Does the paper contain a clear and definite thesis statement?

Phil 2-Critical Thinking: Final Argumentative Paper Instructions

Your final assignment for this course will be an argumentative research paper.
An argumentative essay is your presentation of an argument in support of a position. An
argument is not a statement of your opinion; it is an attempt to support your position with
reasons. This position is your thesis, or the stance you take on a particular topic. You should be
able to express your thesis/conclusion in one or two sentences in the first paragraph of your
essay. Your thesis states the conclusion you aim to prove. The argument you develop in the
essay offers a set of reasons or evidence to support your conclusion or thesis.

As such, this assignment will be your opportunity to showcase the skills you have learned in
this class (particularly the rules and concepts weve covered throughout the course from both
textbooks), while also presenting your own argument on a topic of your choosing.

General Requirements:
-12 point font
-Double spaced
-1 inch margins
– 1500 word minimum
-At least 4 peer reviewed sources.
-Works Cited page as well as in text citations (APA, MLA, or Chicago are all fine. Choose
one and use it consistently.)

Choosing a Topic:
You will choose a topic that you are interested in researching and developing a well-
supported argument on.
A couple things to keep in mind when you are choosing a topic:
1. Your topic needs to be something that you will be able to find peer reviewed articles
written on. If you cannot find peer review articles or books on EBSCO host, JSTOR, or
in the library etc. on the topic you choose, you should not write on that topic. This is
very important!
2. Your topic should be on something that you are interested in and want to research in
depth. This way, you will be encouraged to dig deep into the topic when developing your
argument.
3. One good method for choosing a topic is to think about an overarching question that
you want to answer with a developed argument.

Questions I will be using to grade your paper (in addition to the requirements above):
1. Does the paper have an engaging opening?
2. Does the paper have a concise introduction?
3. Does the paper contain a clear and definite thesis statement?
4. Does the paper present its main arguments clearly?
5. Does the paper develop the main arguments in enough detail? Do the premises have adequate
explanations/support?
6. Does the paper follow the relevant rules for arguments and concepts from both textbooks?
7. Does the paper explain each objection presented in detail?
8. Does the paper address each objection raised?
9. Does the paper provide adequate in text citation and a works cited page?

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