Your Essay Should Include the Following Parts

Advanced Composition Assignment #2 Rough Draft due Mon. July 17 Argument of Definition 750 words

Write an essay with a definitional claim on a controversial issue. Focus your essay on a key term of the issue, such as the definition of privacy or the definition of marriage (see the examples below).

Your definitional claim should use the following formula: X is (or is not) a Y because it has (or does not have) features A, B, C, and so on... Example: Forrest Gump is (or is not) an American hero because he has (or does not have) the features A, B, C of the definition of a hero.

Your essay should include the following parts:

1. A claim that involves a question of definition 2. An attempt to establish a general definition acceptable to readers 3. An examination of the claim in terms of the accepted definition and all its conditions: X is (is not) like Y why because it meets (does not meet) criteria A, B, C, etc. 4. Evidence for every part of the argument 5. A consideration of alternative views and counterarguments 6. A conclusion, drawing out the implications of the argument

Follow the guidelines for writing an argument of definition on pp. 122-126.

Select one of the following topics or develop one of your own (with my approval):

 Burning the U.S. flag is a hate crime.  Plagiarism is an act of civil disobedience.  Satanism is a religion properly protected by the First Amendment.  Committed gay couples should have the legal privileges of marriage.  Campaign contributions are acts of free speech.  Intellectual property should belong in the public domain (like Martin Luther King, Jr.s’ “I Have a Dream” speech).  Pornographic images on a college professor’s office computer are grounds for dismissal.  Beer is a health food  Washington, D.C. should have all the privileges of an American state.  Computers are more intelligent than human beings.  Title IX has achieved gender equity in college sports.  Privacy of information is no longer possible in the computer age.  Racism no longer exists in the United States.  Education can only be acquired in an academic environment.  Marijuana is a dangerous drug.  Cheerleading is/is not a competitive sport.  Hate speech is/is not free speech.  Hunting is/is not cruelty to animals.  Displaying pinup calendars is/is not an example of sexual harassment.  Ebonics is/is not a dialect of English.  A person paid to do public service is/is not a volunteer.

For many of the topics above you will find an essay(s) related to the topic in your textbook. If not, you will probably need to find a periodical article or a web site to help you with your argument. Please include a citation in MLA format for any sources you use. Planning Sheet for Argument of Definition

Claim involving a question of definition:

Audience:

General definition acceptable to readers:

Reason 1:

Grounds:

Warrant:

Backing?:

Reason 2:

Grounds:

Warrant:

Backing?:

Reason 3:

Grounds:

Warrant:

Backing?:

Opposing Argument 1:

Refutation:

Opposing Argument 2:

Refutation:

Implications (why does this definition matter?):

Toulmin Terminology

Claim (thesis): the position that the article/essay is trying to get the audience to accept Backing : evidence/arguments which support the warrant, if necessary Warrant : the unstated assumption(s) which must be accepted by the audience for claim to be accepted Stated Reason: support for the claim Grounds: the evidence (data, facts, testimony, examples) that supports the reason Rebuttal: the limits under which the claim does not hold, anticipation of any counterargument against reasons, grounds or backing Qualifier: words or phrases limiting the force of the claim