Prompt:
To be effective participants in our fields of study, we cannot simply be the passive receivers of information; instead, we should be adding to and/or challenging the existing discourse and conversations happening within our discipline in order to help our fields progress. After successful completion of your annotated bibliography and literature review, you should have developed a clearer idea of what, exactly, some of that current discourse and debate is that revolves around the research question that you presented in Week 6. For this essay, you will enter the conversation of your field by developing a well-reasoned and well-researched argument. This argument might take one of two forms. Perhaps you have noticed a real and noteworthy problem that exists in your major or discipline, and you would like to prove the problem and argue for a realistic solution. Or perhaps youd like to take a side on a controversial issue in your major or discipline and therefore persuade those in your field that your position is the correct one.
The best argumentative papers acknowledge the opposition through the presentation of counterarguments. What would those who disagree with you say about your argument, and how might you acknowledge and address their concerns? Not only does this response prove that you examined all sides of the issue, but it also allows you to combat the oppositions potential objections before they can make them by offering an appropriate and strong rebuttal. For this reason, you will be required to present at least one counterargument and rebuttal in your paper, but you are welcome (and even encouraged) to present more.
Moreover, with this in mind, it is important to make sure that your thesis is, indeed, arguable. While you might really want to talk about how diet and exercise are the key to a healthy lifestyle or that police brutality exists in general, no one is really going fight you on these issues. There must be a large number of people who could and would disagree with you.