This essay is the culmination of your semester-long research project. At this point, you should have a good understanding of your topic, the relevant context surrounding it, and the arguments that others make about it. Through your research, I hope you have learned much more about your topic and have been challenged by the rhetoric and arguments you encountered along the way. Now it is time for you to argue your position. This essay differs from Essay 3: Discourse Analysis because it is centered on your argument and you are writing it for a specific target audience that you will choose.

You need a clear thesis statement explicitly stating your research question, your position on it, and all of your main points. Develop your main points with supporting explanations, examples, evidence, data, or by any other appropriate means. You must present and respond to counterarguments as well. Show how your argument relates to others. Summarize, analyze, and respond to them. This is how you demonstrate how your position fits into the larger discourse on the question.

For this assignment, you must also choose a specific audience. You could choose something like Moraine Valley students, Republican voters, low-wage workers, or readers of a specific publication likeVice orThe New Yorker. Choose an audience that has some connection to your issue, whether they agree or disagree with you, and tailor your rhetoric to your audience. Choose language and style appropriate for the audience and situation. Provide background information and any context that you feel is relevant to your specific audience.Here is more on the audience and situation.

No matter who your audience is, you must cite your sources. This is a writing assignment for a college class first and foremost, so follow MLA rules for in-text and Works Cited. You are free to incorporate any relevant material from your previous essays into this one (no need to quote or cite yourself). You must use at least six secondary sources.