Q English 101 - Essay #3 – Argumentative Research Essay Context: Argument. Argument surrounds us and occupies a large place in our everyday world. We argue with other people, we argue with ourselves, we argue with technology, and we argue with animals. Human beings just seem unable to resist a good argument; however, in that unrelenting capacity for argument, we sometimes elevate ourselves to great heights and show the strength of our minds through rational, intellectually-challenging discourse. With this in mind, we begin our 3rd essay assignment. Assignment: You will write a 5-full page argumentative research essay on a topic of your choosing. Note: Anything related to the following topics is outlawed for the assignment: social media, abortion, anything about guns and/or gun control, euthanasia, death penalty, anything related to marijuana, and any other topic you’ve written about this semester. *Moreover, it’s important to note that in an argumentative essay, you will also be examining the counter argument of the side that goes against yours. This means you will take the stance of someone who might disagree with your argument, only you will also provide reasoning that refutes that opposing side’s position. Grading: The final draft of this essay is worth 200 points. Note: This essay is not revisable, so be sure to do your best the first time around. A successful assignment will have the following: • A strong introduction with a quality hook, information that establishes the topic of the essay, and a clear thesis that illustrates your main point • Clear topic sentences that tell the reader what to expect in each body paragraph • Specific details and examples in the body paragraphs that support the thesis • The use of at least 5 legitimate outside sources that are fluidly integrated into the essay • A counter argument and a strong rebuttal to the counter argument (both are located in the same body paragraph) • A conclusion that restates your thesis and reviews the essay’s key points • An essay that is mostly free of distracting and confusing grammar errors • The essay is written in correct MLA format Due Dates: Final Draft: Due no later than 11:59 p.m., Saturday, 2/11. *When submitting the final draft of essay #3, please be sure you save it first as a .doc or a .pdf file. To save it this way, go into Microsoft Word and go to "File" at the top of the page. Click on "Save As" and follow through with saving the document as either a .doc or a .pdf file.