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A. Directions
Step 1. Choose a Topic
Today, there are many different debates being had all around the world about topics that affect our personal, professional, civic, and/or academic lives. Some of these debates have been such hot topics for so long that it has become very difficult to add to the conversation with new and original ideas or stances to take. To move beyond this trend, we have created a list of topics that may not be written about for this Touchstone. This includes example topics that are used in Unit 4. Feel free to access a tutor if you would like support choosing a topic for this essay.
Please AVOID choosing any of the following topics:
Abortion Rights
Animal Testing (Unit 4 example)
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change (Unit 4 example)
Belief in God(s) or Afterlife(s)
Death Penalty / Capital Punishment
Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide
Fad Diets (e.g., Keto, etc.)
Funding/Defunding Law Enforcement
Immigration
Legal Alcohol/Tobacco Age
Legalization of Marijuana
Legalization of Sex Work
Paying Student Athletes
Second Amendment Rights (i.e., Gun Control)
Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health
Universal Healthcare
Vaccines
Choosing to write about any of the above topics will result in a non-passing score.
Step 2. Write an Argumentative Essay
Remember the word “argument” does not mean a fight in a writing context. An academic argument is more like a thoughtful conversation between two people with differing viewpoints on a debatable issue. However, you are required to take a position on one side of a debatable issue that is informed by academically appropriate evidence.
For the purposes of this assignment, expressing or relying on your personal opinion of a debate is discouraged. Rather, the essay must argue one side or stance of the debate using the rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) and be supported by academic or scholarly sources. These include physical sources in public libraries, digital sources in academic libraries, online sources (excludes unreliable sources like procon.org and wikipedia.org, which are discouraged), and published expert reports, preferably peer-reviewed by experts in the field to maintain utmost credibility. Consider revisiting the tutorial Finding Sources for more information on appropriate sources for argumentative writing.

Assignment Description: Submit your final paper with the addition of the counterargument and conclusion paragraph, your revised intro paragraph and developed body paragraphs, and a references page with at least three sources.
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to complete your academic argumentative research paper.
Description: In this assignment, you will transition the outline you created in Unit IV into at least three body paragraphs. You will also write the paper’s counterargument and conclusion. The overall paper (not including the references page) should be around 1,300 to 1,500 words and must include at least three credible sources.
The paper should include all the following components (in order):
Title page
Introduction
Body paragraphs
Counterargument
Conclusion
References page
Introductory Paragraph:
Approximately six sentences
The intro paragraph serves to introduce the topic and the paper’s thesis statement.
Make the suggested revisions based on the feedback you received in Unit IV.
Body Paragraphs:
At least three paragraphs
Transition the outline of the body you produced in Unit IV to full paragraph form to support the paper’s thesis (revisit Unit VI lessons on transitions and cohesion).
Each body paragraph should address one of the justifications of the thesis statement’s position.
Counterargument:
Roughly six to seven sentences
Introduce an argument that opposes the argument made in the thesis statement and then refute it (revisit Unit VI lessons on introducing a counterargument).
Conclusion:
Roughly six sentences
Bring the paper to a close by emphasizing the importance of the issue and the controversy and answer the ‘so what?’ question.