English 102.003
Spring, 2006
Dr. Stewart

Project 4

Making a Claim

I'm sure that there are things that bother you about living in a particular town or attending this university. Here's your chance to propose a change or to at least identify the problem (make a claim) for the public to consider. While you can think about this topic in moral or ethical terms, since you'll be identifying an audience that you want to persuade, it would probably be unwise to frame your proposal in moral and ethical terms. That might suggest your audience is immoral or unethical, and that will get you nowhere. So, consider some aspect of university life or city life that is problematic or could be better and develop a claim. (See Chapter 6 of Essentials of Argument).

Your options:

• Claim of fact
• Claim of definition
• Claim of cause
• Claim of value
• Claims of policy
• (or a combination of the above)

For this paper, you'll need to identify a very specific audience. For instance, if you were to write about campus parking, you would need to identify the individual or individuals on campus who handle this matter (the Dean of Students perhaps?). You'll want to address the person or committee specifically and write this piece (probably in the form of a letter) to that individual or committee.

This paper will require some kind of research, but the form of the research will vary, and you'll need to present that research in such a way that you're not necessarily quoting from a text. For instance, it might require interviews or surveys. Or you might do some internet searches to see if other universities or towns had this problem in the past and have solved it. If I were to write about recycling, then it would probably be helpful to find some statistics regarding, for instance, how long it takes a plastic soda bottle to decompose (450 years!).

As you develop your claim, ask (from Essentials of Argument):

• Is the claim narrow and focused?
• Which controversial words in your claim will you need to define?
• Can you learn enough to cover the claim fully?
• How can you make your claim both interesting and compelling to yourself and your audience?
• At what point are you and the audience enter the conversation on the issue? (131-32)

Details:

• 4-6 pages
• Double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt., 1" margins

Week 11: March 27-31

• M: March 27: Chapter 6, Essentials of Argument (pay particular attention to the various types of claims). Read "Bringing up Adultolescents" on pages 133-136 of Essentials of Argument and determine in writing the type(s) of claim(s) in the article. (Your response should be about 300 words)
• W: March 29: Bring in a one-paragraph summary outlining your Claim (about 300 words)
• F: March 31: Find one article in a newspaper that is organized around a claim. Summarize the article and identify in writing and by annotating the article the type(s) of claim(s) made in the article. Use quotations from the article to prove your point. This should probably be 300 words or so. Hint: look at "opinion" columnists such as Molly Ivins, Bill O'Reilly, George Will, etc.

Week 12: April 3-7

• M: April 3: Chapter 7, Essentials of Argument; identify in writing and explain what kinds of proofs you are using in your claim (probably about 300 words)
• W: April 5: Draft of paper due
• F: April 7 Project 4 Due (the only item in your case book will be from Friday, March 31).

Tentative Checklist

• Final paper
• Draft (due on April 5)
• Writing from March 27 ("Bringing Up Adultolescents")
• Summary outlining your claim (from Wed., March 29)
• Article regarding claims with your summary and claim analysis (from Fri., March 31)
• Proofs paper (from Mon., April 3)