Home Teaching Resources Composition Archive CO150 2005-2005 Syllabus Overview of Major Assignments in CO150

Overview of Major Assignments in CO150

Portfolio 3 Guidelines: Part A

Writing an Argument for an Academic Audience

Overview: Now that you have inquired into your issue, you are ready to write an argument. The argument you write for Part A will be an academic, source-based argument. You may use the sources you researched in Portfolio II, but you should continue to find new sources to support your argument. Furthermore, your argument should add something unique or new to the conversation, and not just repeat someone else's argument.

Purpose: To convince undecided readers to agree with your argument; or to make opposing readers less resistant to your argument; or to persuade readers who are in agreement with you to take action on your issue.

Audience: The audience for this argument is academic so it includes your instructor, yourself, your peers, and other members of the academic community. Prior to writing your argument, we will discuss argument strategies and the conventions of academic argumentation that will help you meet the needs and expectations of your audience.

• Include an interesting introduction which provides a hook, defines unknown terms and gives necessary background or contextual information.


• Provide a clearly stated claim (narrow, debatable, realistic).


• Give thoughtful and relevant reasons to support your overall claim.


• Use sufficient evidence (at least four outside sources) to support your argument.


• Organize your claims, reasons and evidence so that the paper is unified and focused. Use clear transitions to guide readers between your ideas.


• Analyze your target audience (their beliefs, values, background, assumptions) and write according to their needs and interests.


• Address your readers' opposing views wherever necessary.


• Use appeals effectively and avoid fallacies of argumentation.


• Include a Works Cited page and use proper MLA documentation for citations.


• Avoid distracting spelling and grammar errors to improve credibility.


• Type your essay in a readable, 12-point font and double-space it. Submit your essay in a folder along with any other contents specified in class.

Paper Length: 1,200 -1, 800 words (4 - 6 pages)
Due Date: See TR or MWF Syllabus for due dates
Worth: 25% of your final grade

* For assistance with this essay, visit The Writing Center (in Eddy 6) or come by office hours.