Argument-Counter Argument Paper

 

3 Part Paper – Uses attached text as one of the resources

TOPIC:Should it be legal for employers to discipline or fire employees on the basis of their content aired in social networks, even if this activity was not done on the job?

Part 1:Initial – 500 words with scholarly sources including attached text

This is an exercise that should build toward your Final Paper. Your task is to construct the best argument you can for a position on the topic. The argument should be your own creation. You may take inspiration from other arguments, but the formulation of the argument you present should be original to you.

Construct an argument for a position on the topic. This is the position that you will defend in your Final Paper. Make your argument as good as possible: In particular, make sure that all of your premises are true and that the truth of the conclusion is demonstrated by your premises.

Consider possible objections to your argument, and revise it several times until you have an argument that is as strong as possible.

 

WRITE: Present a main argument in standard form with each premise and the conclusion on a separate line.

Provide support for each premise of your argument. Explain the meaning of the premise, and provide supporting evidence for the premise. [One paragraph for each 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. This section should include at least one scholarly research source.

Explain how your conclusion follows from your premises.

Part 2: Follow up – 700 words with scholarly sources including attached text

Counterargument

This paper expands upon your previous paper and prepares you for the Final Paper. The main new tasks are to revise your previous argument 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:

review the previous paper .

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 the initial 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.

WRITE: 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. This section should include at least one scholarly research source.

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.

Part 3: Final – 1,000+ words with scholarly sources including attached text

• Explain the topic you are addressing and your position on it. Provide a preview of your paper and a statement of your thesis in your opening paragraph. [Approximately 100 words]
• Present your main argument for your thesis in standard form, with each premise and the conclusion on a separate line. Clearly indicate whether your argument is intended to be inductive or deductive. Follow up the presentation of your argument by clarifying the meaning of any premises that could use some explanation. [About 150 words]
  • If your argument is deductive, then it shouldbevalid(in the strict logical sense of the word); if it is inductive, then it should bestrong. Make sure to avoid committing logical fallacies within your argument (e.g., begging the question). Additionally, the premises should be true, to the best of your knowledge. If one of your premises has a pretty obvious counter-example, then you should either fix the argument so that it does not have this flaw, or later, in your paper (steps three through five) you should address the apparent counter-example (showing that it does not really refute the truth of your premise). Arguments that are not valid, not very strong, commit fallacies, or that have counter-examples that are not adequately addressed will not receive full credit.
• Provide supporting evidence for the premises of your argument. [Approximately 350 words]
  • Pay special attention to those premises that could be seen as controversial. Evidence may include academic research sources, supporting arguments (arguments whose conclusions are premises of the main argument), or other ways of demonstrating the truth of those premises. This section should include at least one scholarly research source.
• Explain a strong objectionto your argument. [Approximately 250 words]
  • Study what people on the other side of this question think about your reasoning and present the best possible objection that someone could have to your argument. Do not commit the straw man fallacy here. Reference at least one scholarlyresearch source. See the “Practicing Effective Criticism” section of Chapter 9 of the course text for more information.
• Defend your argument against the objection. [Approximately 200 words]
  • Once you have presented the objection, indicate clearly how you might respond to it. It is acceptable to admit that reasonable people might disagree with you or that there might be an area in which your argument could be further strengthened, but you should do your best to explain why your argument is sound or cogent despite the objections.
• Provide an appropriate conclusion. [Approximately 75 words]
  • For guidance about how to develop a conclusion see the Introductions and Conclusion.

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 Contructing Valid Arguments Video. For an example of a completed Final Paper, see the annotated example The Ethics of Elephants in Circuses. Let your instructor know if you have questions about how to complete this paper.