Competency Assessment: Constructing Logical Arguments

Introduction

To receive credit you must complete the competency assessment. You may contact your professor if you have any questions.

This competency assessment (CA) assesses your level of performance on the specific Outcome(s) that are the focus of this module. The CA requires you to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding, and proficiency of the Outcome(s). Be sure to use the other activities in this module prior to attempting the CA. You may attempt the CA multiple times within the term. However, the CA must be completed successfully by the end of the term to earn credit. Refer to your Syllabus for additional information regarding the number of attempts permitted.

Be sure to review the Competency Assessment Rubric to understand the criteria on which you will be evaluated.

Instructors will provide feedback on the CA. If you expect to receive feedback, revise, and resubmit this CA near the end of the term, be sure to follow the guidelines and deadlines for submission in your Syllabus.

Please refer to your Syllabus for additional competency assessment requirements.

This competency assessment assesses the following Outcome(s):

CM220M2-1: Construct logical arguments.

Assessment objective: Create a persuasive, problem-solving thesis statement and evaluate the effectiveness of that thesis using the rhetorical situation and the rhetorical triangle.

In this module’s competency assessment, you will write a persuasive thesis statement that proposes a solution to a problem in your community or workplace and evaluate the effectiveness of that argument using the rhetorical situation and rhetorical triangle.

You will complete a chart for this assessment. Download the file, save it with a name like LastNameCM220Module2assessment, and fill in the chart.

In Part I, you will create a persuasive thesis statement, identify the underlying assumption in that thesis statement, and discuss the common ground you believe you share with your audience. Make sure the thesis is concise (1–2 sentences) and clearly expresses a persuasive argument that offers a solution to a problem in your community or workplace.

Make sure the thesis is concise (1–2 sentences) and clearly expresses a persuasive argument that offers a solution to a problem in your community. Use the enthymeme format (Claim + reason/s).

In Part II, describe your purpose (what is the problem you want to solve and how do you plan to solve it?), audience (key stakeholders), and setting. You will provide details about whom you need to convince to bring about change and explain the community you are writing about.

Finally, in Part III you will evaluate your argument based on the three rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos). For Part III, be sure to use complete sentences and offer specific examples. Aim for 5-7 sentences per section.

You will want to discuss rival hypotheses and how you plan to address them, research you will need to conduct to support your claims, and strategies you can use to connect with your audience. Be sure to discuss at least one source you can use to support claims and to identify a specific logical fallacy your argument could be susceptible to and how to avoid that fallacy.

You will complete a worksheet for this course assessment. Submit the completed worksheet to the Dropbox.

References to sources should be cited in APA style both in-text and on a separate references page. Include a title page in APA format as well.

See the Purdue Global Writing Center Using Sources for further guidance on APA citation and references page formatting.

Minimum Submission Requirements

• This Assessment should be in the format of the included worksheet.
• Include a persuasive, problem-solving thesis written in the enthymeme format.
• Identify the underlying assumption and common ground that can be established.
• Identify the purpose, audience, and setting for your argument.
• Discuss how you will use the three types of rhetorical appeals (Logos, Ethos, and Pathos).
• Include a title page in APA format.
• References to sources should be cited in APA style both in-text and on a separate references page
• Responses to questions are in complete sentences using Standard English
• Responses do not have significant errors in grammar, mechanics, or punctuation.

If work submitted for this competency assessment does not meet the minimum submission requirements, it will be returned without being scored.

Download the Minimum Submission Checklist

If the work submitted for this competency assessment does not meet the minimum submission requirements, it will be returned for revision. If the work submitted does not meet the minimum submission requirements by the end of the term, you will receive a failing score.