Your final paper will be a four part assignment culminating in a 5-7 page Argument & Persuasion paper using either the Toulmin/Traditional or Rogerian Method of organization. You do not need to choose which method you want to use at this time.
Your topic should be able to be related to something in An Anthropologist on Mars. Considering the extreme variety of topics in the book, you shouldn’t find it difficult to come up with a topic and opinion/claim that has some relationship to the book. Even a topic such as abortion could be related, as some people believe those with disabilities like severe autism should not be born.
Traditional or Toulmin Method
The starting format for the traditional or Toulmin Method of argument & persuasion is:
Claim (your opinion)
Grounds (reasons and examples in support of your opinion)
Warrants (not written, generally – the principle or type of reasoning that connects your grounds to the claim)
Backing (the quality of the information you are using as grounds – variety, reliability, appropriateness)
Rogerian or Good Communication Method
The starting format for Rogerian Argument & Persuasion papers begins with:
Define the issue or topic in current, relevant terms
State the opposing point of view respectfully
Provide reasons to improve the opposing point of view, suggestions for improvement, or respectful responses for consideration
Sum up and conclude – including your claim
For both types of argument/persuasion paper, your claim should be clear, complex, and arguable (room for more than one opinion – not a “statement of fact”). The primary difference between the two methods is that for the Toulmin method, the claim is stated at the end of the first paragraph or very close to the beginning of the paper. The Rogerian method provides a clear definition of the issue and problem to be solved at the beginning, and provides the claim near the end of the paper.