There are three policy problems thatare currently facing this administration. You have been asked to write acase on one or these problems. As you know, a case is an argument foror against a claim. Below are the three problems. You only need to write on one of them. Below each is a link to background briefing of each to help you get started.

• Increase Control Over Gun Ownership
  Background for Gun Ownership
• Changing the Military Use of Drones
  Background for Military Use of Drones
• Lowering the Drinking Age
  Background for Lowering the Drinking Age

Your argument needs to include:

1. The wording of a correct and useful claim of policy for the problem area you chose. (Complete Claim. An unbiased statement made against the status quo. In this case a Claim of Policy is needed.

• Tip: Make sure it is worded against the status quo.

2. At least 3 issues from the list of 7 issues used to analyze a claim of policy. (3 complete issues presented. 3 questions presented each relating to one of the 7 stock issues asked of any Claim of Policy).

• Tip: Make sure you include an issue on the significance of the problem

3. Three Contentions based on the answer to your issues. (Complete Contentions Presented. Threecontentions presented where each is a one sentence statement directlyanswering the issue. No arguments are made or additional informationadded).

• Tip: Make your contentions a single sentence focused on the issue. They are not your argument.

4. Based on your contentions, you need to state your position on the claim. (Accurate stating of Position. You state if you for or against the claim and then state the claim without changing the wording of the claim.

• Tip: Do not change the wording of your claim. You are either for it or against it.

5. Using quality evidence and reasoning, prove your 3 contentions. (Complete Coherent Argument. Yourargument has three paragraphs, one for each contention, each begins withthe one sentence contention. You follow the contention with evidenceproving that contention. Your last sentence is a repeat of thecontention summarizing the argument. Complete use of Evidence. At least two sources of evidence were presented to prove each of the 3 contentions.

• Tip: What you believe or think is not important. What is important is what you can prove with evidence.

Below is a sample argument that youcan use to guide you as you write yours. You can download a copy of thisargument for easier reading at: Sample Argument.

Sample Argument

Argument being made involves women's involvement in the military.

Claim: "The United States Military should allow women to serve in all the military duties they are qualified to perform."

Issues:

Is there currently a problem in the military with important positions going unfilled?

Can the military lower the standardsneeded for the unfilled positions so more men can qualify withoutdecreasing military readiness?

Would the increase in women in military positions weaken the readiness of the military?

Contentions

There is currently a problem in the military with important positions going unfilled.

The military cannot lower the standards needed for the unfilled positions without decreasing military readiness.

An increase in women in military positions would not weaken the readiness of the military.

Position on Claim

I will be arguing for the claim: "TheUnited States Military should allow women to serve in all the militaryduties they are qualified to perform." (If my contentions suggested thatthis claim is a bad idea I would state, "I will be arguing against theclaim, "The United States Military should allow women to serve in allthe military duties they are qualified to perform."

Argument — This example will just show the argument of one contention. Yours will use all three of your contentions.

There is currently a problem in themilitary with important positions going unfilled. According to MajorGeneral Turgidson, "The military is facing a crisis in that keypositions are going unfulfilled because we simply do not have themanpower to staff them."¹ This crisis described by thegeneral is only going to get worse as more and more members of the armedforces are deciding to leave the military. Navel Commander, AdmiralNemo explains, "In the last years we have seen an increase number ofquality service men leaving the military instead of continuing theircareers in the service as they had done in previous years."²One possible solution to this problem would be to recruit more manpowerinto the military, but this approach does not appear to be feasible. Asrecruiter Major Hummel observes,

"We areseeing fewer and fewer qualified recruits enlisting in the military. astheir ranks decrease, we have a smaller and smaller pool of qualifiedservicemen to place in important military occupations."³

Important positions in the military are not only going unfilled, but the problem will increase in severity as time goes on unless something is done.