U.S.

Literature and Composition: Issue Analysis/Documented Argumentative Essay

Overview: Over the course of the next few weeks, you will have the opportunity to research a
social issue in America, examine the complexity of this issue as more than a pro/con debate, and
ultimately take a stance on this issue and argue for a particular solution and/or viewpoint. You will
begin by selecting an issue on which to focus, completing research on both sides to understand all
aspects of this issue, and completing a graphic organizer that documents your research and
demonstrates the complexity of your topic. At that point, you will be using this information to
write a documented, argumentative essay that will create a convincing, reasonable, and well-
researched argument for a specific audience who is concerned about the issue of your choice.
Issue Proposal: Before you begin this assignment, you will need to complete the issue proposal
form (attached). This needs to be completed by the end of the period on Thursday, March 2nd
your teacher must approve your topic before you begin the Issue Analysis.
Issue Analysis:
Purposes for this Analysis: To convince your readers that the issue you are examining is
more complicated than a pro/con debate; to compel your audience to think further about an
issue that they may only understand superficially; to prepare you for the final
argumentative essay in which you will take a stance on this issue and argue for a
particular solution and/or viewpoint.
Assignment: Once your topic has been approved, you will begin researching your issue.
This assignment has two parts: the first part is your research and the second part is your
graphic organizer. You will need to find the following facts in your research in order to
complete the graphic organizer (attached):
How this issue is defined/addressed by your various reliable sources
Why it is important for your audience to understand the complexity of this issue.
Show that your issue is complex by describing the general approaches or perspectives
taken by writers addressing the issue. Cite sources to support your analysis.
Maintain the focus and unity of the discussion by providing clear connections among
the parts.
You must use a minimum of 3 credible sources (no Wikipedia!)
Part 1-Research Notes: You will take clear, handwritten research notes over your topic.
You will use these notes to complete the graphic organizer. The notes will be turned-in with
your graphic organizer and a correctly formatted MLA Works Cited page.
Part 2-Graphic Organizer: see attached worksheet.
Due Date: The Issue Analysis (research notes and graphic organizer) is due by the end of
the period on Thursday, March 9th.
Argumentative Essay:
Overview: In this essay, you will create a convincing, reasonable, and well-researched
argument for a specific audience who is concerned about an issue of your choice. In order
for you to do this effectively, it is necessary for you to find research so that you are familiar
with all sides of the argument and can sufficiently support your point of view (this is what
you accomplished in your Issue Analysis).
For this paper, you must take a clear and unmistakable stand about your issue, as it is not
possible to effectively argue your side if you dont have a clear point. Then, you must collect
data to support your stance. You will likely need to do more research in order to establish:
(1) the history and background of the issue, (2) the groups involved (those who
present arguments and those affected by the issue), and the (3) various points
 of view which are held on this issue. An effective argumentative essay will exhibit a
complex understanding of all the points of view held on your issue; a one-sided argument
that refuses to acknowledge the validity of other points of view will convince no one.

