For this assignment, you will be completing a criteria-match style definition argument. In this case, you will examine a specific situation, person, etc. and argue as to whether it falls within or outside of a particular defined category that you will create. The object here is NOT to write an informative definition only (what is friendship? Similar) or a categorical definition to suit your situation only, or, finally, to choose a situation that fits conveniently within a definition. Rather, you should select criteria and do research to create a definition that is objective and logical, and then argue that the situation chosen does or does not fit the definition. Work through each of your criteria, discussing what is relevant to your chosen issue. If you find that the situation does not match the definition, you have not done something wrong; perhaps you have merely illustrated that people have been defining the issue incorrectly. You also have to provide at least one opposing view and counterargue this, so the placement of your “x” in the category should be debatable or controversial, such that someone would likely disagree. Steer clear of overly simplistic or moralistic categories like whether something is fair, right or wrong, other terms along those lines. While starting with the dictionary is okay, you should develop your own criteria. “According to Webster’s dictionary” is not a college level approach and most likely will give you a denotative definition only.
This assignment requires the use of researched material. You may use up to five (5) sources for this essay, but you must use at least three (3). Three (3) of the sources must come from Proqest or EBSCO, and each of these three must be cited at least once in the essay. The remaining two sources can be physically handled, internet, or other media, and each of those must also be cited at least once in the essay. Deductions will apply for failing to use the correct number and type of sources in the paper. Sources should be correctly cited in the text in accordance with MLA, and the last page of the paper must be a properly documented and formatted Works Cited page.
Follow the steps below in creating your argument:
1. Review the materials in Chapter 9 of your text on how to create and develop a definitional argument.
2. Explore for a topic. There are some ideas on 208-213 and 215-218 for how to develop a topic. DO NOT use the topics from the book. Come up with something on your own and use the advice in the book to develop the idea as part of your prewriting. Review the topics and stay on course. Do not try to define an abstraction or an overly broad or vague term like “love” or “friendship”. Do not choose a canned topic like “Jack and the Beanstalk” as this deviates from your approved topics. Do not attempt to use a dictionary definition as the basis of your argument as this alone will likely not meet the requirements of the assignment. In general, do not go on the internet trolling for topics that have already been explored. The obvious exception is any Open AI work we do in class.
3. Instead, make a list of current events, activities in which you participate, interests you have, career goals, and communities of which you are a member. Use this information to think about topics or issues some aspect of which could be crafted into a categorical argument. For example, Natashia Rodriguez, in the article you used for the summary, redefined what it means to be underprivileged, arguing that students are not “underprivileged” based solely on race or ethnicity because neither of these distinctions determines financial need or quality of life. She supports this by demonstrating, with evidence, that while she may need or want financial help with college, her childhood does not meet the definition or the colleges assumptions regarding lack of privilege. After you have isolated a term to define and a match issue, continue prewriting until you have developed a basic rationale for your argument.
4. Create a claim to fit the pattern “X is or is not a Y because it meets/fails to meet certain criteria (A, B, C, D)”. Graffiti is art because it is a means of self-expression, stimulates the heart and mind, and etc. It is imperative that you have a thesis statement along these lines at the end of your first paragraph (the introduction) such that you have a plan around which to build your essay. Create an outline.
5. Examine the reasons you have provided in order to determine what kind of evidence you need and complete your research. In the example above, you’d need to do research on art as a means of self-expression and also research some examples of graffiti artists talking about their work. To support that paragraph, you’d need to build a bridge in which you show that the artists comments meet the criteria of self-expression based on what you’ve learned. The essay will proceed through each reason in this manner.
6. You also need to think about what sorts of objections someone would raise regarding your definition. How would you answer these questions? Can you also find some evidence to support you on those points?
7. While completing your research, go ahead and create your Noodletools bibliography page. Remember that completing these entries correctly will be helpful in assuring that the documentation in the body of the essay is correct.
8. Be prepared to provide evidence of your writing process when required in class or if needed during office hours, tutoring, or when submitting your essay for a grade. This means you need to write down and preserve your prewriting, your outline, perhaps screenshot your noodletools citations, complete your peer/self review, keep a record of your response from Thinkingstorm or a tutor, and so forth. For your final upload, yes, you can submit photos of these things, but watch the size.
9. Organize the argument—see the suggestions on pages 219 and 220. The essay will likely use the following pattern: Introductory paragraph(engagement, background, what’s at stake, and claim), presentation of definition criteria, presentation of “match” situation and discussion of criteria in relation to it (argue that match meets/does not meet criteria 1, argue that match meets/does not meet criteria 2, and so forth), Concluding paragraph (sum up argument, reinforce position, relate the outcome of your argument to what’s at stake, end with something memorable or thought-provoking). A different approach is to weave the criteria-match discussion together, allowing the criteria to drive the organization. At some point during the essay, you should engage the opposition and anticipate any questions or contradictions of your position. This could be a separate paragraph or incorporated in other ways.