Economic Inequality and The War on Drugs

The 9+ to 12 page, fully developed Researched Argument on a narrow topic related in some way to economic inequality. The Works Cited page (which does not count toward the 9+ to 12 pages) should list a minimum of 8 sources that you actually used in your paper. Of these 8+ sources, 1 or 2 must be books (e books are acceptable), 4-6 must come from peer-reviewed journal articles from found through different IUPUI library databases, and the others may be from any of the above or from popular magazines, newspaper sources, sponsored web sites, government documents, or other relevant, credible sources. The Researched argument must be based upon the structural enthymeme that you devised in class. This is a position paper: You have been asked to research and support a position (the American Heritage Dictionary says “position” means “1) a place or location or . . . 5) a point of view”) that you have arrived at on a controversial topic related to equality/inequality/economic inequality. In the researched argument, you assume a “place” in the conversation about the topic you’re researching; your position is your point of view on that topic. This position is reflected in your enthymeme. As a result, the researched argument should be based upon the structural enthymeme that you decided upon in class. You will support an informed position: an informed position stems from the reading and research that you’ve done on your topic. The enthymeme you have crafted represents where you position yourself along a continuum of possible positions writer/researchers may take on that topic, a continuum with extreme positions at either end of the continuum and modified, qualified stances in between. Remember, your task has been to become informed about your topic, searching for the best reasons for belief. Your position should be based upon this assessment of the reasons you’ve uncovered. Your paper must include about 20-25 carefully selected quotes. You have been asked to support this claim in the body of your researched argument by bringing in appropriate reasons and evidence from your research and by anticipating and then effectively conceding or refuting counterclaims to your argument. This is not a Literature Review, and you are not reporting on the views of the audience. But you will draw upon appropriate quotes, paraphrases, or summaries, on occasion, as they are useful to your effort to develop your line of reasoning in support of your position, and you will clearly credit sources for their words or ideas. Your argument must draw upon a minimum of 8 credible sources. Of these 8 sources, 1 or 2 must be books, 4-5 must come from peer-reviewed journal articles from databases, and the others may be from any of the above or popular magazines, newspaper sources, sponsored web sites, government documents, or other relevant, credible sources. Most arguments of this kind incorporate around 2-3 brief, clearly relevant quotes into each page, and the sources should support the points you make about your position by adding statistics, offering a well-phrased authoritative opinion, or supplying other useful data. Nevertheless, your voice will dominate. The topic sentences and last sentence in each paragraph should be in your voice. (Do not use you or I.) The sources that support your position should be woven inside the paragraphs.