Show the Instructor What You Know

According to our Syllabus, "Students will be asked to explore ideas through critical reading and develop argumentative essays with appropriate documentation."  If you can demonstrate to me your ability to read critically (recognize effective and ineffective arguments, identify key issues and stakeholders of an argument, analyze supports of an argument) and write effective argumentative essays (develop and support your own argument incorporating ideas from other sources, summarize points of view and arguments from other sources, use argument to explore questions of value and action, use proper essay mechanics and citation), you will pass this class.

What Do You Have to Do?

There are a clear set of activities that will get you through this class successfully.  If you do these things, you will earn at least a "C":

1. Read the weekly assignments. I have assigned reading from the text, the Quick and Easy Guides for Writers (on-line) or other on-line sources. Readings should be completed by Wednesday of the week assigned in order to participate in discussions and writing assignments.  You will find the reading and assignments listed on our Readings/Assignments page.
2. Participate in the weekly discussions. Each Monday, I will post a question or narrative and ask you to respond.  Please post at least one response by Thursday of that week. The discussion forum is where students can work together to analyze and discuss the readings and assignments.  You can share questions and ideas about what we've just read.  You can explore options for writing about that week's topic.  You can ask for feedback on ideas from your fellow students.  I only have three rules for the discussions: 1) You must participate; 2) You must respect the opinions of others; 3) You may not ask fellow students to write/rewrite your arguments.  (Of course, I'll be both monitoring and participating in the discussions.)  You earn points for participating.
3. Write a weekly "practice" essay.  After you've discussed that week's topic, I want you to write a short "practice" essay on that topic.  These are due by noon on the Saturday following the posted topic.  Each essay should be written in formal essay style and be at least three paragraphs long and no more than five paragraphs long.  These "practice" essays are not graded, but they will be critiqued and will earn points. ( In other words, if you do the essay, you get full points.)  I will offer suggestions to help you in your essay writing.  And I may ask you to rewrite a "practice" essay if it is not in proper essay format.
4. Complete one argumentative essay paper. You will need to develop and submit one longer essay paper, using formal essay style and utilizing outside sources (usually the assigned reading).  These essays will be graded and can be revised for extra credit points.  I will be giving you more information on these papers later via e-mail.
5. Revise essays for extra credit.  While I won't require it, I strongly suggest you revise your essay papers as needed.  Not only will you earn extra credit, you will be learning to correct and hopefully avoid similar problems in your next essay.  The more you revise, the more you learn.
6. Take and pass the final essay exam. After multiple practice essays and papers, you should be ready to demonstrate your ability to read critically and write an effective argument.  We will take a practice, timed essay exam in Week 10.  Then, in the last week of the course, I will ask you to write a formal essay responding to a single question.  (This seems a little scary now, but you'll be ready by then.)

Can You Do It?

While some students find this "learn by doing" approach a little stressful, I've seen class after class of students show that they can and do learn to write effective arguments.  My own view is that I ask my students to work hard.  But if you do the work, you will learn, and you will pass this class.  In fact, most students do better than they expect to do.  You can do it!

Copyright 1999, Portland Community College
An Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Institution.

Last Modified: 2003.