PHIL/PHIX 1037 Personal Argument Task

All the details you need to complete this assignment are contained within this document. It is lengthy.
So please take care to read it carefully. If you skip over some of the details it may adversely impact on
your grade.

Submission Details:

Due Date: 11.55pm Sunday 9/4/23 [Sydney Local Time].

The late work policy is as follows: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and
approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is
not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will
be awarded even if the assessment is submitted.
If you need an extension you will need to apply for a special consideration via student services:
https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration. You can find further
information about this in the FAQs on the ilearn site. If you apply for a special consideration please
also contact Thomas Corbin ([email protected]) so that the staffing team can
keep track of this.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This assignment and the Peer Review task are part of the same task. If
you do not submit this task (worth 25%) you will not be able to complete the peer review
(worth another 10%) either. So, it is very important that you submit this assignment.

Where to Submit:
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST SUBMIT 2 COPIES OF THE SAME PAPER FOR THIS ASSESSMENT. THIS IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE ABOUT THE SUBMISSION.
This assignment will be graded by a tutor and by a number of your peers. You must submit one copy
through Turnitin, and another copy in the Workshop window. Links to both submissions can be found
on the iLearn page for PHIL/PHIX1037 under the Assessment Tab. If you do not submit the identical
version to both Turnitin and Workshop, then your paper will not count as being submitted.
Peer marking is blind so do not attach your student number or name to the file you submit.
N.B. If you have a special consideration for this assignment and will be handing in after the seven-day
late window you will be required to submit via an alternative link for the Workshop (but still use the
same Turnitin link). As stated above, please contact the co-convenor Tom in these regards.

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Format: The only file formats you can submit are PDF’s. You can only upload one file. You can delete
and reload your submission up until the deadline for submissions. If you edit or alter your file after the
deadline this will accrue a late penalty.
For advice on how to make a single word doc file with both text and images you can find numerous
guides online on how to do this for free – e.g.: https://www.wikihow.com/Add-Images-to-a-Microsoft-
Word-Document. These can then be saved as a PDF.
Warning:
*N.B.: Whatever you upload is what will be marked. If your file is corrupted, unreadable, a draft
version, something for an entirely different course (it has happened), whatever, that is on you. Make
sure you submit/upload a good quality, well formatted, final version of the correct assessment. “I
uploaded the wrong one” is not an acceptable excuse. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK ONCE YOU HAVE
SUBMITTED BY OPENING THE FILE TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT CORRUPTED OR INCORRECT!

Academic Integrity: All assignments in this unit are individual assignments. Collusion (unauthorised
collaboration on individual assignments) is a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy. If in doubt,
contact a member of teaching staff. Any sources you use need to be cited. Direct quotes should
generally be avoided, because you’re presenting your own argument in your own words, but any
quotes you do use must be fully referenced, in quotation marks. See below for more information
about referencing. For further details about academic integrity, please see:
https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/academic-integrity

Task:
Pick ONE of the following debates:

• Zoos are bad for conservation efforts.

Inform yourself about ONE of these topics and build an argument supporting a relevant position about
that debate (i.e. you can argue for or against the proposition or for a more nuanced position). You will
write a short introductory reflective piece stating your evidence and reasons. You will then build and
standardise the argument that is presented in the introduction. You will make a poster reflecting part
of the standardised argument. Lastly, you will list your sources and references.

Additional Resources:
On the iLearn site, where you downloaded these assessment instructions, you will find several other
supporting documents.

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 • A rubric – it would be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the rubric so that you know what
you will be assessed on.
• An exemplar that you can use as a guide if you wish.
• A file titled “Personal Argument Exercise Topic Information” that provides a small amount of
information and further links to each of these topics to get you started.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with your chosen topic. You should seek out other
information for yourself. The point here is that exploring information here helps you to form your
argument.

Assignment Details
Please read all of the following steps carefully before beginning the task. Steps one and two are
preparatory and so you do not need to write anything down for these stages. Only steps three, four,
five, and six involve writing/creating. Steps seven, eight, and nine are about submission. Step ten is
transitional for the next related assessment (peer review).

Step-One (Research):

Pick ONE of the following debates and inform yourself about it:
• Zoos are bad for conservation efforts.
• Alcohol should be illegal.
• Birds aren’t real.
Some starting resources are provided on the ilearn, but you will need to examine and research some
other materials for yourself. You need to use at least three sources to construct your argument (see
criterion 10 of the rubric). To be clear, you do not need to write anything down at this stage.

