Final Argument
or
The "Big Arg"
After studying and analyzing arguments all semester, you will write your own argumentative paper on a topic of your choice.

Think about your Rhetorical Analysis papers and additional comments I gave you—these will help you understand how you need to write your argument.

General Information

• 3 - 5 pages, double-spaced
• at least 5 sources; only two may be Internet unless you talk with me beforehand
• use in-text citations where you reference your sources
• include a bibliography

Details
When you write your argument, remember to think about the interaction between:

• the Rhetorical Situation (Audience, Purpose, and Context)
• the Rhetorical Tools (Logos, Ethos, and Pathos)
• and your entire topic, not just your side of the argument

Audience - Who is your audience? What do they believe? Why? How does this impact your argument? What types of arguments will they best respond to? Don't answer these in this paper, but make sure you follow them when addressing your audience.
Purpose - Why are you writing this paper? What is your goal? Stick to that goal; don't stray from this goal or add in unrelated ideas. Make sure everything you argue relates to this goal.
Context - What is the situation? How does it affect people (and your argument)? Be sure you understand what related issues affect your topic, and know why.
Logos - Does your audience need facts? Make sure you use the right kinds of support to persuade.
Ethos - Don't just think "testimonials"; think about your ethos. Showing you understand the whole topic and both sides of the argument will allow you to reach and hopefully persuade your audience.
Pathos - Does your audience respond to emotional appeals? If they need the facts, this may not work.
Your Topic - Show your audience you have a full understanding of the topic and both sides of the argument so they will be more likely to listen to what you have to say. Be sure to also achieve your purpose.

This is the climax of English 105. The overall goal of this paper is for you to prove your understanding of what we've discussed in class about analyzing, arguing, and fully understanding a topic in order to have an educated viewpoint on the matter. Specifically, the goals include:

• to be able to establish yourself as an "expert" on your topic and provide some additional insight into the current debate over your topic
• to understand how the Rhetorical Situation impacts an argument, and to be able to address the Rhetorical Situation properly using Rhetorical Tools
• to learn how to appropriately (for your topic) address and persuade an audience

If you turn in a quality paper, quantity will not matter, and your grade will not suffer. Please do not write your paper according to the length of the assignment; write it according to the purpose of the assignment. An incomplete argument or a full-o-crap argument will receive a lowered grade.

• If you need more pages to really make your point, then make the paper longer. Do not cut a good argument short.
• If you complete your argument short of the minimum page requirement, then end your paper. Do not fill in the remainder with crap.

This does not mean that I want to read 200-page papers; make sure that everything in your paper is crucial and necessary to your argument. Nor do I want a paper short enough that I can finish reading it as you hand it in to me. Make sure that every angle of your argument is examined and fully explained.

Topics Not Allowed

• abortion
• capital punishment
• creation vs. evolution
• drinking age
• euthanasia
• gun control
• the Greek System
• marijuana (for any reason: medicinal, recreational, etc.)