ou will be creating both a strong and a weak version of an argument of your choosing

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Total pages: 3-5

Total points: 40 (see rubric for point allocation)

For your final project, you will be creating both a strong and a weak version of an argument of your choosing.

To make it interesting, you can choose to make an argument about any topic, serious or not. I want to give you an opportunity to be creative and/or choose something you are passionate about.

           Example “fun” argument topics:

                       House Ravenclaw is the best Hogwarts House

                       Cats are better than dogs

           Example “serious” argument topics:

                       Capital punishment is morally wrong

                       The need for stronger gun control

No matter what topic you pick, be sure to underline your thesis statement in the beginning so the reader (me) knows what you are attempting to prove, i.e. “In the following, I will provide several reasons as to why kale is the worst vegetable.”

Divide your final project into FOUR distinct parts

  1. In 2-3 paragraphs, write a strong version of your argument,      making sure that it is free of fallacies, logically valid and sound, and      avoids common errors in thinking (biases, unwarranted assumptions, etc.)      PUT YOUR THESIS STATEMENT HERE.
  2. In 2-3 paragraphs, highlight      and discuss each of your key premises and your overall conclusion. Explain      why/how each premise is logically linked to the conclusion, and why/how      each premise supports your overall argument.
  3. In 2-3 paragraphs, write a poor version of your argument,      making sure to include FIVE informal fallacies. 
  4. In 2-3 paragraphs, identify and      explain each fallacy that you included in your argument. Explain how each      is a fallacy, and how/why it detracts from the overall argument.

Additional notes:

*You do not need to include an introductory/concluding paragraph anywhere, as this is not a traditional paper, but rather a “project” that includes four separate parts.

*Feel free to label each section, i.e. “Part One”, “Part Two” etc.

*Using outside sources is NOT required, but if you choose to include outside sources, include a citation AND a “works cited” page.

 *You don’t need to cite the course text, either. This is just me seeing if you know what you are doing, without need for any “research”