Step-Two (Plan Your Argument):

Work out which topic you are going to focus on, and what claim you will be defending regarding your
argument. Make sure you can think of three reasons that could be given in support of the conclusion
you are going to defend. You should be aiming to make your argument as persuasive as possible (what
makes the most convincing argument?).
Consider:
1. What are the supporting reasons and evidence that support the main claim you are making?
You should have at least three main reasons.
2. Why should other people believe in your position? Is your argument persuasive?
3. To be clear, you do not need to write anything down at this stage. This is just about preparation
and getting your thoughts in order to tackle the written components of the assignment.

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 Step-Three (Write Your Argument):

Write a short introductory reflection of 300-400 words, answering the following questions:
1. What is the main claim as developed in Step-Two?
2. What are the best reasons you can give in defence of this claim (I.e. on what grounds are you
suggesting people should accept this claim)? You must give at least three main reasons and
present them clearly in your own words.
3. You must conclude the introductory reflection with a reflection on whether the claims made
in your argument are radical or conservative, and explain how this is relevant to the evidence
you have used.
(Examples of how you might present this conclusion are included at the end of this
document, page 7 – 8.)
4. Make sure to indicate where you are drawing on references by citing them (see the exemplar
for guidance if you are unsure about this).
5. Please state which part of your argument the poster will reflect – if you do not do this you will
lose marks (see criterion 8).
6. Please state the word count – if you do not do this you will lose marks (see criterion 10)
Please note, there is NOT a 10% discrepancy on the word count here. 400 words is a hard maximum. If
you write more than this you will be penalised (see criterion 10 in the rubric). In-text citations count
towards your word limit, but your reference list does not.

Step-Four (Standardise Your Argument):

Articulate the standardised version of the argument you have devised in Step Two and stated briefly
in Step-Three. There is no word limit for this section, but it should include the following:
1. A clearly stated and properly labelled conclusion (C)
2. Clearly stated and properly numbered main premises (1, 2, 3). There should be at least three
main premises.
3. Each main premise must be supported by at least two sub-premises (1.1., etc.). Do not go
below the level of sub-premises.
4. Clear and correct labelling of whether premises/sub-premises are linked or convergent.
5. Make sure that the standardisation as formulated here in step-four is an accurate portrayal of
the argument as you have formulated it in step-three. (It should not contain more or different
information than the written argument in step-three – see the principle of fidelity)
6. All of your premises and your conclusion need to be in your own words, to avoid breaching
the Academic Integrity Policy.
[Hint: make sure you consider the therefore test; try reading the standardisation out loud to make sure
it works properly]

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 Step-Five (Design And Create A Poster Representing Your Argument):

Create a poster that is a visual argument that reflects at least one of the main reasons in the
standardised argument/written section. The poster should be a visual argument that puts forward the
same claim in favour of your chosen topic and position. You are free here to make the visual argument
however you want. But you must not use more than fifteen words of written text. Words in newspaper
headings and signs, etc. will count as part of this.
Resources for how to make posters can be found online, such as the free online software Canva, which
was used to make the poster in the example submission. But you are of course free to use whatever
programs you wish in designing your own poster. Please note, we are not assessing you on your artistic
skills, but rather on your understanding of the notion of what makes a powerful and persuasive visual
argument (see the rubric for more details on how you are being assessed here).
Make sure consider the following:
1. Does the visual poster present an argument based on at least one of the main reasons in the
argument as laid out in the standardised argument? Have you stated this clearly at some stage
in your document? (if not you will lose marks – see criterion 8)
2. Do not use more than fifteen words of text in the poster. The point is to make a visual
argument and not a written poster.
3. Is the poster an effective or persuasive argument? Is it clear what the main claim is? Does it
make sense to someone who is unaware of what the topic is?

Step-Six (Write A Reference List):

Provide a reference list for all the sources you have used to make your argument. At least three
sources are required (see criterion 10 in the rubric). You do not need to indicate these in the
standardisation. But they should be cited in the written introductory reflection.
Please make sure to list all the sources that you use when formulating your argument and poster.
Unlike many other assignments that you will submit at university we are not discerning between peer-
reviewed material and general material, so do not concern yourself with this distinction for this
assessment.

