The Proposal Argument Essay Purpose While the Evaluation and Position Argument are common genres you encounter every day and will be important in your profession, the Proposal Argument is arguably one

The Proposal Argument Essay

Purpose

While the Evaluation and Position Argument are common genres you encounter every day and will be important in your profession, the Proposal Argument is arguably one of the most important genres to becoming agents of change in your community and career. Each assignment thus far has emphasized our role as Christians in discovering and communicating Truth, caring for our brothers and sisters (audience), and engaging with surrounding culture.  The ProposalArgument Essay embodies that same calling and seeks to effect immediate change.  Like the Position Argument Essay, this assignment is about sound reasoning, discovering truth, and aligning values with concern for ethics, but essential to all of this is identifying a problem impacting a specific audience.  You are not just clarifying your stance; you are seeking change. 

This assignment underscores your importance as a rhetorical being in a fallen world. Whether it is a seemingly minor or major change, your proposal should embody the premise of loving and serving others.  Within the context of this course, this assignment combines addresses each learning outcome and exhibits your rhetorical competency. 

Invention

Choose a topic that has a clear exigency where correction/adjustment is necessary.  

Identify your specific audience this argument should reach.  The audience should have a logical connection to the topic chosen, but you can ask your instructor if you are unsure.

Begin researching and identify five sources connected to the chosen topic.  

Zero Draft: Identify the exigency, audience, and purpose that warrants a proposal.  The audience should have a logical connection to the topic chosen, but you can ask your instructor if you are unsure.  Draw connections and ideas through zero drafting in class.

Final Submission Requirements

• 1300-1500 word count requirement (Outline, Heading, and Works Cited do not count towards this)• Essay format (see pp.166-169 in NHG for the Writing Proposal Arguments guide)o Introduction: describe the topic/issue, establish your ethos, identify an exigency (particularly for the audience), and make your claim in the thesis.o Body paragraphs: establish logos through logical reasoning, identify key points supporting the claim, and give evidence and integrate peer-reviewed sources to support those points.o Conclusion: look ahead to what the audience’s action (or inaction) will do and keep your and the audience’s values connected (pathos).

*MLA format (heading, header, title, 1” margins, double-spacing etc. . . )o Signal Tags, in-text citations, and works cited required