Should Abortion Be Legal?

cotwell-0013-Prompt_for_counter-argument_essay.rtf cotwell-0014-Counter_Argument_Essay_Tips.docx Counter-argument Essay Write an essay responding to an argument you find on the Web. Your paper should do the following: 1. Explain (give a summary of) the argument you will respond to. (And cite the source!) 2. Explain why the issue is important (why you are responding to it, and why your reader should care.) For example, does the issue have wider implications, does it provide some insight into the human condition or social conditions, etc.? 3. Evaluate the argument. Does it commit any fallacies? Does it make poor assumptions? 4. Take a contrary position. 5. Defend your position against the argument you found using sound/cogent arguments. 6. Supply and cite evidence where this is necessary. The essay must be typed, double-spaced, and stapled in the upper left-hand corner, 12-point Roman font, one-inch margins. It should include your name and page number on every page. It should be about 3 pages long. Citations should be in footnotes, not MLA style. Any paper not submitted in this format will be returned unread for reformatting. Pointer: there are very few good reasons to quote your sources. Almost always, the essay should accomplish its tasks in your own words. Two exceptions would be: - Your source says something highly controversial – so much so that readers might doubt the person said it. Then of course, you should cite it! - There are alternate interpretations of what the person says. Then quote and offer your interpretation. No block quotations. Keep whatever must be quoted short and to the point. Grading Rubric A B C D F Summary and Critique of Article: argument is clearly explained. All major premises are given. Assumptions are made explicit. Analysis of argument and issue is insightful and thorough. Fallacies are correctly diagnosed. argument is explained well enough to be understood. Some analysis is presented, although it may be shallow at times. no summary given, or no analysis given. Motivation: Issue is plausibly or compellingly motivated (reasons are given why we should care) Some motivation offered No discernable motivation offered Definition of terms: terms are clearly and unambiguously defined where necessary. Definitions are carefully supported where necessary Most terms are defined where needed Terms that need definitions are left undefined Argument: clear and precise thesis, addressing a well-defined issue. Argument is clear and moves systematically from premise to premise. Thesis follows from premises Thesis is present, but occasionally imprecise. Argument is present, not always clear. Thesis follows from premises Argument not present, or has significant logical problems. Thesis doesn't follow from premises Support: major premises are supported by concrete, relevant evidence, and not just by speculation Some relevant evidence offered No relevant evidence apparent Objectivity: reflects on claims and assumptions; considers likely objections and counterarguments Reflects on at least some major objections; may miss some major objections; fails to explore implications of the argument No significant objectivity or reflection occurs =============== Counter-argument essay tips: Procedure: - Provide a précis of the original argument - Critique this argument: o Are its premises all true or plausible? Can you cite evidence to show that a premise is false or not plausible? o How strong is its reasoning? Does it commit any fallacies? o Does it make any unwarranted or implausible (unstated or stated) assumptions? o Does it have any weird implications? For instance, does it imply some odd result or that some weird policy should be adopted for this or other issues? - Use this critique to support a different position on the issue - Advance any additional reasons that support your position, citing evidence where appropriate Do it in your own words! There are very few good reasons to quote your sources. Almost always, the essay should accomplish its tasks in your own words. Two exceptions would be: - Your source says something so controversial that readers might doubt the person said it. Then of course, you should cite it! - Your source says something that requires interpretation (e.g. there is more than one way of understanding what is said.) Then quote it, and offer your interpretation, along with your justification for why it should be interpreted as you suggest. Plagiarism: - Copying more than three words (as a rule of thumb) verbatim from another's writing is plagiarism. Put in quotations marks and cite! - Copying a sentence and leaving out a word here and there is plagiarism. If you want to quote a sentence and leave out part of it use ellipses (…) but quote and cite! - Summarizing someone else's point without crediting them is plagiarism. You must cite the source at the end of your summation. - In general, anything that is not your own thought or not your own language needs to be cited. Otherwise, you are passing off someone else's work as your own, which is dishonest.