For your final paper for the semester, you are asked to develop a detailed, coherent, and well-supported argument. Consider issues (ARGUMENTS that have not been resolved) that affect families and communities as well as individuals in terms of identity and our American heritage. (If you are new to the country, you may choose an issue in your home country to argue.) The position paper assignment calls on you to employ basic principles of argument and persuasion. Your position paper will offer you the opportunity to present your stand on an issue through a well-formed, well supported argument. Consider the rhetorical situation (audience and purpose) for your audience, tone, and organization of the essay. Review your notes from class on argument and the strategies of argument (finding common ground, addressing the opposing view (acknowledge counterarguments), using ethos, pathos, and logos). Using the list of issues that you are most interested in, do an initial reading search for topics and information on the topics that interest you; decide which issue you want to use for the paper. You will need to submit an Issue Proposal. Check the assignment for details. In the proposal, you will discuss your issue. You will write a 4-page paper for this assignment (double-spaced with a number 12 Times New Roman font). Use correct MLA documentation both internally and for the Works Cited Page if you use external sources. You do NOT have to use sources, but you do want to provide evidence to back up your claims (you can use personal experience, examples from your reading, and current events).
