Brief Argument Essay
Instructions
For your first major assignment, you will draw on what we’ve learned about argumentation to analyze the effectiveness of another writer’s argument.
Topic
Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments argues that both married and single women have been denied equal rights and protection under the laws of the United States. Why does she make a distinction between married and single women? How was the prohibition of women from entering professions available to men a means to keep women subservient in all ways? Which of Stanton’s grievances does she argue most compellingly?
Your essay should be three-four full pages. Itshouldhave a thesis that summarizes your position on the selection you are discussing, and your body paragraphs should develop and support your thesis through analysis of the author’s argument. Each of your body paragraphs should develop one supporting point, which should be stated in a topic sentence, and you should use transitions to help readers follow your train of thought.
This is a formal essay, so your tone should be formal. Please write out the author’s first name the first time you use it (e.g. “Elizabeth Cady Stanton”), and then refer to him/her by their last name after that (e.g. “Stanton” instead of “Elizabeth.”) Also avoid unnecessary use of “I” and “you” in your statements. (For example, instead of writing “I think Stanton’s argument is compelling,” say “Stanton’s argument is compelling.”)
Please do not reference outside sources in this firstpaper; insteadconstruct the best independent argument you can. Be sure to distinguish between your own opinions and those of the writers you are discussing. Please edit your paper for grammatical, mechanical, and syntactical errors, and followMLA formatting of your headings, margins, etc. Don't forget to cite the selection you are discussing on a "Works Cited" page at the end of your essay.
Assignment Requirements
- Your paper should be3-4 full pages (not including your works cited page).
- Your paper shouldfollow MLA-style formatting rules, including
- Typed in Times New Roman font, size 12
- 1 inch margins on all sides
- A heading in the upper leftcorner of the first page with your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date
- A heading in the upper right corner of every page with your last name and the page number.
- Your paper should follow MLA-style documentation rules, including
- MLA-Style parenthetical citations for all quotations and paraphrases
- An MLA-style Works Cited page that lists the selection you are discussing.