Audience: You will choose a specific audience for your argument. Keep in mind that your
choice of audience will affect your tone, word choice, presentation of research, and key
points.
The audience you choose must be specific (not just an audience of teenagers). You will
choose a specific person, group/organization, magazine, newspaper, etc. that would be
interested in hearing your argument. To better understand this audience/context, you will
complete the Audience Analysis Sheet prior to drafting your argument.
Due date: Your final paper will be due at on Monday, April 3rd!!
Essay Requirements:
Your essay must be correctly MLA formatted (font, margins, headers, etc)
Your essay must be at least 1,000 words
You must cite at least 3 credible sources in your paper.
You must document your sources using correct MLA format.
You must include a correctly-formatted MLA Works Cited page
Completed Audience Analysis
You will also turn-in all drafts/workshops in class on Monday, April 3rd.
Timeline
Tuesday, February 28th Discuss research/argumentative writing
Introduce assignment
Begin Issue Proposalafter approval on your topic, begin working on
your research for your Issue Analysis
Thursday, March 2nd Complete Issue Proposal & get teacher approval
Work on Issue Analysis research after approval of your topic.
Monday, March 6th- Work day: Research for Issue Analysis (research notes, graphic
Tuesday, March 7th organizer, and Works Cited page)
Thursday, March 9th- Issue Analysis/works cited page due by end of period on
Friday, March 10th Thursday, March 9th.
Work days: Continue research, draft argumentative essay
Audience Analysis due by end of period on Friday, March 10th.
You will need a printed draft of your essay for Tuesday, March
21st.
Tuesday, March 21st WORKSHOP #1 - DUE: draft of essay have a printed copy of your
typed, complete essay ready to useminimum full 3 pages. Failure to
(Thurs, March 23 SAT Prep: Reading
Portions) bring your essay to class OR not having a completed draft will result in
10% being deducted from your final grade.
Friday, March 24th Work day: Revise your essay based on feedback
Monday, March 27th Finish revising essay/print a copy AND
WORKSHOP #2 - DUE: revised draft of essay have a printed copy
of your typed, REVISED essay ready to useminimum full 3 pages.
Failure to bring your essay to class OR not having a completed second
draft will result in 10% being deducted from your final grade.
Tuesday, March 28 th Work day: Revise your essay based on feedback
Thursday, March 30th MLA Workshop on Thursday, March 30th (You will need your
revised draft and Works Cited page)
Friday, March 31st Final revisions to your essay
Monday, April 3rd Essay due! Include all drafts
**Make sure your Works Cited page is the final page of your submitted
essay**
Issue Proposal Name _____________________ Period______
Overview: To complete this assignment, you will select a publicly-debated issue in America that
youve become familiar with through your research, personal experience, media, etc. You will choose
one issue to research. The issue you select should be complex more than two sides to the debate.
For instance, the issue of how to reduce teenage pregnancy is probably a more advantageous topic than the
abortion debate, since sides tend to polarize around pro-life and pro-choice positions in the abortion
discussion. Ideas about solving the teenage pregnancy problem, on the other hand, are varied and
numerous, including (but not limited to) those who believe in the value of sex education, those who
advocate strict family and abstinence training, and those who argue for wide and free distribution of
contraceptives.
Remember, this is an initial proposal. Your ideas and interests may change as you continue researching.
Check with me before switching to a new topic. Your issue proposal is due by the end of the period on
Thursday, March 2nd and must be approved by your teacher before you continue researching.

(1) Thoroughly (more than 1 or 2 words) explain what debatable issue you will be
researching.

(2) Create a tentative research question to help clarify a specific focus for your topic and
its investigation. The research question should be narrow and debatable. It should also lend
itself to complicated responses (more than simply pro/con). For instance, how can we reduce
teenage pregnancy in America today? Or, how can our society use alternative resources for energy
production?

(3) Briefly describe who (what groups of people or organizations) is currently debating
this issue, and discuss what their general concerns are (as much as you know at this point). For
instance: people who are interested in issues surrounding teenage pregnancy include parents,
teens, teachers/administrators, doctors/nurses, and religious organizations. Each of these groups
may have differing opinions and even people within each of these groups may differ from one
another.

(4) Explain why you chose to write about this issue, and why you believe it is an important
issue for your class and instructor to know more about.
Part 2: Issue Analysis Name _____________________ Per.______

Graphic Organizer
In the oval at the center of the page, please describe your debatable issue and your current stance
on this issue (this may change.) In each of the wedges (you may create more wedges if your topic
lends itself to more groups) 1) describe the group (who/organization), 2) their perspective on this
issue, and 3) why they think/believe this. Issue Analysis (handwritten notes and this graphic
organizer plus a works cited page are due by end of period on Thursday, March 9th.
Name ________________________________________ Period______

Audience Analysis
Overview: This assignment serves as prewriting for your essay by providing the opportunity to
analyze the audience and context for your argument. Understanding your audience is important
since you need to know who your readers are before you can effectively convince them to consider
your arguments. Examining your context is equally important because your argument will only be
taken seriously or be considered for publication if it meets context expectations.
Due date: Friday, March 10th by the end of the period.
Your answers to the following questions should be thorough and complete.
_____________________________________________________________

Part I: Purpose
1. What will you argue (what is your debatable social issue)? What is your current position on this
social issue?

2. What do you hope to accomplish with the argument? What might you reasonably hope to
achieve with this audience? For instance, you might hope to convince a school board to revise
the high school curriculum in an effort to prevent teen pregnancy. Be as specific as possible.

3. Write the main claim for your argument; this is a rough draft of your thesis statement.
Part II: Audience Analysis
1. Who will your target audience be? Define them specifically in terms of age, gender, economic
status, social class, education, and so forth.

2. Why did you choose this audience?

3. What can you expect your readers to know already about your issue? What will they want or
need to know? What are their typical attitudes or viewpoints toward your issue? How are their
views similar to your own? How do they differ?

4. What social and cultural factors might account for the similarities and differences in the readers
of this publication and you? How might your own social and cultural background account for
perspective?