Argue

Page length – 3 to 4 pages (required cover sheet and References list not included in page count)

Assignment Description

We recently looked at Steve Jobs’ speech, “How to Live Before You Die” and read Jeff Haden’s “Do What You Love? Screw That.” Given that a career can last 40 years or more, deciding our college major and what type of career to have after graduation is an enormous decision for a young person. What if doing what you love means you’ll earn a lot less over your lifetime? What if doing what you love means you’ll have a difficult time finding work or might have to move far from family and friends. Of course, working for love OR money doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive. What about selecting a major or occupation because it NEEDS doing, or selecting a job because it is valued by your parents, society, or yourself? What about working a job that is really boring but pays you well enough to afford a big home in California, a really sweet sports car, or an international vacation every year?
Criteria you’ll be graded on

A focused, well-defined problem and thesis (introduction/thesis)
– Use an example, anecdote, statistic, or interesting quote to get started.
– Provide enough detail about the subject so that someone who has not much experience with this issue

can still understand your paper.
– Present an arguable thesis with your reasons and counterargument previewed in it

Interest readers in your issue and position (support/content) – A well-argued position

– Use a variety of strategies to argue a position
– Present numerous reasons (logical/logos, moral/ethos, emotional/pathos) as to why you think your

position is the stronger position.
– Address either a counterargument (the other side to the story) and/or address weaknesses in your own

argument

A clear, logical organization (structure)
– Use transition words and sentences

– Most paragraphs should have topic sentences
– Reasons to support your argument should be arranged in a logical order
– Refer back to earlier examples, often bringing your paper or paragraph full circle by referring to an

example at the beginning of the paper or paragraph.
– conclusion does not merely restate your thesis but leaves the reader with further “food for thought.”

Uses references wisely
– Includes both paraphrases and quotes from one or more sources
– Information from sources is presented accurately
– Uses signal phrases to introduce quotes and paraphrases (no drop quotes)

Clarity and style
– No awkward sentences, vocabulary is appropriate, sentences neither too choppy, too wordy, or overly long.

Proper grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary

Proper APA style

– Proper APA formatting, including a cover page (which does NOT count towards your page minimum)/ – Proper APA in-text citations for all paraphrases and direct quotations from the article.
– A references page in correct APA format (which does NOT count towards your page minimum).

“Do What You Love? Screw That” by Jeff Haden “How to Live Before You Die” by Steve Jobs

Argue

Page length – 3 to 4 pages (required cover sheet and References list not included in page count)

Assignment Description

We recently looked at Steve Jobs’ speech, “How to Live Before You Die” and read Jeff Haden’s “Do What You Love? Screw That.” Given that a career can last 40 years or more, deciding our college major and what type of career to have after graduation is an enormous decision for a young person. What if doing what you love means you’ll earn a lot less over your lifetime? What if doing what you love means you’ll have a difficult time finding work or might have to move far from family and friends. Of course, working for love OR money doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive. What about selecting a major or occupation because it NEEDS doing, or selecting a job because it is valued by your parents, society, or yourself? What about working a job that is really boring but pays you well enough to afford a big home in California, a really sweet sports car, or an international vacation every year?
Criteria you’ll be graded on

A focused, well-defined problem and thesis (introduction/thesis)
– Use an example, anecdote, statistic, or interesting quote to get started.
– Provide enough detail about the subject so that someone who has not much experience with this issue

can still understand your paper.
– Present an arguable thesis with your reasons and counterargument previewed in it

Interest readers in your issue and position (support/content) – A well-argued position

– Use a variety of strategies to argue a position
– Present numerous reasons (logical/logos, moral/ethos, emotional/pathos) as to why you think your

position is the stronger position.
– Address either a counterargument (the other side to the story) and/or address weaknesses in your own

argument

A clear, logical organization (structure)
– Use transition words and sentences

– Most paragraphs should have topic sentences
– Reasons to support your argument should be arranged in a logical order
– Refer back to earlier examples, often bringing your paper or paragraph full circle by referring to an

example at the beginning of the paper or paragraph.
– conclusion does not merely restate your thesis but leaves the reader with further “food for thought.”

Uses references wisely
– Includes both paraphrases and quotes from one or more sources
– Information from sources is presented accurately
– Uses signal phrases to introduce quotes and paraphrases (no drop quotes)

Clarity and style
– No awkward sentences, vocabulary is appropriate, sentences neither too choppy, too wordy, or overly long.

Proper grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary

Proper APA style

– Proper APA formatting, including a cover page (which does NOT count towards your page minimum)/ – Proper APA in-text citations for all paraphrases and direct quotations from the article.
– A references page in correct APA format (which does NOT count towards your page minimum).

“Do What You Love? Screw That” by Jeff Haden “How to Live Before You Die” by Steve Jobs