CA College for The Intellectually Disabled by Charlotte Allen Essay

Evaluating an Argument 

In Writing Project 2, we will practice the art of evaluating an argument. As consumers, citizens, and people in a society, we need to be able to decipher a strong argument from a weak one, so we are not swayed but rather well-informed. How do we do that? Let’s practice. . . 

Assignment Details

For this assignment, you will evaluate an argument; you will be evaluating the author’s argument. Is it well formed, supported, analyzed, why or why not?

Remember, you should agree or disagree with the author (his or her actual point); you are NOT commenting on the author’s opinion, but rather evaluating the strength of his/her argument. 

You will need to restate his/her thesis/argument in your own words. Then you will explain how he or she did an effective or ineffective job at convincing the audience. Identify the argument and intended audience in your introduction. Write your thesis stating whether the presented argument is effective or not, and list the reasons why. Lastly, the body paragraphs should focus on the reasons listed in the thesis and provide  evidence of the different strategies used and how effective or ineffective they were to building the author’s argument.

Task

You are analyzing the way the author presented his or her argument to argue whether it is an effective or ineffective argument.

In order to analyze the argument, you will consider the author’s use of:

• Pathos
• Ethos
• Logos
• Assumptions
• Logical fallacies
• Tone
• Types/Strength of evidence
• Objectivity/Bias
• OR any other points you saw in your textbook 

Questions to Consider

Ask yourself, what makes for an effective argument?  How and in what ways is the argument convincing?

• Purpose (What is the writer trying to accomplish with the essay?)
• Audience (To whom does the writer try to appeal? How does the writer try to connect with that audience?)
• Organization (How has the writer structured and presented the argument?)
• Nods to the Opposition (How does the writer anticipate and address arguments that might be made against his/her position?)
• Definition (How does the writer define key terms used in the argument?)
• Examples (What sort of examples/analogies does the writer use as evidence?)
• Appeals to Authority (How does the writer use other sources, experts, statistics, etc.?)
• Ethos (How does the writer present him/herself to the reader?)
• Logos (How does the writer appeal to the reader’s sense of logical reasoning?)
• Pathos (How does the writer appeal to the reader’s emotions, beliefs, and values?)
• Tone (What is the writer’s attitude towards the subject?)
• Diction and Imagery (What are the effects of the writer’s word choices?) 

Directions

Step 1 Choose your Article

• “Bring down the Barriers–Seen and Unseen”Links to an external site. by Rachel Adams 

“College for the Intellectually Disabled”Links to an external site. by Charlotte Allen  

• “Keeping the promise to All American’s Children”Links to an external site. by Arne Duncan 

Step 2 Follow Essay Structure 

You will need to:

1. Write the introduction: You will need to restate his/her thesis/argument in your own words. Then you will explain how he or she did an effective or ineffective job at convincing the audience. Identify the argument and intended audience in your introduction.

At the end of the introduction paragraph, write your thesis statement stating whether the presented argument is effective or not, and list the reasons why in a preview of points for the body.

2. Essay Body: The body paragraphs should focus on the reasons listed in the thesis and provide evidence of the different strategies used and how effective or ineffective they were to building the author’s argument.