ENGL 1302 Oberle

Research-Based Toulmin Argument Assignment: 

In this assignment, you will be writing a grammatically correct, clearly organized essay that uses the Toulmin model to argue in favor of one of the possible points-of-view on a controversial social, ethical, historical, or intellectual issue. By following the Toulmin model, your paper should:

In the Introduction:

• Briefly define your topic.

• Establish why your topic is important historically, ethically, socially, or intellectually (in other words, establish--briefly--why a reader should be interested in your topic).

• Have a specific thesis statement that clearly expresses the point-of-view on the topic being argued and the major arguments to be made in favor of this point-of-view. In other words, the thesis should state your opinion on the issue and the actual reasons the paper will discuss in support of your opinion. In the thesis, these reasons should be stated in the order in which they will be discussed inside the paper’s body paragraphs.

In Each Body Paragraph:

• Logically discuss a reason in support of the point-of-view being argued (in other words, logically argue in favor of one of the reasons, listed in the paper’s thesis statement, which supports your opinion).

• Logically discuss and refute the opposing point-of-view for the particular reason being argued (in other words, fairly discuss and fairly disprove the opinions of those who disagree with the particular reason being discussed).

In the Conclusion:

• Reiterate the paper’s thesis statement by briefly re-emphasizing the reasons that support the paper’s argument.

• Give readers an ending thought that motivates them to care about the argument the paper has just presented.