Analyzing Reasoning on Both Sides

 MY TOPIC IS: DOES THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TEND TO IMPROVE OR HARM RELATIONSHIPS

This final writing assignment allows you to present an analysis of  the best reasoning on each side of your issue. In the process, you will  get to demonstrate some of the key skills you have learned during this  course. In particular, you will demonstrate the ability to create  high-quality arguments on both sides of an issue, to support your  reasoning with scholarly sources, and to provide a fair analysis of the  strength of the reasoning on each side. Use the same topic as you did on  your previous papers and make sure to incorporate any relevant feedback  you got from the instructor on your previous writing assignments. For  an example of how to complete this paper, take a look at the Week 5 Example paper (in the classroom).

Your paper must include the following sections, clearly labeled:

• Introduction 
  
  
  
  • Introduce readers to your topic; include a brief preview of what you will accomplish in this paper. (approximately 150 words)
  
  
  
  


• First Argument 
  
  
  
  • Present the best argument on one side of the issue. (approximately 150 words) 
    
    
    
    • Express your argument in standard form, with the premises listed one by one above the conclusion.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Defense for First Argument 
  
  
  
  • Support the first argument as well as you can, using academic  sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises. You may also choose to  clarify the meaning of key premises and to explain how your reasoning  supports the conclusion (approximately 250 words).
  
  
  
  


• Opposing Argument  
  
  
  
  • Present the best argument on the other side of the issue (approximately 150 words). 
    
    
    
    • Express your argument in standard form.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Defense of Opposing Argument 
  
  
  
  • Support the opposing argument as well as you can, using academic  sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises. You are welcome as  well to clarify the meaning of premises and/or to explain the reasoning  further (approximately 250 words).
  
  
  
  


• Analysis of the Reasoning (approximately 350 words) 
  
  
  
  • Evaluate the quality of each argument, addressing whether key  premises are true and whether the conclusion logically follows from  them.
  
  
  • Analyze arguments for any fallacies committed or for any biases that  may influence either side. Do you feel that one argument makes a much  stronger case than the other and why? (There is no need to “take sides,”  only to assess the quality of the arguments.)
  
  
  • Support your analysis with scholarly sources.
  
  
  
  


• Conclusion (approximately 150 words) 
  
  
  
  • Provide a brief conclusion and summary of your issue and how it can best be addressed by critical thinkers. 
  
  
  
  

The Analyzing Reasoning on Both Sides Final Paper

• Must be 1,200 to 1,600 words in length (not including title and  references pages), double-spaced, and formatted according to APA style  as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s APA Style (Links to an external site.) 


• Must include a separate title page with the following: 
  
  
  
  • Title of paper
  
  
  • Student’s name
  
  
  • Course name and number
  
  
  • Instructor’s name
  
  
  • Date submitted
  
  
  
  

For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013 (Links to an external site.).

• Must use at least three scholarly sources in addition to the course text. The Help! Need Article  (Links to an external site.)tutorial can also assist with searching for 
  
  
  
  • The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.)  table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you  have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this  assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the  final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a  particular assignment.
  
  
  • To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view this Ashford University Library Quick ‘n’ Dirty (Links to an external site.) tutorial, which introduces the Ashford University Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
  
  
  
  


• Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper guide. (Links to an external site.) 


• Must include a separate references pages that is formatted according  to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.) resource in the Ashford Writing Center for specifications.
  
  
  
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