For referencing you may use any method as long as it is consistent. APA or Harvard (author-date)
referencing Styles are preferred. A guide for referencing is available at the library website here:
http://libguides.mq.edu.au/referencing/

Step-Seven (Compile Your Work):

Compile your work from Step-Three, Step-Four, Step-Five, and Step-Six into a single PDF. You should:

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1. Use 12pt Font in Arial or Times New Roman and 1.5 line spacing for the written portions of
the assignment (Comic Sans is likely to be marked down by your peers in terms of
effectiveness!). The Poster can use any format you think is effective.
2. For advice on how to make a single word doc file with both text and images you can find
numerous guides online on how to do this for free – e.g.: https://www.wikihow.com/Add-
Images-to-a-Microsoft-Word-Document. These can then be saved as a PDF.
3. Make sure that your name and student number are not on the document (marking is blinded).
Step-Eight (submit your work to Turnitin)

1. Submit a copy of the assignment to the turnitin link via the appropriate links on the ilearn
page under the assessment tab – labelled “Personal Argument Turnitin Link”. MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE UPLOADED THE CORRECT FILE!
2. You will receive an email confirmation when you have submitted to this link.
3. Make a note of the Turnitin paper ID number. You will need this for the second submissions
window (see below)

Step-Nine (submit your work to the ilearn workshop)

1. Submit an identical copy of the assignment document via the appropriate link on the iLearn
unit page under the Assessment tab. The submission link is named “Personal Argument Task
- Submission and Peer Review”. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE UPLOADED THE CORRECT FILE! You
can do this by clicking the file after it has been uploaded.
2. Make a note of your Turnitin Paper ID number (see step-eight) in the submission box (see XXX
in the image below). This allows staff to track and verify your double submission.

3. You can delete and upload the file as many times as you like but the last time you edit the file
will be counted as the time at which it was submitted. So, if you edit the file after the deadline,
it will be counted as late. Remember though, whatever document you upload must
be identical to the document uploaded in Step-Eight. So if you change this file, you will need
to your Turnitin submission first, and include your new Turnitin ID. The late submission
window closes a week after the due date. No edits will be allowed after this stage.

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 4. You will not receive a confirmation email when you have submitted. You will know you have
successfully uploaded the assignment by double-checking it (see point 4 above).
5. Emailing your assignment to the teaching staff does not count as a submission.
6. Your deadline is 11.55pm Sunday 9/4/23 (Wk 7) [Sydney Local Time]. For the policy on late
submission and special considerations please see the FAQs on the main page of the ilearn site.
Remember you must submit two versions of the paper

Step-Ten (Prepare for the Peer Review):

After submission, begin to familiarise yourself with the Peer Review assignment since this is tied
directly to this submission. Instructions for this are in a separate file. Peer review begins on the 16th
of April at 10am [Sydney Local Time].
That is the final step to complete. If you have any questions about these steps, please visit the FAQs
and relevant assessment questions forum. Remember that there are also daily drop in zoom sessions
where you can talk directly to a member of staff about any questions or concerns you have regarding
these steps. You can find the links and times of these daily zoom consultations on the iLearn
underneath the ‘assessment’ tab.

Examples of introductory conclusion:

As mentioned in Step 3, you must conclude the introductory reflection with a reflection on whether
the claims made in your argument are radical or conservative and explain how this is relevant to the
evidence you have used.
As an example, the following would be appropriate for the argument ‘The world ended in 2012’:
“My conclusion, that the world was destroyed in 2012, is a radical claim, since it is one I would
not expect most audiences to accept. This has made it harder to support, since the premises
needed to support it are themselves quite radical. I provided support for each of my main
premises which, if accepted, would provide evidence of the main claims, but I acknowledge
that the audience may not accept them either. The most conservative claims are those
supporting the first reason, drawing on experiences the audiences may have had, so I have
focussed on those in my poster to make the argument seem as acceptable as possible.”
The following would be appropriate for the argument ‘Climate change is real”:
“My conclusion, that climate change is genuine, is a relatively conservative claim which is
accepted by a majority of people now, but it is not accepted by everyone. Since the aim of my
argument would be to convince people who don’t already accept it, I needed to ensure my
claim was correctly conservative by providing evidence for my claim rather than just

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 dogmatically stating it. Because I am making a factual claim, I have backed it up with relevant
scientific evidence, and have provided enough detail to allow people who were unconvinced
to check the sources for themselves.”
There are other ways you might present either of these, these are merely examples to help you clarify
how you might want to present your own. Regardless of how you present it, the crucial thing to include
is a reflection on whether your claims are radical or conservative, and which demonstrates an
understanding of the relevance of this consideration to your choice of evidence.

Good luck!