Write an essay on a controversial issue. Learn more about the issue, and take a position on it. Present the issue to readers, and develop an argument for the purpose of confirming, challenging or changing your readers’ views on the issue.Choose a controversial topic that has at least two sides. Introduce the issue clearly so that the reader understands it.Pick your position and state it clearly in the thesis statement (usually the last sentence of the introductory paragraph).Present plausible reasons and convincing support. Provide reasons for supporting the position. You must go beyond simply asserting reasons. Utilize these methods of persuasion: examples, statistics, facts, expert testimony, anecdotes, and predicting consequences to support the reasons.Recognize opposing position and answer the opposition. An effective argument for a position includes recognizing and refuting opposing arguments, as well as anticipating and answering a reader’s questions. You may designate a separate paragraph to address opposing position.Integrate sources. Sources must be used and documented in an appropriate MLA format. A minimum of 3 – 5 credible sources are required. One of them must come from a Germanna Library data base and must be a scholarly journal article or peer-viewed article.Compose a minimum of three pages for the essay itself (Works Cited page does not count. If you count the Works Cited page, your entire essay package will have to be at least four pages).Do not use first person point of view. In other words, do not use “I,” “we,” “me,” “us,” etc.Use MLA to format the essay and document the sources.Proofread for grammar and mechanics errors.Be aware that the instructor is using Turnin Plagiarism Detection tool to detect the percentage of overall match. 25% or less is acceptable. You must reduce the percentage of match if greater than 25% until it meets the requirement. You may submit your essay as many times as needed by the due date.
