Classical Argument Outline RHETORICAL SITUATION: Purpose: Compose a Classical Argument essay that aims to persuade your audience by using evidence and research to back up your thesis. Audience: Peers with an opposite or indifferent viewpoint to yours Subject: Issue that is debatable and arguable Thesis: Arguable, Specific (problem), Feasible (solution). See pages 110-113 in Let’s Get Writing! INTRODUCTION: The introduction will provide a very brief overview of the issue, capture the reader’s interest, and state the arguable thesis. Consider the following questions to gather the information needed for this paragraph: • Consider using a quote, statistic, or an interesting fact to catch reader’s attention and establish context of persuasion (appeal to pathos) • Briefly describe the problem with the issue that you are going to address (background and context) • Why is this issue important? (engage the audience) • If your argument proposes a solution, you may want to hint at it here. • Usually, the thesis statement comes at the end of the introduction. Remember, the thesis must be arguable (readers can agree or disagree with it), describe a specific problem, and offer a feasible (workable) solution. BODY SECTIONS: NARRATION/BACKGROUND: What is the history of your topic/issue/claim? Give the audience essential background information. Provide research sources for anything that isn’t common knowledge, especially when providing statistics. • Begin maybe 5-10 years ago with your topic. What are some key events, topics, ideas (or people) that have happened to make your issue debatable and something to argue? 1. 2. 3. • Define key words in your position statement that will help convince your audience to believe the way you do. Think about defining at least two words in your claim/position statement. 1. Do you need to redefine or clarify any terms that have specific meaning in this context? For example, what does “institutional racism” mean, and what does it mean in the context of higher education? PARTITION: The partition is like an expansion of your thesis statement before you begin your detailed argument. It is typically one to two paragraphs. • Provide a larger overview about your position on the issue, the exact problem you see and your proposed solution. • Give specifics and provide support from outside sources as needed. ARGUMENT: Develop your argument by creating a list of specific reasons (subclaims) that prove your position. Before you write this section, consider the following: • As you develop your subclaims, consider the warrants (principles/laws of society) and assumptions (shared values/beliefs) of your audience. Make sure your subclaims appeal to what you have in common with your audience. This will make your argument much more convincing. • Each reason will become a paragraph with a clear topic sentence; each paragraph will need outside sources to support the subclaim (data, statistics, expert opinion, etc ...

1. Classical Argument Outline
RHETORICAL SITUATION:
Purpose: Compose a Classical Argument essay that aims to
persuade your audience by using evidence and research to back
up your thesis.
Audience: Peers with an opposite or indifferent viewpoint to
yours
Subject: Issue that is debatable and arguable
Thesis: Arguable, Specific (problem), Feasible (solution). See
pages 110-113 in Let’s Get Writing!
INTRODUCTION: The introduction will provide a very brief
overview of the issue, capture the reader’s interest, and state the
arguable thesis. Consider the following questions to gather the
information needed for this paragraph:
• Consider using a quote, statistic, or an interesting fact to catc h
reader’s attention and establish context of persuasion (appeal to
pathos)
• Briefly describe the problem with the issue that you are going
to address (background and context)
• Why is this issue important? (engage the audience)
• If your argument proposes a solution, you may want to hint at
it here.
• Usually, the thesis statement comes at the end of the
introduction. Remember, the thesis must be arguable (readers
can agree or disagree with it), describe a specific problem, and
offer a feasible (workable) solution.
BODY SECTIONS:
NARRATION/BACKGROUND:
What is the history of your topic/issue/claim? Give the audience
essential background information. Provide research sources for
anything that isn’t common knowledge, especially when
providing statistics.

