WRT 106ers and the Argument

Hello all! This week my WRT 106 students are immersed in argumentative writing. Their 10 page arguments, which should utilize at least 10 sources, are based on their semester long research projects. This is common throughout all of the WRT 106 courses. However, I have asked my students to approach argument in a way that is a little bit different. For instance, I have asked them to use the argument as a way of exploring their issue in a deeper way with/for an audience of their own choosing or as a way of persuading that audience, but to avoid looking at it as a win/lose genre. Because of this, some of their thesis statements may seem strange because they are using a formula that looks like this:
Topic + comment about topic = thesis

A second strange aspect of my version of this assignment is that I have been stressing argument as a way of leading an audience through a train of thought. My students are asked to examine the way in which they came to know their thesis statements (ie how do they know that shark populations are declining or that living off the grid is a way of combating climate change) and then to lead their audience on that same journey. So far, this has led a lot of them to thinking about the introduction as spanning more than a single paragraph, which I am loving!

So why am I telling y'all about this on the blog? Well, today is their workshop in class and the final draft if due on Monday. I have stressed for over a week that because this is such a lengthy assignment and is worth more than any of their other projects so far (a whole 8 points), that they really need to make an appointment with me or stop into the Writing Center for help and a pair of fresh eyes. First of all, since I am hoping that at least a handful if not more of them will actually stop in, I thought that a little background on my own approach in the classroom this semester might be helpful and could avoid any confusion if you encounter a thesis that may not initially appear to be an argument. Also, the way that each WRT 106 section is set up, some will be on the argument right now, while others may be on the public document. I thought it could be beneficial to throw that info out there to be aware of what may be wandering in in the next few weeks.