Researched Argument Essay
Module 5 Assignment 3: Researched Argument Essay
Overview
In Modules 3 and 4, you explored Bass’s arguments alongside other perspectives on environmental issues. You have begun to see how writers add their voices to ongoing conversations on issues, exchanging ideas and building upon past knowledge.
In this assignment you will build on past knowledge by consulting the perspectives of several academic sources in order to create an informed opinion argument on one of Bass’s main arguments.
You should spend approximately 6 hours on this assignment.
Instructions
Review your annotations in The Book of Yaak and the companion reading “In Praise of a Place,” by Rick Bass, published in 2014.
Refer to your annotations of the following scholarly articles from this module’s reading list:
Falk, Donald A. “The Resilience Dilemma: Incorporating Global Change into Ecosystem Policy and Management.” Arizona State Law Journal, vol. 48, no. 1, Spring 2016, pp. 144-155. EBSCOhost.
Leroux, Shawn J., and Bronwyn Rayfield. “Methods and Tools for Addressing Natural Disturbance Dynamics in Conservation Planning for Wilderness Areas.” Diversity & Distributions, vol. 20, no. 3, Mar. 2014, pp. 258-271. EBSCOhost.
Sarkar, Sahotra. “Wilderness Preservation and Biodiversity Conservation – Keeping Divergent Goals Distinct.” Bioscience, vol. 49, no. 5, May 1999, p. 405. EBSCOhost.
Brainstorm: Review your ideas from Discussion 1. Compare the main ideas of the three articles with the main ideas Bass presents in The Book of Yaak. What is similar? What are they all saying? How are their arguments different? What evidence does each give to support their arguments for their land/wildlife management method?
Pre-Write: Which method seems most compelling and effective? Why do you think that? What are the benefits of the method you think is best? Does it have drawbacks?
Write: Write an essay arguing that we should focus on the land and wildlife method you think is best, supporting your ideas using the sources above.
Introduction: Explain why land management is necessary. Show your readers why this topic is significant. In other words, explain to your readers why they should care about this topic. Outline the problems that require our attention. End this paragraph with your thesis statement, claiming that your chosen method of land management is necessary.
Argument: Give evidence that the management method you are arguing for will be effective. You should directly support your claim that this management method is necessary and how it will effectively solve the problem you outlined in your introduction. This section will likely be 2-4 paragraphs.
Counterargument and Rebuttal: Acknowledge any weaknesses in your preferred method, or any objections your opposition might have. Address and refute those objections, and reassert your claim. This section may be 1-3 paragraphs.
Conclusion: Synthesize your main ideas and let your readers know what they should do, think, or feel after reading your essay.
Your essay should be approximately 1,000 words.
You should use only the provided sources for this essay.
Your essay should contain 2-3 quotations from your sources, and should paraphrase other main ideas. Use your sources effectively and stay in control of your argument. Be sure to use quotation marks and in-text citations appropriately and responsibly.
Create a correctly formatted Works Cited page with an entry for each source you cite within your essay.
Be sure to use MLA Style to format this assignment. Apply MLA Style to all aspects of the paper, including a heading, title, proper paragraph indentation and spacing, font, margins, size, etc. Need help with MLA? Please refer to the CCCOnline MLA Citation Toolkit
Proofread your work before submission.
Once your paragraphs are complete, you may submit the assignment to the Module 5 Assignment 3: Researched Argument Essay folder.
See the Course Schedule, Course Rubrics, and Grading and Evaluation sections in the Syllabus module for due dates and grading information.
