look it up if they want to verify facts (you are not going to verify, but credibility demands that the information you would need to verify must be available). This information can appear in a Works Cited page with in-text citation in the article, in a footnote, or in information provided in the test.
Once youve done this, you must explain to your audience how these factors affect the authors credibility. You cant assume readers will see the relationship on their own; if they could, theyd have no reason to read your paper. Finally, as always, wrap it all up by tying it clearly back to your thesis.
So analysis consists of several parts (and here Im talking about within a paragraph). First, you need a claim–a topic sentence that identifies the technique being presented and its relationship to the thesis: One reason Smiths argument is not credible is that he fails to clarify his statistics. Next, provide evidence of Smiths use of statistics. This is often done with direct quotation, but other methods are often possible. Then support your claim (the topic sentence, remember) with evidence. Show how the statistics are unclear, in this case. Discuss to ensure readers understand your point. Finally, wrap up the point by tying it back to the topic sentence and the thesis: While numbers can be convincing to the average reader, a critical reader is not convinced by statistics that may be skewed and are, at best, unclear.
Repeat this step for each of your three (minimum) points (paragraphs), be sure you have strong, effective introduction and conclusion, and proofread carefullyand thats it
Speaking of proofreading, here are some tips:
A lot are two words.
Credibility is an acceptable point to explore here; creditability is not.
Everyday and every day are two different words with different meanings.
Affect and effect are two different words with different meanings.
Paper 2 (analysis) Topic, Instructions and Grading Criteria (Comp II)
For Paper 2, choose one ARGUMENTATIVE article related to your approved topic. This may be the same article you used for Paper 1 or a different article. It can support your stand or come from the opposition, but it must be argument.
In this paper, you will begin looking at writing as a form of communication, but you will not argue ideas. Instead, you will analyze how and why the author builds his argument and why it is or is not credible. Note, too, that the various elements of the paper should form a coherent whole, not function as distinctly different sections.
General Instructions:
Write a paper of at least 750 words. The paper must include an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, each presenting and developing one main idea, and a conclusion. Each paragraph must be fully developed, unified, coherent, etc. You may use first person (I), but avoid second person (you). You may use contractions. Remember to title your work, underline your thesis statement, and follow the Typing Guidelines (posted in Canvas under Handouts).
Remember that your thesis statement should express the main idea of the paper and that your paper must have an obvious purpose.
The paper must use one and only one source as described above, have at least one direct quotation and at least one summary, properly launched and cited. (Although in-text citations were not required in P1, they are required in this one.)
Audience: Anyone interested in learning to recognize how a credible argument works.
Read the article carefully and actively (taking notes, asking questions, etc.). It is impossible to write this paper unless you completely understand the article and the argument it offers. You must understand all the words used in the article. If you dont, look them up and be sure you understand them in the context of the article. Do not rely on context clues. Identify the audience the author of the article is writing for.
Look carefully at the various argumentative techniques (the ones weve been discussing in class) the author uses to craft his argument. Choose and identify at least three to discuss in your paper. DO NOT list these elements in your introduction or your thesis. You must introduce each one in the paragraph(s) you devote to it.
Introduction: must introduce the article and its author, briefly summarize the article (no more than a sentence or two), and identify the argument. Be sure to include your approved research question in the intro. Word it exactly as I approved it, but do not underline it, italicize it or put it in quotation marks.
Write a thesis that establishes whether the argument as a whole is credible or not. As you write or lead up to the thesis, DO NOT say you read the article, etc. The audience you are writing for expects you to read and understand an article before you write about.
Paragraphs: In each paragraph (or group of paragraphs), begin by introducing the element to be analyzed. DO NOT define these elements; just tell your audience what they are: begging the question, lack of evidence, effective expert testimony, etc. Using the analytical techniques we’ve been studying, discuss how each functions in the argument. In other words, you’ll say, for example, Smith uses examples to help convince his intended audience that his argument is valid. Then you’ll show how the examples accomplish this goal. Wrap up each point by tying it clearly back to your thesis statementshowing how the element helps or hurts credibility.
After you’ve devoted at least one fully developed paragraph to each of (at least three) argumentative techniques you chose to write about, conclude your paper effectively; then proofread it carefully.
Please acknowledge all material (including, but not limited to, words, thoughts, ideas, and arguments) from the essay you are writing about. Include at least one direct quotation, and document it properly. Be sure to include a Work Cited page (not Works Cited because you will only have one work).
Successful students will do the following:
Choose an essay appropriate to the assignment.
Conduct a close, critical reading resulting in a full, clear understanding of the chosen essay and all words used in it.
Accurately summarize the essay. Tone, meaning and purpose of the essay should be clearly expressed.
Respond thoughtfully to the chosen essay.
Smoothly and effectively integrate source material with personal ideas.
Demonstrate awareness of and concern for audience.
Demonstrate ambition, deep thought, and a scholarly attitude.
Clearly and correctly acknowledge any and all source materials including, but not limited to, words, thoughts, ideas, and arguments
Include an MLA-style Work Cited page.
Demonstrate understanding and mastery of basic rules of punctuation and grammar, syntax, etc.
Follow all instructions and meet all paper requirements.
Follow the Typing Guidelines (available in Handouts in Canvas).
In addition, a successful paper will meet the following criteria:
Effective, descriptive title.
Effective thesis statement effectively placed.
Well-organized essay of at least five paragraphs. Essay should have both a point and a purpose.
Effective, organized, unified, coherent paragraphs.
Topic sentences, specific details, and transitions used to add interest and make the essay more informative.
Effective introduction and conclusion — conclusion should not simply restate introduction.
Contain at least one summary and one direct quotation, both properly acknowledged
Paper is at least 750 words long (title, information block, Work(s) Cited page (if used) and parenthetical documentation do not count toward minimum word limit).
WEBSITE ARTICLE CHOSEN:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/benefits-of-kids-wearing-masks-in-school/
Please try to use this article, but if you find a better one please include it instead!
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