Essay Instructions: You can easily find how to write Proposition Paper from the internet. And, here is the guide paper from the professor.
Proposition Paper
Select one of the three options described in this handout and develop a paper as indicated. Be sure to bring two copies with you on the day of the presentations.
Option 1: Proposition of Fact
Goal of the assignment ??" To build a chain of Toulmin arguments in support of a proposition of fact; to utilize evidence effectively in supporting one’s arguments.
Selecting a topic and developing a proposition ??" Begin by choosing a topic related to current events/significant public issues. It could be a topic related to what has or has not happened, what is or is not true, or what may or may not occur in the future. Your topic should be a phenomenon about which there is conflict, confusion, or controversy regarding some matter of fact. Formulate a proposition about your topic. This will serve as the thesis for your paper. See p. 109 in your text for sample propositions of fact.
Defining terms ??" Consider what key terms in your proposition need definition and make decisions about how you want to define those terms.
Developing the body of the paper ??" Construct a series of Toulmin arguments that support your proposition. Each argument must deal with one of the issues discussed in Chapter Five: show that the phenomenon is happening, has happened, or will happen; show that the effects of the phenomenon are significant; show what causes the phenomenon to exist; consider and address the imaginary opponent. Be sure to cover all of the stock issues.
Supporting your argument with evidence - Be sure to use a variety of different types of evidence in your grounds and to document all evidence with clear source citations within the text of your argument and complete bibliographic information in a list of references at the end. Please use a minimum of three sources. Consider tests of evidence from Chapter Three in selecting and using evidence. For help on source citations, see http://www.grossmont.edu/library/libraryinstruction/citation_help.asp
Developing an introduction and conclusion ??" Create an introduction that lays out your main proposition, defines key terms, and gives an overview of the issues you’ll cover in the body of the paper. Develop a conclusion in which you evaluate and summarize how your arguments demonstrate the truth of the proposition.
Putting it all together ??" See the samples on pp. 309-312 in the textbook and on pp.44-52 in the Student Handbook to see how you should structure the paper. Note that the author of your text calls this a Speech Outline, although in our class we are thinking in terms of informal presentations rather than speeches. Please note that the some samples fail to
document information as fully as they should. Be sure that you cite sources for each piece of grounds and for any other parts of your paper you have derived from outside sources; include a complete list of works cited. The paper should be three to four pages in length, typed, double-spaced.
Option 2: Proposition of Value
Goal of the assignment ??" To build a chain of Toulmin arguments in support of a proposition of value; to examine the relative merits of values in a hierarchy; to utilize evidence effectively in supporting one’s arguments.
Selecting a topic and developing a proposition ??" Begin by choosing a topic related to current events/significant public issues. It should be a topic about which there is disagreement concerning right or wrong, good or bad, morality or immorality, relative importance, justification, etc. Formulate a proposition about your topic. This will serve as the thesis for your paper. Below are some sample value claims. Note that value propositions sometimes pit competing values against each other.
The need for safety in a post-9/11 world justifies curtailing certain human rights.
Using diplomacy is more valuable than using force in the war against terrorism.
Enforcing the death penalty on mentally ill prisoners is immoral.
The separation of church and state is important in education.
Defining terms ??" Consider what key terms in your proposition need definition and make decisions about how you want to define those terms.
Develop a value standard ??" Adopt or create a set of values to use to judge the issue. If you choose to adopt one, you might use one of the following: the core American values on p. 169 in your text; the Ten Commandments; the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism; Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs; the United States Constitution; Just War Theory (see http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/war/#2 ). This list is not meant to be exhaustive; you may find other existing sets of values. You may also create your own; if you choose to create one, be sure that it has a clear rationale.
Developing the body of the paper ??" Construct a series of Toulmin arguments that support your proposition. Unlike the progressive nature of the claims in the Proposition of Fact paper, each claim in this case is likely to be an independent justification for the proposition. Please have between three and five claims to support your proposition.
Supporting your argument with evidence - Be sure to use a variety of different types of evidence in your grounds and to document all evidence with clear source citations within the text of your argument and complete bibliographic information in a list of references at the end. Please use a minimum of three sources. Consider tests of evidence from Chapter Three in selecting and using evidence. For help on source citations, see http://www.grossmont.edu/library/libraryinstruction/citation_help.asp
Developing an introduction and conclusion ??" Create an introduction that lays out your main proposition, defines key terms, and lays out your value standard. Develop a conclusion in which you evaluate and summarize how your arguments uphold your value claim.
Putting it all together ??" See the samples on pp. 68-79 in the Student Handbook to see how you should structure the paper. The samples include a note about the opponent’s brief; you will not be doing this. Please also notice that the author of your text calls this a Speech Outline, although in our class we are thinking in terms of informal presentations rather than speeches. Please note that some samples fail to document information as fully as they should. Be sure that you cite sources for each price of grounds and for any other parts of your paper you have derived from outside sources; include a complete list of works cited. The paper should be three to four pages in length, typed, double-spaced.
Option 3: Proposition of Policy
Goal of the assignment ??" To build a chain of Toulmin arguments in support of a proposition of policy; to examine a contemporary social problem in detail; to utilize evidence effectively in supporting one’s arguments.
Selecting a topic and developing a proposition ??" Begin by choosing a topic related to current events/significant public issues. It should be a topic that can be thought of in terms of problem/solution. Think about problems affecting the local community, a segment of the population, our region or state, our nation, or the world. It should be a problem that you are genuinely concerned about. Formulate a proposition about your topic. This will serve as the thesis for your paper. Here are some sample propositions from the text and the student handbook:
Our over-fished oceans should be better regulated.
All adopted adults should have access to their adoption records.
Serious, high-risk sex offenders should be monitored by a Global Positioning System upon their release from prison.
DNA dragnets should be regulated to avoid significant harm.
Defining terms ??" Consider what key terms in your proposition need definition and make decisions about how you want to define those terms.
Developing the body of the paper ??" Construct a series of Toulmin arguments that support your proposition. Each argument must deal with one of the issues discussed in Chapter Twelve: significant harm, inherency, workable solution, side-effects. Be sure to cover all of the stock issues.
Supporting your argument with evidence - Be sure to use a variety of different types of evidence in your grounds and to document all evidence with clear source citations within the text of your argument and complete bibliographic information in a list of references at the end. Please use a minimum of five sources. Consider tests of evidence from Chapter
Three in selecting and using evidence. For help on source citations, see http://www.grossmont.edu/library/libraryinstruction/citation_help.asp
Developing an introduction and conclusion ??" Create an introduction that lays out your main proposition, defines key terms, and gives an overview of the issues you’ll cover in the body of the paper. Develop a conclusion in which you evaluate and summarize how your arguments demonstrate the truth of the proposition.
