A position essay is a broader type of argument than the evaluation essay, but it may incorporate parts of an evaluation.  The defining trait of a position essay is that it takes a stance on a topic about which there are various opinions.  These are probably the kinds of argumentative essays that you wrote in high school that ask you to take a position for or against a topic: abortion, gay marriage, gun control, or the death penalty.  Most position essays that you will write in and after college will not be as clear cut or as worn out as these topics. A rebuttal essay is a type of position argument that challenges or rejects the claims of another argument.  For example, I might read an article supporting the death penalty, and I could write an essay that challenges the writer's logic and argues for why the death penalty is unethical. 

Write a rebuttal (3 - 4 pages) to one of the essays on the list below. According to Good Reasons, a rebuttal involves a refutation, in which you "emphasize the shortcomings of the argument that you wish to undermine" or a counterargument, in which you "emphasize...the positive strengths of the position you wish to support" (176-7).  You need to write an essay that rebuts and counterargues. 

• Identify an argument to argue against as well as its main claim(s)
• Examine the facts on which the claim is based
• Examine the assumptions on which the claim is based
• Analyze your potential readers
• Write a refutation and counterargument

For this essay, focus on: 

• presenting a clear summary of the opposition's argument
• creating a thesis statement that takes a clear stance
• refuting the argument by questioning assumptions and/or evidence
• developing your own position and supporting it with reasons
• anticipating any possible opposing views
• using signal phrases to introduce quotations and providing necessary parenthetical citations

Documentation/Works Cited: Pay special attention to the MLA guidelines for documentation as outlined in sections 58e of Bedford. 

Topics: Choose one of these essays to write about:

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