Do international students hinder or enrich the learning environment at Arizona State University

Do international students hinder or enrich the learning environment at Arizona State University?

The Definition Argument answers the questions “What is it?” “What category does it belong to?” In other words, the Definition Argument attempts to assign a specific case to a larger category because it shares the essential characteristics of that category. Examine the following definition claim:

A hog “factory” is an environmentally-unsound farming practice.

 

Notice that this claim argues that the specific case, hog factory,  belongs to the category of environmentally-unsound farming practices. The underlying structure at work in definition claims can be expressed as x is y, where x stands for the specific case and y represents the larger category.

The definition argument requires that we generate a list of essential criteria of the y term (category). Thus, the essential criteria of an environmentally-unsound farming practice might look like the following:

• A. a practice that damages the environment
• B. a practice in which the environmental depredations are significant or irreparable
• C. a practice that poses risk to area wildlife
• D. a practice which threatens human health or safety in the area

Now we can add the criteria to the claim and express the argument as a complete enthymeme:

A hog factory is an environmentally-unsound farming practice because it damages the environment, such damage is severe, it poses a risk to area wildlife, and it threatens human health.

The underlying structure of the definition argument’s enthymeme can be expressed as x is y because it possesses the characteristics A, B, C, D, . . .

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Criteria-Match

The definition argument has two areas of major concern: 1) the criteria and whether they sufficiently characterize the y term (category), and 2) the match, or whether the x term (specific case) actually possess the criteria.

In the above example, our concern about the criteria might lead us to question whether the category of environmentally-unsound farming practices need be characterized by “significant or irreparable” damage. Perhaps, we could argue, any damage at all constitutes an environmentally-unsound farming practice. Notice that, at this point,  the discussion of the criteria isn’t concerned at all with the x term (hog factory) at all. Rather, the criteria discussion focusses on accurately characterizing the y term (category).

During the match portion of the definition argument, on the other hand, our concern is to demonstrate that the criteria apply to the x term (hog factory). We are obligated to prove that a hog farm does indeed damage the environment, that such damage is significant, that it threatens area wildlife, and that it poses health risks to nearby human populations.

 

 

THE PROMPT:

Write a 900 to 1,200 word essay in APA format using a minimum of 3 scholarly resources in which you will answer:

 

Do international students hinder or enrich the learning environment at Arizona State University?

 

 

A possible structure for your essay:

(1) introduce the issue and state the claim

(2) define key terms

(3) present your first criterion and argument that your case meets your definition

(4) present your second criterion and argument that your case meets your definition

(5) present your third criterion and argument that your case meets your definition (if necessary)

(6) anticipate and respond to possible objections/arguments

(7) conclude with return to the “big picture,” what is at stake, why your argument is important, etc.

 

Note: Don’t forget that your cover page, abstract, and references page do not count toward the required word count.