Ashford 4: – Week 3 – Assignment

Counterargument Paper

This paper assignment expands upon your Week One Assignment and prepares you for the Final Paper. The expansion is to learn to improve one’s argument after investigating and fairly representing the opposite point of view. The main new tasks are to revise your previous argument created in Week One, to present a counterargument (an argument for a contrary conclusion), and to develop an objection to your original argument. 

Here are the steps to prepare to write the counterargument paper:  Begin reviewing your previous paper paying particular      attention to suggestions for improvement made by your instructor.  Revise your argument, improving it as much as possible,      accounting for any suggestions and in light of further material you have      learned in the course. If your argument is inductive, make sure that it is      strong. If your argument is deductive, make sure that it is valid.  Construct what you take to be the strongest possible      argument for a conclusion contrary to the one you argued for in your Week      One paper. This is your counterargument. This should be based on careful      thought and appropriate research.  Consider the primary points of disagreement between the      point of view of your original argument and that of the counterargument. Think about what you take to be the strongest objection      to your original argument and how you might answer the objection while      being fair to both sides. Search in the Ashford University Library for      quality academic sources that support some aspect of your argument or      counterargument.

In your paper, Present a revised argument in standard form, with each      premise and the conclusion on a separate line.  Present a counterargument in standard form, with each      premise and the conclusion on a separate line. Provide support for each premise of your      counterargument. Clarify the meaning of the premise and supporting      evidence for the premise.  Pay special attention to those premises that could be       seen as controversial. Evidence may include academic research sources,       supporting arguments, or other ways of demonstrating the truth of the       premise (for more ideas about how to support the truth of premises take a       look at the instructor guidance for this week). This section should       include at least one scholarly research source. For guidance about how to       develop a conclusion see the Ashford Writing Center’s Introductions and       Conclusions.  Explain how the conclusion of the counterargument      follows from its premises. [One paragraph] Discuss the primary points of disagreement between      sincere and intelligent proponents of both sides. [One to two paragraphs] For example, you might list any premises or background       assumptions on which you think such proponents would disagree and briefly       state what you see as the source of the disagreement, you could give a       brief explanation of any reasoning that you think each side would find       objectionable, or you could do a combination of these.  Present the best objection to your original      argument. Clearly indicate what part of the argument your objection is      aimed at, and provide a paragraph of supporting evidence for the objection.      Reference at least one scholarly research source. [One to two paragraphs] See the “Practicing Effective Criticism” section of       Chapter 9 of your primary textbook for more information about how to       present an objection.

For further instruction on how to create arguments, see the How to Construct a Valid Main Argument and Tips for Creating an Inductively Strong Argument documents as well as the video Constructing Valid Arguments.

For an example of how to complete this paper, take a look at the following Week Three Annotated Example. Let your instructor know if you have questions about how to complete this paper.

In this class, you have three   tutoring services available: Paper Review, Live Chat, and Tutor E-mail.   Click on the Ashford Writing Center (AWC) tab in the left-navigation menu to   learn more about these tutoring options and how to get help with your   writing. 

The Counterargument Paper Must be 500 to 800 words in length (not including title      and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in      the Ashford Writing Center (for more information about using APA style,      take a look at the APA Essay Checklist for Students webpage). Must include a separate title page with the following:  Title of paper Student’s name Course name and number Instructor’s name Date submitted Must use at least two scholarly sources in addition to      the course text. The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed,      and Other Credible Sources table      offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have      questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this      assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final      say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular      assignment. Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in      the Ashford Writing Center (for more information about how to create an      APA reference list, take a look at the APA References List webpage). Must include a separate references page that is      formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing      Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.