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For
example, from essay 1’s assignment directions…
Write a proposal argument in which you
address the question, “What needs to be done to address the opioid crisis in
the United States?”
Key
words for your thesis: propose, do, opioid crisis, in America
Style
of writing: argument
How
to approach it: proposal (which means you must actually propose specific
changes that will alleviate the opioid crisis in America. You will not research what others are doing
to fix it…you are ‘proposing’ changes to the way things are currently run in
America with regard to opioids. You
may make modifications to things that are already being done. You make entirely new suggestions. You will not simply report on what is
already being done.)
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For
example, from essay 2’s assignment directions…
Write
an ethical argument in which you address the question:
“How
far should scientists go to modify humans through genetic engineering?”
Key
words for your thesis: ethics, how far, scientists, modify humans,
genetic engineering
Style
of writing: argument
How
to approach it: ethical argument (which means it needs a declared standard for ethics—such
as Christian ethics)
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For
example, from essay 3’s assignment directions…
“How has social
media impacted American culture?”
Key
words for your thesis: causes, effects, social media, impacts,
American culture
Style
of writing: argument
How
to approach it: causal argument (which means it needs to declare specific causes
of the effects on American culture by social media)
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For
example, if I were to write a proposal paper on human trafficking, I could
have a thesis like this:
"The problem of human trafficking that
runs rampant throughout the United States could
potentially be solved through the implementation of prevention presentations in middle
schools, awareness programs for parents,
and greater punishments for people involved in human trafficking."
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REASON
1 = BODY PARAGRAPH 1
I. Implementation
of prevention presentations in middle schools can
help young teenagers develop awareness of human trafficking.
a. These presentations could provide youth with methods of self-defense to
keep them safe.
b. Problems cannot be solved if people are unaware of the issue.
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REASON
2 = BODY PARAGRAPH 2
II. Awareness
programs for parents can provide tools parents can use in their
daily lives to keep their children safe.
a.
Parents might not be aware of the dangers human
trafficking poses to their children in their area of the world.
b.
By bringing awareness to parents, the parents can
then share the information with their children,
which will help provide further insight for the
children.
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REASON
3 = BODY PARAGRAPH 3
III. Greater
punishments for people involved in human trafficking could
potentially lessen the number of people involved in this crime.
a.
Having a more intense consequence could keep
potential criminals from getting involved with
human trafficking because the risk will be greater
if they are caught.
b. The level of punishment can also help people realize the gravity of the
crime.
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Post your thesis—here—at the top so that it can
easily be located before starting.
Post Thesis: _____
Introduction Stages:
_____
_____
_____
Body Paragraph 1:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Body Paragraph 2:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Body Paragraph 3:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Counter-argument
paragraph--when required:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Conclusion paragraph:
_____
_____
_____
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Structured Parts
of an OUTLINE
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| https://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/argumentative-purposes/argumentative-purposes-proposal/ |
Textbook Reading:
Week 2
Chapter 11: 3
Outlining a Proposal Argument
Many
students avoid writing an outline for various reasons; however, the benefits
of writing a complete and well-organized outline are significant. Reluctant
students should remember that outlines can be revised during the actual
drafting of the essay. In addition, time spent on a quality outline will be
saved exponentially when drafting the essay itself.
I. Introduction
I. Hook your audience.
(Relate it to the problem and proposed solution in your thesis)
II. Identify the problem.
(Give background/ context to help your audience clearly understand the
problem. Do not use any source materials in this section)
III. State your thesis
(Make a clear argument proposing a feasible solution to the problem. It is
best to use an essay map with your
thesis.)
II. Several Body
Paragraphs (Many prefer for opposing viewpoints to be final body paragraph
before the conclusion; however, it can be included in any order in the body
of the essay.)
I. Topic Sentence: Directly
supports the thesis argument about your proposed solution and
clearly identifies the topic of each individual body paragraph by breaking
down the argument from the essay map.
II. Argument Development: Establish the
belief system of the topic being argued in the paragraph. Focus is on
clearly detailing the argument point(s) and then following the writer’s
argument with the evidence and then analysis sentences.
III. Evidence: Example(s),
fact(s), etc. from correctly cited quotes, paraphrases, and/or summaries that
support your main point of the topic sentence relating it to the thesis and
providing additional information about the problem. (Must relate to the
proposed changes that you are arguing.)
IV. Analysis: Your explanation
of how the evidence supports the topic
sentence/thesis statement. Include benefits of your proposal and clarify how
it will solve the problem. (Avoid using first and second person pronouns in
all academic writing.)
V. Summative Sentence: Reiterates the
topic sentence in a new way and transitions your ideas from one paragraph to
the next. (Use appropriate transitional words and sentences throughout your
essay to help you essay flow well for your reader.)
III. One or More Body
Paragraphs to Discuss Opposing Viewpoints
I. Topic Sentence: Introduces opposing
viewpoint(s).
II. Refutation: Explanation of why
you disagree. (Avoid first and second person pronouns.)
III. Development: of why you disagree
and why your proposal is better than the opposition.
IV. Facts, examples, to support your
disagreement—if applicable—of the opposition.
V. Summative Sentence: Wraps up the
paragraph and refutation of the opposing viewpoint and includes a transition
into the conclusion paragraph.
IV. Conclusion Paragraph
I. Restates your thesis
claim in a new way.
II. Summarizes main points of
your body paragraphs.
III. Leaves reader with
final thought and/or call to action.
The
outline above has been modified from the content in “Chapter 11: The Elements
of Argument (Section 11-3: Proposal Argument)” of LUC: White &
Billings, The Well-Crafted Argument (2018).
Additional
information for the clearest outline and essay possible has been added to the
original outline sample from that textbook. Please follow the outline
layout above for the Proposal Argument Outline assignment in this ENGL101
course.
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© J. Lynn H. Dick, 2019
For
Educational Purposes Only
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