8 – 10 peer-reviewed sources will substantiate a strong argument Begin with an idea of the argument you wish to make, but be open to modifying that argument according to the kinds of sources you find to support it. Consider what readers already think, know, and feel about your topic. You can use a careful understanding of your audience to help open space for new ideas and ways of thinking about common problems. Narrow down your topic as much possible, based on the evidence you find. Readers often find broad topics confusing and uninteresting. those are the instructions Write a paper that makes and supports a claim in an area or topic of interest to you. As you consider your argument, first sketch out the major points of view and positions. Why is it important to discuss this topic now? What events or situations have instigated your intervention? What information, perspectives, or ideas can you add to the conversation, so that you are not simply rehashing common arguments? You may wish to structure your essay similarly to the examples we look at in class (or according to opinion editorials, such as those found in The New York Times). Since this paper focuses on the persuasive nature of writing, during the process of drafting and revising, you will need to develop a specific thesis statement and support for it based on the kinds of sources you find. As with the last paper, you will use writing as a process of inquiry, and you will continue to craft your writing around a specific audience in a specific situation. Analyze what readers of position papers expect from the claims, arguments and evidence in the opinion section, and craft your paper accordingly. Your paper should use the key features of an argument and the rhetorical strategies that your textbook covers and that you discuss class. It should show a clear sense of purpose and audience.
