TC Argument essay

TC Argument essay

True Crime is a problematic, divisive, and controversial subject. Critical conversations regarding the genre of True Crime are developing in real time, and this is your opportunity to weigh in and contribute your unique and informed opinions.

For Essay #2, we are writing an argumentative essay with a stance on one topic related to True Crime.

This essay is written for a target audience of true crime fans, which relieves you from having to introduce and explain the true crime genre and its recent surge in popularity.

Instead, you get to assert your stance/thesis, support your arguments using 2-3 specific sources/cases/outcomes (research), acknowledge other stances/nuances regarding this specific issue, and then leave your reader with a clear call to action to address/mitigate this problem.

To convince and persuade your interested True Crime fan reader, you will utilize all three rhetorical strategies:

To establish ETHOS, you will write with clarity, confidence, and command of the genre and topic(s).

To establish PATHOS, you will write with voice, story, and compassion regarding the case/victims you cite in support of your claims.

To establish LOGOS, you will introduce, share and cite, and unpack relevant evidence/research in support of your key claims and arguments.

PROCESS:

1. You will choose and articulate a clear stance on one specific issue related to True Crime.

-You may choose one umbrella argument about what’s wrong with True Crime as a whole (and use a specific case/documentary to illustrate it)

OR

-You may dive into a specific case/documentary such as the

Murdaugh Murders or the Cult of Sarah Lawrence (and craft a case-specific stance/argument)

1. Then, you will choose one+ case/crime/character/outcome to use to illustrate and support your stance regarding this specific issue in True Crime

1. You will research and gather the strongest, most relevant sources to support your stance/arguments

1. Finally, you will outline and draft your thesis, topic sentence claims, supporting evidence, and closing remarks

ADVICE:

These are SHORT, op-ed or news column-style essays. The challenge is to choose a topic you are passionate and knowledgeable about, and to narrow that topic down into a manageable focus/specific example, and to pinpoint only your strongest claims and evidence to swiftly persuade your reader to share in your concerns and calls to action.