2. • Begin maybe 5-10 years ago with your topic. What are some
key events, topics, ideas (or people) that have happened to make
your issue debatable and something to argue?
1.
2.
3.
• Define key words in your position statement that will help
convince your audience to believe the way you do. Think about
defining at least two words in your claim/position statement.
1. Do you need to redefine or clarify any terms that have
specific meaning in this context? For example, what does
“institutional racism” mean, and what does it mean in the
context of higher education?
PARTITION:
The partition is like an expansion of your thesis statement
before you begin your detailed argument. It is typically one to
two paragraphs.
• Provide a larger overview about your position on the issue,
the exact problem you see and your proposed solution.
• Give specifics and provide support from outside sources as
needed.
ARGUMENT:
Develop your argument by creating a list of specific reasons
(subclaims) that prove your position. Before you write this
section, consider the following:
• As you develop your subclaims, consider the warrants
(principles/laws of society) and assumptions (shared
values/beliefs) of your audience. Make sure your subclaims
appeal to what you have in common with your audience. This
will make your argument much more convincing.
• Each reason will become a paragraph with a clear topic
sentence; each paragraph will need outside sources to support

3. the subclaim (data, statistics, expert opinion, etc.)
• Aim to provide a balance of ethos (objective and fair support),
logos (factual information), and pathos (human
interest/emotion).
• Be careful to avoid unsupported assertions: opinions without
outside support to validate their truth. Ex: “Most people don’t
like to spend a lot of money” is an assertion that will need
outside support in order to be accepted by readers.
Quick Brainstorm Activity: What warrants and assumptions
does my audience share with me? Try to identify at least two
and use them to help develop your subclaims.
1.
2.
3.
Argument Section Body Paragraphs:
Think back to your brainstorming list above and develop
paragraph topics that are subclaims for your thesis. Try to
create subclaims that appeal to the commonly shared values you
considered in the brainstorming list you just created.
Use as many subclaims as needed to thoroughly argue your
position. Each subclaim will become the focus of a paragraph
and should be reflected in the paragraph topic sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
REFUTATION OR COUNTEREVIDENCE:
What are some major objections to your claim? In other words,
what are some reasons your audience might disagree with your
thesis? Explain why your audience could be wrong, and how
you are right. Maybe they just need more information; maybe
you need to remind them of shared warrants/values. Maybe an
objection contains a logical fallacy that you can reveal.
Remember to keep your tone neutral. Don’t confront or
condescend to your audience. Consider using logos and ethos
more heavily in this section.

4. • Objection 1:
§ Explain why this is wrong/your suggestion is better:
• Objection 2:
§ Explain why this is wrong/your suggestion is better:
• Objection 3:
§ Explain why this is wrong/your suggestion is better:
Conclusion:
• Briefly, and without repeating yourself, restate the specific
problem and your claim.
• Summarize your main points, being careful to not add any
new subclaims
• You may consider ending with an emotional appeal such as a
call to action, asking readers to consider what may happen if
your solution isn’t accepted, or providing a humorous
observation to lighten the mood.
NOTE! This assignment is for an outline only).
Intro: Do you have some information to establish the context of
your argument? For example, if your essay is about gun control,
is there a reference to recent news reports or an establishment
of a need for gun control? Does your thesis appear at or near the
end of the intro paragraph? Is your thesis arguable?
Narrative: Does your narrative provide background information
on your topic? Is the information within the past 10 years or
less? Do you have source material for this section? Is this
section neutral, as it should be?
Partition: Does your partition provide context for your issue?
Does it provide an overview of why there is a disagreement
concerning your topic? Do you have source material for this
section? Does this section begin to provide a broad overview of
your argument?
Argument Section Paragraphs: Do you have at least three
arguable sub-claims to provide the basis of the argument section
paragraphs? Does each paragraph list a sub claim as a topic
sentence at or very near the beginning? Does each paragraph

5. have evidence to prove the sub claim it is presenting?
Refutation: Is there at least one counter-claim listed? Do you
have source material to accurately describe the counterpoint(s)?
Do you have a refutation listed for the counter-claim? Do you
have source material to support your refutation?
Conclusion: Is there a clear re-establishment of your overall
thesis? Did you avoid repeating sentences that appeared
elsewhere in your essay? Is there a reiteration of all of your
main points?
Rubric reflective journal
Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal -
Rubric
Collapse All Professional Capstone And Practicum Reflective
Journal - RubricCollapse All
New Practice Approaches
0 points
Criteria Description
New Practice Approaches
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
New practice approaches are present, complete, and incorporate
additional relevant details and critical thinking to engage the
reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
New practice approaches are present and complete. The
submission provides the basic information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
New practice approaches are present. Some minor details or
elements are missing, but the omissions do not impede
understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory

