ESSAY #1: Evaluation of an Argument
TOPIC & LENGTH: Essay 1 requires that you write an essay of 750-900 words that evaluates the
logic of the argument in one of the following essays to be read in class.
Amitai Etzioni, “Working at McDonald’s”
Patrick O’Malley, “More Testing, More Learning”
Jill Kuhn, “Sex Education in Our Schools”
PURPOSE: Your purpose is to persuade your readers that your evaluation is valid and based on generally
accepted standards for evaluating the logic of arguments.
AUDIENCE: Your audience should be the group of readers that would be interested in examining
arguments, such as high school and college students studying logic. Please narrow to a specific group.
Assume that your readers have not read the essay.
GENRE REQUIREMENTS: To meet the genre requirements for an essay that evaluates an argument, you
must
 Summarize the writer’s argument sufficiently for your readers and give them a context for
understanding the argument.
 Evaluate the argument using acceptable standards for judging logical arguments, such as those
discussed in class: (1) appropriateness, (2) believability, and (3) consistency and completeness.
You may use these standards or arrive at your own standards.
 State your evaluation clearly in an appropriate thesis claim that also previews the reasons (your
supporting arguments) for your judgment.
 Organize your evaluation coherently with supporting arguments that apply acceptable standards
for judging logical arguments and with clear transitions among ideas.
 Provide evidence for all supporting arguments with material from the essay: what the writer
does or does not say that makes his/her argument strong or weak.
 Introduce, quote, paraphrase, and cite the writer correctly, using MLA guidelines for
parenthetical citations and Works Cited page.
READING, WRITING, REWRITING REQUIREMENTS: This assignment requires that you complete the
following steps:
STEP ONE: Complete Invention Writing—Once you select the essay that you will evaluate, complete the
following steps in which you will explore your subject and analyze your readers. You will need to write
several pages to complete this assignment adequately. This assignment may be handwritten or typed:
1. Read and annotate the essay.
2. Write notes in which you identify the author’s thesis, purpose, and audience.
3. Diagram the author’s supporting arguments on the Toulmin model.
4. Prepare notes in which you apply the ABC test to evaluate the logic of the argument.
5. Review your notes; then, write ten minute on how well you think the writer meets the ABC test.
6. Write ten minutes on the author’s intended audience: Who are these people (race, class,
educational level, etc.)? Why is the subject of the essay relevant to them? What attempts does
the writer make to adapt the argument to the readers?
7. Review your invention writing and formulate a working thesis for your essay. Your thesis should
answer these questions: Given the ABC test for logical arguments, does the writer advance a
successful argument? Why or why not? For example, you may find that the writer’s argument
has both strengths and weaknesses: it may be appropriate, believable, and consistent, but not
complete.
STEP TWO: Plan and Write Draft 1—Now that you have explored your subject, analyzed your readers,
and arrived at a thesis through invention writing, you are ready to plan your essay and write the first
draft. This assignment may be handwritten or typed.
1. Prepare a working outline—a working outline is a scratch outline, an informal skeleton of what
you will include in the essay. Here are the essentials for the essay that evaluates an argument.
Introduction paragraph
A summary of the essay you are evaluating
Your thesis (remember to apply the ABC test for logical arguments)
Discussion paragraphs
A point by point development of your thesis claim with supporting/supported
arguments
Concluding paragraph
A restatement of thesis
2. Write draft 1—follow these practical pointers for writing your first draft:
 Choose the best time and place for sustained and thoughtful work—where you won’t be
interrupted for a while.
 Make revision easy by composing on a word processor.
 Set reasonable goals (e.g. writing one paragraph in one sitting).
 Lower your expectations. Don’t by overly critical; it’s just the first draft.
 Do the easy parts first (such as a developing paragraph that you are confident in).
 Guess at words, spelling, and facts. Don’t stop to edit. Keep writing!
 Write quickly. Do not reread obsessively.
 Take short breaks and reward yourself for the hard work you have accomplished (have a
snack, take a walk, listen to a song you especially like, or catch the last 10 minutes of
your favorite TV show).
STEP THREE: Write Coversheet and Draft 2
1. Create a Coversheet. This assignment may be handwritten in blue or black ink.
2. Revise Draft 1 of the essay to meet requirements for thesis, development, and organization, and
for summarizing, paraphrasing, and documenting your source.
3. Write Draft 2.
4. Proofread and edit our grammatical/mechanical errors before finalizing Draft 2, which must be
typed. Review “The Twenty-one Most Common Grammatical/Mechanical Errors” (will be
provided on website) and especially avid the first nine errors.
5. Complete “Meeting Requirements: Individual Essay Checklist” (to go over in class).