argumentative essay Custom Essay

In 500 words (or more), write an argumentative essay using one of the following as your thesis statement:

Shakespeare’s Hamlet should continue to be used as the topic for the research paper assignment in this ENGL 1302 class.

OR

Shakespeare’s Hamlet should NOT be used as the topic for the research paper assignment in this ENGL 1302 class.

NOTE: When I say use one of these, I mean use the sentence as is: I expect to see one of the above thesis statements as the last sentence in your introductory paragraph.

Please believe me that I will NOT be offended if you choose the second option; and your grade will not be affected either way by the side you take. It’s your reasoning and your presentation that I’ll be grading

you on. As with your other papers, I expect an organized essay (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion), and correct grammar, sentence structure, and wording.

One thing in addition that I want you to do in this assignment is to include an acknowledgement of the opposing argument.This is always a good strategy to use in debates or argumentative essays. It shows that

you understand and are being respectful of the views of those who disagree with you. It also gives you a chance to shoot down the opposing arguments before your opponent even gets to raise them.

Here’s how to present an opposing argument in your paper:

Decide where it seems to fit best. Sometimes it will be closer to the beginning, other times you may want to save it until the end. It partly depends on how much weight you want to give to these opposing

arguments. You could lay out the opposing arguments and let those provide the structure for your entire essay. That is, a point/counterpoint. On the other hand, you don’t have to give an opposing argument that

much weight in your paper. You can just mention it, give your rebuttal or acknowledgement, and move on to what you want to say.

Here’s what it will look like:

You can say something like this to shoot down the opposing argument: Although other students may say that using Hamlet for the research topic is too ______________, I believe that this is not at all the case,

since________________.

Or, if you do believe the opposing argument has merit, but you want to downplay it, say something like this: When other students say that using Hamlet for the research paper is _________________, I see

their point and even agree to an extent. However, I still maintain that the other benefits outweigh this because _____________________.

You have no doubt figured out that the above fits for the PRO side of the argument, but the same approach can just as easily be employed for the CON side:

Although Professor Schillaci has stated that Hamlet is _____________________ and therefore a good topic, I believe that
she is overlooking the fact that _____________________________.

Although I do agree with the idea that Hamlet is ________________, I still maintain that the topic for a research paper should be more _____________________.