6. 0 points
New practice approaches are present, but they are incomplete or
otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
New practice approaches are not present.
Interprofessional Collaboration (C4.3)
0 points
Criteria Description
Interprofessional Collaboration (C4.3)
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Interprofessional collaboration information is present, complete,
and incorporates additional relevant details and critical thinking
to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Interprofessional collaboration information is present and
complete. The submission provides the basic information
required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Interprofessional collaboration information is present. Some
minor details or elements are missing, but the omissions do not
impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Interprofessional collaboration information is present, but it is
incomplete or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Interprofessional collaboration information is not present.
Health Care Delivery and Clinical Systems
0 points
Criteria Description
Health Care Delivery and Clinical Systems

7. 5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Health care delivery and clinical systems information is present,
complete, and incorporates additional relevant details and
critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Health care delivery and clinical systems information is present
and complete. The submission provides the basic information
required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Health care delivery and clinical systems information is present.
Some minor details or elements are missing, but the omissions
do not impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Health care delivery and clinical systems information is present,
but it is incomplete or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Health care delivery and clinical systems information is not
present.
Ethical Considerations In Health Care (C2.3)
0 points
Criteria Description
Ethical Considerations In Health Care (C2.3)
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information regarding ethical considerations in health care is
present, complete, and incorporates additional relevant details
and critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information regarding ethical considerations in health care is
present and complete. The submission provides the basic

8. information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding ethical considerations in health care is
present. Some minor details or elements are missing, but the
omissions do not impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding ethical considerations in health care is
present, but it is incomplete or otherwise lacking in required
detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Information regarding ethical considerations in health care is
not present.
Practice of Culturally Sensitive Care (C5.3)
0 points
Criteria Description
Practice of Culturally Sensitive Care (C5.3)
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information regarding the practice of culturally sensitive care is
present and complete, and incorporates additional relevant
details and critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information regarding the practice of culturally sensitive care is
present and complete. The submission provides the basic
information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding the practice of culturally sensitive care is
present. Some minor details or elements are missing, but the
omissions do not impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points

9. Information regarding the practice of culturally sensitive care is
present, but it is incomplete or otherwise lacking in required
detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Information regarding the practice of culturally sensitive care is
not present.
Preservation of Integrity of Human Dignity in the Care of All
Patients (C5.4)
0 points
Criteria Description
Preservation of Integrity of Human Dignity in the Care of All
Patients (C5.4)
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information regarding the preservation of integrity and human
dignity in the care of all patients is present and complete, and
incorporates additional relevant details and critical thinking to
engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information regarding the preservation of integrity and human
dignity in the care of all patients is present and complete. The
submission provides the basic information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding the preservation of integrity and human
dignity in the care of all patients is present. Some minor details
or elements are missing, but the omissions do not impede
understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding the preservation of integrity and human
dignity in the care of all patients is present, but it is incomplete
or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory

10. 0 points
Information regarding the preservation of integrity and human
dignity in the care of all patients is not present.
Population Health Concerns
0 points
Criteria Description
Population Health Concerns
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information regarding population health concerns is present,
complete, and incorporates additional relevant details and
critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information regarding population health concerns is present and
complete. The submission provides the basic information
required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding population health concerns is present.
Some minor details or elements are missing, but the omissions
do not impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Information regarding population health concerns is present, but
it is incomplete or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Information regarding population health concerns is not present.
Role of Technology in Improving Health Care Outcomes (C4.1)
0 points
Criteria Description
Role of Technology in Improving Health Care Outcomes (C4.1)
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information on the role of technology in improving health care

