DEFINITION ARGUMENT FINAL DRAFT

For your definition argument you will be choosing an abstract term and arguing a definition of it. The term can be anything that relates to your life or to current events such as: cancel culture, marriage, family, success, happiness, racism, freedom, etc. There are many to choose from, and I want you to choose one that truly interests you. For the essay, you will need to write 3-4 double spaced pages that argue the definition of your term. You can use both extended, operational, and formal definitions to help with your argument. In order to do this, you will need to find at least one outside sources. One must be peer reviewed from the MSJC library website. Your paper will also need to include a works cited page and parenthetical citations.

To begin this essay, create a prewriting activity. You can either brainstorm your idea with at least 7-10 thoughts, you can create a cluster with at least 7-10 thought bubbles, or you can create an outline that breaks down at least five paragraphs of your essay. Please only choose one and upload either a picture copy or a document of the prewriting activity to this assignment.

The purpose of this assignment is to work your brain in order to plan out what you want to write. It will also help to organize your thoughts on paper.

An example of each of these prewriting activities can be found in your Practical Argument textbook in chapter

This activity is designed to support the following Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and analyze thesis statements in nonfiction texts as models for their original work.

2. Present clear, reasoned, well-supported, and clearly-organized thesis-driven argument essays.

3. Compose, edit, and revise essays at the sentence, paragraph and essay level to demonstrate the conventions of standard academic American English.

4. Analyze the rhetorical situation, including the importance of purpose and audience and the use of rhetorical appeals and rhetorical strategies, in popular and/or scholarly texts.

5. Find and integrate college-level sources to support a strong argument.

6. Synthesize, paraphrase, and quote from primary and secondary sources while adhering to most recent MLA documentation guidelines.