This assignment is adapted from Chapter 11 of Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings.)

Write a Argumentative Essay using two to three academic resources in which you argue that a borderline or contested case fits (or does not fit) within a given category. To do so, first select a controversial case (which you might find in the news). Decide what category you think your case belongs in, with the understanding that others may disagree with you about the definition of your category, and/or whether your chosen case matches your category.

In the opening of your essay, introduce the borderline or contested case you will examine and pose your definition question. To support your argument, define the boundaries of your category (criteria) by using a commonly used definition or by developing your own extended definition.

In the second part of your argument (the match), show how your case meets or does not meet your definition criteria. Use resemblance arguments, perhaps by comparing your controversial case to other cases, to develop your argument.