Abortion should not be legal

Overview: This assignment requires you to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. Your argument essay will ultimately present a well-reasoned conclusion that persuades your audience to accept—or at least consider—your point of view.

Requirements:

• Write a 5+ page (1500+ words) argument with five
• Two of these sources must be from a library database (although all of them may be).
• One of these sources must be peer-reviewed.
• Your completed argument should consist of clear sections, such as (these are only examples – use the headings that fit best with your topic): Introduction / Background Information, Argument Point 1, Point 2, Point 3, Counterargument, Rebuttal, Conclusion, References. These should be labelled with headings (and sometimes sub-headings), and are logically sequenced, well developed, and supported with reliable evidence. NOTE: Your headings do not have to match mine.

As you investigate your argument, be sure to address each of the following:

• Choose your position. Which side of the issue are you going to write about? Know the purpose of your essay. This means you MUST choose a side to defend.
• Establish the purpose and value of the argument. Why is your argument important or controversial? What values are at stake? You do not want to argue about a topic on which everyone agrees. For instance, do not argue: Germs can cause illness, so we must wash our hands frequently. Most people agree with this stance. Choose something that has two (or more) positions.
• Do a wide search for information and sources so you are well informed about your topic. You want to explore both sides of your argument. Knowing why you do not believe in the points of one side (your opposition) can help you strengthen your points of why you do believe in your position.
• Avoid taking an all-or-nothing position. Think about our conversations about abortion. Do you remember the Texas couple who suffered because of the Texas ban on abortion. Most of us concluded that this all or nothing position caused more problems that many lawmakers did not consider.
• Respectfully address and refute the opposing argument. Understand the opposite viewpoints of your position. What counterarguments will your opposition make against your own claims? Then refute them by providing contrasting evidence or by finding inconsistencies in the logic of the opposing argument.
• Support your position with reasonable assertions and logic. Do not forget to consider the rhetorical appeals in this section. You can incorporate ethos (credibility of the person making the argument) by using reliable and responsible research. You can incorporate pathos by using researched or anecdotal examples based on an appeal to the reader’s emotions. Incorporate logos by using statistical information, surveys, and sound reasoning.
• You do not need to provide a solution; your purpose is to explain to the reader which side of an argument has more merit. NOTE: If you would like, you can provide a call to action.
• Evaluation Criteria: Your report should be 1500+ words and will be assessed by the following criteria:
  • Knowledge of subject is evident, and topic is focused
  • Clarity/Strength of claims and use of evidence to back them up – quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing – including introductory and follow-up material
  • Organization/Paragraph Development
  • FIVE+ outside sources
  • Your document should be in APA 7th Edition style, typed in 12-point, Times New Roman font; all margins should be one inch and the analysis should be double-spaced. For those of you who plan to go into a health-related field, APA and AMA will be the preferred (often mandated) style. If you learn it now, future classes will be a lot easier.