ARGUMENT ESSAY: FIRST DRAFT

As we only have a few weeks left in the semester, it is now time for the 087 major Argument Essay.

1) Review the last two mid-length compositions you wrote:Mid-Length Composition 2 on Pros & ConsandMid-Length Composition 3 on Culture. ChooseONEcomposition to develop into a full length essay.

*This is the essay draft that requires introduction and conclusion along with the body paragraphs you've developed in the last Module.

2) This draft should include 1-2introductionparagraphs,bodyparagraphs that you've already composed that include acounterargument/concession/refute paragraph, and aconclusionparagraph at the end. The paragraphs MUST BE in this order.

3) Returnto your composition of your choice:Pros & Consor the one onCulture.

• Copy & pastethe body paragraphs from one of those mid-length composition assignments that include 2 rhetorical modes and a counterargument onto a new Word or Google doc.
• Add1-2 introduction paragraphsbeforethe copy/pasted body paragraphs to include:
• • a hook that's interesting, surprising, or a personal anecdote
  • background info that is appropriate for your topic
  • a strongthesis statementas the last sentence of the intro. paragraph that shows the reader your position on the topic (for or against) written as aDECLARATIVE STATEMENT- donotwrite it as an opinion; donotuse a personal pronoun (I, my, you, etc.). Click hereLinks to an external site.to review the components of a thesis statement. (I like this resource a lot! I hope you'll find it helpful in formulating your thesis statement.)
• Adda concluding paragraph after the counterargument paragraph (must be the last paragraph of your essay) that includes:
• • a rephrased thesis statement using different words from your original thesis statement
  • 1-2 sentences to give a brief summary of your main ideas only (no details)
  • a final sentence that provides your personal reflection on the topic matter

4) The essay draft should be about 3-4 full pages long, and it should follow allMLA 9th edition page formatting guidelinesLinks to an external site..

5)In-text citationsLinks to an external site.andWorks CitedLinks to an external site.page must correctly follow the MLA citation guidelines.

*Next week, you will complete a peer review, revise and submit another draft to me. The more effort you put in now, the better that second draft will look.

Rubric

Argument Essay: First Draft

Argument Essay: First Draft

Criteria

Ratings

Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeEssay Format

Begins with an introduction paragraph; includes multiple body paragraphs with 2 paragraphs in rhetorical modes; followed by a counterargument paragraph; and ends with a conclusion paragraph (in order)

20pts Full Marks

0pts No Marks

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMLA Format

has 5-7 paragraphs and 3-4 pages that correctly follow the MLA 9th edition guidelines; in-text citations and works cited citations follow the MLA 9th edition format

5pts Full Marks

0pts No Marks

5pts

Total Points:25

Owning a Pat

In a world of stress and loneliness, a friendship between humans and pets offers friendliness and psychological and physiological benefits. Besides the undeniable pros of psychological support for the owners from the pet's company, bringing a pet home is a commitment to taking care of a living being for a long time and addressing all the controversial ethical aspects of pet ownership.

Rhetorical Mode 1: Compare and contrast.

Many types of research demonstrate that having a pet helps to expand a person with cheerfulness and loneliness.Pets provide unrestricted devotion and loyalty, thus serving as steadfast companions (Ballarat, 2017).In addition, they help reduce the stress and improve the heart function.Animals are not only beneficial for physical development but also essential for the social and emotional growth of children. Most households keep pets; they produce support that brings comfort and laughter to their owners when they are depressed.Animals have been the center of our lives since the dawn of time and have provided us with protection, help, and company, as well as our food and clothes.Nevertheless, nowadays, pets have become even more popular due to the findings showing that they bring multiple sound effects on people's physical health.

However, the most important fact is that pets are not toys, so people should not throw them whenever they get bored with a pet.

Many cats and dogs, as well as other animals, could live more than one decade, a span that is longer than that of most humans. As a result, many of the senior' population of companion animals comprises elderly cats and dogs. Hence, the moment an individual accepts to have a pet in their home, they do so with their minds clear to commit for the long-term and to make sure their pets have love, shelter, and their needs met all the time. It is a tremendous job; that's the reality of how much it requires: enthusiasm, time, and money. While pets might have adorable eyes that are not possible to resist, the fact is that ownership of pets does not sit with everyone. Shelter animals are full of discarded and poor creatures that people obtain without consideration (Calabashkennels, 2023). They did not think about the consequences of having a pet. Owning a pet, for me, was certainly an out-of-the-box step toward experiences and different views.Along with this, the activity is vulnerable to risks. Many people do not consider that pets need much maintenance and that it is expensive to care for them. Also, Research has shown that pets have a limited lifespan, which is heartbreaking for their owner.

Rhetorical Mode 2: Cause and Effect

Pets and humans share a beautiful bond that needs to be understood by lots of people. All dog breeds need to be taken for an hour of walking per day to maintain their mental and physical health.Thus, it is unsurprising that some dog owners set up their walk as a daily workout to improve their physical balance and muscle endurance. Additionally, they tend to be beneficial in eliminating the loneliness of the owner. As Linda mentions in her article, dogs and cats make great companions (McRobbie et al., 2018). They would be waiting for their owner to return home, and they would be cheerful to give their ear to the individual who wants to say something about their awful day at work.

Like people, some people complement their Pets for comfort, too, and often enough, cuddle with them on the couch. Hence, they work as a great stress buster. The burden of coping with a stressful personal life nowadays can result in many anxiety and depression disorders that are also correlated with several other health problems. Pets can help people relax. Pet owners are likely to have low blood pressure.

