Assignment Task:
Essay: Analysis of The Death of Expertise
Assignment: For this assignment, write an argument analysis essay (minimum 1,000 words) based on Tom Nichols' entire text or a particular argument from one of his chapters. Your aim is to investigate Nichols' claim and provide a critical analysis of the logic in his position, incorporating two (2) outside (secondary) sources. In other words, your primary goal is to convey what you learned through the analysis of a text.
When you read the argument of the author, think of the following questions:
What evidence does the writer provide?
What conclusions does he draw?
What assumptions are made in the text?
What can be the results of the argument made by the author?
Steps to analyze the argument:
Define what the claims, conclusions and key assumptions are. Describe what you think about their quality. Need Online Tutoring?
Provide alternative explanations;
If possible, provide evidence which will either support or weaken the claims;
Avoid the following errors in your essay:
Discussing whether the statements in the argument are accurate or true;
Providing your agreement or disagreement with the author's position;
Expressing your own ideas or points of view on the topic of the text.
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to practice and develop the critical thinking skills and analytical abilities to analyze an argument, and write an essay based on that.
Formatting:
This assignment must follow the MLA formatting guidelines detailed in everything's an argument (chapter 22, pp. 514-515).
Grading Rubric:
Your essay will be graded as per the grading standards of the English Department.