Instruction
Introduction:
For each Project Period, students will be asked to complete an “Argument Structure” for each of the Project Period Questions. This is Step 2 after the Question Analysis that has already been completed. The goal of the Argument Structure assignment is to explore and establish a draft outline structure for each of the project period questions. The goal is to have a skeleton of how you think you will organize your answer AT THIS TIME (it could and will likely change upon further investigation).
Now that we have figured out what the question is asking us to do (activities) and have begun gathering evidence (from readings), we need to think about how we will present the structure of our answer. In what order will you address the parts of the question? What activities must be addressed within the parts? In essence, this is creating the first levels of your outline that will be due at the end of the Project Period (examples below)
When the Argument Structure Assignment is complete, students will also gain specific feedback towards their progress in completing their Question Outlines.
Demonstration Video:
Video is not an accurate representation of the questions you are working on, but is an effective demonstration.
Video Link: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=jeJIpp3byN0&feature=emb_logo]
Format:
Your Argument Structure should essentially be a skeletal outline where the conceptual main points asked for in the question and activities are indicated with numbered headings, while the proposed sub-points are enumerated/bulleted underneath the relevant main points that demonstrate the activities that will be completed with each main point.
A template is provided for guidance: Argument Structure Template (Links to an external site.)
An example is provided for demonstration purposes: Argument Structure Example (Links to an external site.)
An completed example of this assignment will be available upon request.
⚠️WARNING: Importantly, I DO NOT want you to attempt to answer the question at all or provide any specific evidence. The point is for you to begin to hypothesize the logic of answering the Exam Questions and begin planning your argument with conceptual placeholders.
Thought Process to Complete:
Begin with what activities the question is asking you to do. (refer back to your Question Analysis)
Then explore how you would answer the question by brainstorming what goes first, second, third, etc.
Then establish what the conceptual main points would be (is the activity asking for topics, events, people, changes, etc) and what activities/questions will need to be addressed under each main point (what are you to do with the events, people, changes, etc).
This assignment can be completed with nothing more than the question itself and some thought. No reading is required. If you find yourself trying to read the text to complete this assignment,