Counterargument, Concession, and Refutation:

As an owner of pets, it is their responsibility to offer sufficient and proper drinking, food, and shelter for the pet, and they must also be responsible for ensuring to seek veterinary or any other proper treatment or attention when a pet needs it (Wein, 2018). Pet owners must ensure that their pets are secure on their property unless they are under efficient control by having a pet attached to a proper control or lead apparatus, like a head or body harness. Many studies suggest that most pet owners consider their dogs or cats part of their family. However, recent studies into the emotional lives of animals have cast doubt on the ethics of keeping dogs and cats (Tillerman, 2017). Despite the old practice of man-animal interaction ranging back to times immemorial, the recent study of the health benefits has revealed multifaceted positive effects.Consequently, animal interactions promote feelings of loneliness abatement, cheerfulness elevation, and social support. Animals, as helper agents that can be fountains of happiness, are thriving living beings that enrich our lives, which will result in better health.some dog breeds are bestowed with the talent of giving emotional support; these are called therapy dogs.

Works Cited

Ballarat. "Responsible Pet Ownership | City of Ballarat." Vic.gov.au, 2017,

https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/community/pets-and-animals/responsible-pet-ownership.

Calabashkennels. "Pets are Not Toys: They are Lifelong Commitments, and Here is Why."

Www.calabashkennels.com.au, 2023,https://www.calabashkennels.com.au/blog

/pets-are-not-toys-they-are-a-lifelong-commitment#:~:text=Many%20pets%2C

%20especially%20cats%20and.

McRobbie, Linda Rodriguez. "Should We Stop Keeping Pets? Why Do More and More Ethicists

Say Yes?" The Guardian, 14 Feb. 2018,

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/01/should-we-stop-keeping-pets-why-more-and-more-ethicists-say-yes.

Tillerman, L. "8 Top Reasons Not to Get a Pet." PetHelpful, 4 Mar. 2017,

https://pethelpful.com/pet-ownership/8-Top-Reasons-Not-To-Get-A-Pet

Wein, H. "The Power of Pets." NIH News in Health, 1 Feb. 2018,

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets#:~:text=Nothing

%20compares%20to%20the%20joy.

Culture, Generalizations, & Stereotypes

Think about the existence of a place where all books are assessed by their coversit is the cultural stereotypes and generalizations we apply daily.Some cultural misconceptions or norms frequently emerge while discussing American culture in everyday life and even in the communities encountered. One of these assertions is that Americans are, by nature, individualistic, where each concentrates more on personal choices and self-interests, threatening the common welfare of all(Traube). We could trace this measure to the emphasis on national history and values on individual rights. Moreover, in such regard, a sense that others have of the fact that Americans over-appreciate material possessions, including money and wealth, is widely spread. Media, movie stars, and celebrities whom people may emulate enhance the stereotype, representing the American way of life and consumer culture as typical of the United States. Both such generalizations play an essential role in the type of relationships shaped by expectations and recognition of the strengths of American culture. Such stereotypes usually lead to misunderstandings and unwillingness to be open-minded.

More analysis of cultural generalizations demonstrates the comparability between American and my culture, considering societal values. Americans prioritize one's success over the entire community's well-being. At the same time, in my culture, people often shift their priorities toward the community's success if it means they cannot achieve their personal goals. The different approaches in American culture can sometimes result in misinterpretations during communication. Thus, individuals or groups should not view such differences as obstacles but as factors promoting mutual understanding.

These generalizations and stereotypes tend to be quite detrimental, the most severe being among different groups in multicultural societies like the USA, where they can lead to preconceptions, which lead to a lack of knowledge and mutual understanding among the other groups. For example, if Americans act like they value independence, they might be stripped of the opportunity to implement communal projects. Thus, shared experiences and knowledge limitations might arise. The cyclic culture of natives can also increase the tendency of Americans to overlook the collective contribution made by immigrants, which in turn affects social cohesion.

Others would discourse that stereotypes help comprehend cultural characteristics swiftly; they are undoubtedly expanded and used as the only source of information on the complexities in the individual's dynamics, causing significant misinterpretations. Undoubtedly, one may categorize many Americans as individualistic; however, we characteristically overlook the diversity and solidarity within various American subcultures when discussing this aspect of American culture. Even though generalizations and stereotypes might be discriminatory, some argue that they help as cognitive shortcuts in social life, saving time in the perception and orientation in complex social environments(Bodenhausen and Richeson). Characteristically, it serves as a gateway to comprehending the overall culture and provides locals with orientation in the context of unfamiliar cultures. Nevertheless, it is essential to consider that, although generalizations might outline the problem, they often make a picture simple enough to miss many details, and they may even give a starting idea for prejudice and evil actions. Accepting that generalizations might have their purposes in providing an initial overview, it is also essential to be aware of their limitations and see the necessity of going beyond that and doing a more thorough analysis and acknowledgment of personal ideas. In addition, disagreeing with the idea that bias is innocent, appraising cultural society richness needs an even stronger procedure of challenging stereotypes and dealing with prejudice.

Works Cited

Bodenhausen, Galen V, and Jennifer A Richeson. "Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination." Advanced Social Psychology The State of Silence(2010): 341-83. Print.

Traube, Elizabeth G. "The Popular" in American Culture." Annual Review of Anthropology25.1 (1996): 127-51. Print.