11. outcomes is present, complete, and incorporates additional
relevant details and critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information on the role of technology in improving health care
outcomes is present and complete. The submission provides the
basic information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information on the role of technology in improving health care
outcomes is present. Some minor details or elements are
missing, but the omissions do not impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Information on the role of technology in improving health care
outcomes is present, but it is incomplete or otherwise lacking in
required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Information on the role of technology in improving health care
outcomes is not present.
Health Policy
0 points
Criteria Description
Health Policy
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Health policy information is present, complete, and incorporates
additional relevant details and critical thinking to engage the
reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Health policy information is present and complete. The
submission provides the basic information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points

12. Health policy information is present. Some minor details or
elements are missing, but the omissions do not impede
understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Health policy information is present, but it is incomplete or
otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Health policy information is not present.
Leadership and Economic Models
0 points
Criteria Description
Leadership and Economic Models
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information on leadership and economic models is present,
complete, and incorporates additional relevant details and
critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information on leadership and economic models is present and
complete. The submission provides the basic information
required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information on leadership and economic models is present.
Some minor details or elements are missing, but the omissions
do not impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Information on leadership and economic models is present, but
it is incomplete or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Information on leadership and economic models is not present.

13. Health Disparities
0 points
Criteria Description
Health Disparities
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Information on health disparities is present, complete, and
incorporates additional relevant details and critical thinking to
engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Information on health disparities is present and complete. The
submission provides the basic information required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Information on health disparities is present Some minor details
or elements are missing, but the omissions do not impede
understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Information on health disparities is present, but it is incomplete
or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Information on health disparities is not present.
Outline of Overall Personal Discovery
0 points
Criteria Description
Outline of Overall Personal Discovery
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Outline of what student discovered about professional practice,
personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced, additional
resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given
situation to influence optimal outcomes, and how the student
met the competencies aligned to this course is present and

14. complete, and incorporates additional relevant details and
critical thinking to engage the reader.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Outline of what student discovered about professional practice,
personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced, additional
resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given
situation to influence optimal outcomes, and how the student
met the competencies aligned to this course is present and
complete. The submission provides the basic information
required.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Outline of what student discovered about professional practice,
personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced, additional
resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given
situation to influence optimal outcomes, and how the student
met the competencies aligned to this course is present. Some
minor details or elements are missing, but the omissions do not
impede understanding.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Outline of what student discovered about professional practice,
personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced, additional
resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given
situation to influence optimal outcomes, and how the student
met the competencies aligned to this course is present, but it is
incomplete or otherwise lacking in required detail.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Outline of what student discovered about professional practice,
personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced, additional
resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given
situation to influence optimal outcomes, and how the student
met the competencies aligned to this course is not present.
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar,

15. language use)
0 points
Criteria Description
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar,
language use)
5. 5: Excellent
0 points
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic
English.
4. 4: Good
0 points
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may
be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective
figures of speech are used.
3. 3: Satisfactory
0 points
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not
overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and
audience-appropriate language are used.
2. 2: Less Than Satisfactory
0 points
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader.
Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence
structure, or word choice are present.
1. 1: Unsatisfactory
0 points
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede
communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or
sentence construction is used.
Classical Argument Outline Template
I. INTRODUCTION
a) Hook:
b) Background/context:

16. c) Thesis:
II. NARRATION
a) History/background of your topic (neutral)
b) Any key words/terms that need to be defined
III. PARTITION
a) Overview of your position on the issue (broad explanation of
your argument; might include support from sources):
IV. ARGUMENT PARAGRAPHS (Sub claims must be arguable)
a) Sub Claim #1:
a. Supporting evidence:
b) Sub Claim #2:
a. Supporting evidence:
c) Sub Claim #3:
a. Supporting evidence;
d) Additional sub claim(s) if needed:
V. COUNTER-ARGUMENT/REFUTATION
a) Major objection to your main claim/thesis:
a. Evidence to disprove/refute the objection:
b) Second objection to your main claim/thesis (if needed):
VI. CONCLUSION
a) Summary of argument, main points, call to action, etc.