Once you have formulated your question, conduct research from non-scholarly sources on the internet (e.g., news articles, op-eds, etc.) that present substantive reasoning on each side of the issue.

Your task is to present and evaluate the reasoning from a non-scholarly source on each side of your issue. There is no need to take sides on the issue at this stage. In your analysis, strive to be as objective as possible, evaluating the reasoning from a neutral point of view.

• Introduction (approximately 100 words)
  • Explain your topic.
  • State the specific question that you are addressing.
• Presentation of an Argument
  • Describe the non-scholarly source (e.g., an op-ed, newspaper article, website, etc.) on one side of the issue and summarize the key points made (approximately 50 words).
  • Present what you see as the main argument from that source. Make sure to present your argument in standard form, with the premises listed above the conclusion. (approximately 100 words)
  • Evaluate the quality of the reasoning in this source (approximately 200 words)
    • In completing your evaluation, consider assessing how well the research supports the premises of the main argument and how strongly the reasoning supports the conclusion of that argument.
• Presentation of an Argument on the Other Side of the Issue
  • Describe the non-scholarly source on the opposite side of the issue and summarize the key points made. (approximately 50 words)
  • Present what you see as the main argument from that source. Make sure to present your argument in standard form, with the premises listed above the conclusion. (approximately 100 words)
  • Evaluate the quality of the reasoning in this source (approximately 200 words)
    • In completing your evaluation, consider assessing how well the research supports the premises of the main argument and how strongly the reasoning supports the conclusion.