Objective: In a well-organized, thesis-driven essay, you will be exploring the idea of people having a basic universal income. Which issues must be addressed before such a plan can be implemented? What should people be concerned about?

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You have to incorporate at least 4 of the 8 articles listed here to support your essay:

  1. Pew Research (UBI)”
  2. “Money for nothing: the truth about universal basic income”
  3. “What Would You Do With an Extra $500 a Month? A financial experiment in five true stories.”
  4. “Coronavirus outbreak may prompt policymakers to seriously consider pros, cons of universal basic income, says Stanford scholar”
  5. “Pandemic speeds largest test yet of universal basic income”
  6. “Momentum for Basic Income Builds as Pandemic Drags On”
  7. “Who Really Stands to Win from Universal Basic Income?”
  8. ‘I’m not a UBI guy’: Paul Krugman says money could be better spent on more targeted programs”

Assignment specifics:

  

  • 1000-words minimum
  • Essays that do not meet the word count will not receive partial credit.
  • Two quotes per article minimum
  • Follow the MLA format when citing your sources throughout the essay. 
  • Plagiarism of any kind will result in immediate failure (see syllabus). 
  • A rebuttal paragraph is required. It should be the paragraph before the conclusion.
  • Do not use “I,” “my,” or “you.”
  • Do not use contractions.
  • A Works Cited page is required. 

 

Section A: For your introduction:

  1. Introduce the concept of Universal Basic Income.
  2. Define the term.
  3. Discuss the idea of UBI being integrated into society.
  4. Present your thesis statement.

Section B: Supporting Paragraphs Formula (Aim for 2 or 3 supporting paragraphs) 

  1. Introduce the idea you are going to discuss in the paragraph.
  2. Give the reader context.
  3. Provide textual evidence from one of the articles or reports.
  4. Link the quote to your claim. Explain your reasoning
  5. Provide more evidence
  6. Link the evidence to your claim. Explain your reasoning. 
  7. Provide an example to supplement your reasoning. 
  8. Conclude the paragraph and move on to the next supporting paragraph.

Remember, one idea per supporting paragraph. 

Section C: The paragraph before the conclusion should be address counter-arguments. The counter-argument paragraph:

“What is included in a counterargument paragraph?

Keep in mind that you must do more than simply identify an opposing position. When writing your counterargument paragraph, you should respond to that other position. In your paragraph:

  1. Identify the opposing argument.
  2. Respond to it by discussing the reasons the argument is incomplete, weak, unsound, or illogical.
  3. Provide examples or evidence to show why the opposing argument is unsound, or provide explanations of how the opposing argument is incomplete or illogical.
  4. Close by stating your own argument and why your argument is stronger than the identified counterargument.”

Link to source:

D: Present your conclusion.

E. Works Cited Page.

 

Counterargument information 

What is included in a counterargument paragraph?

Keep in mind that you must do more than simply identify an opposing position. When writing your counterargument paragraph, you should respond to that other position. In your paragraph:

  1. Identify the opposing argument.
  2. Respond to it by discussing the reasons the argument is incomplete, weak, unsound, or illogical.
  3. Provide examples or evidence to show why the opposing argument is unsound, or provide explanations of how the opposing argument is incomplete or illogical.
  4. Close by stating your own argument and why your argument is stronger than the identified counterargument.

Link to source: