Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1″ margins

MLA 8th edition format with works cited page

Original title stating your thesis

4-5 pages (~1200 – 1400)

This prompt is intentionally broad, which will allow for many different interpretations. Part of this assignment will require you to compose a question your essay will answer and address. You will need to create a focused question. Your thesis/essay must reflect the scope of the assignment, meaning you will need a thesis that you can adequately and fully argue and develop in 4-5 pages. Your claims and argument will require you to explain your thought process to your readers throughout the essay. Highlight critical thinking skills that recognize cognitive biases, fact and opinion, objective and subjective statements, and identify issues arguments address.

Option 1: Find a piece of media that represents one side of the conversation. Then, write an essay that enters the conversation (and makes an argument) about a piece of media. How do you interpret the argument made by the text? Use at least source to introduce the conversation, support your claims, and/or present a counter-argument. Your analysis should emphasize logical reasoning and fallacies.

Purpose:

• Use critical thinking skills to examine arguments
• Identify strengths and fallacies in reasoning
• Develop skills in evaluating sources for future research
• Develop argumentation skills as an individual

Text Selection Options for option 1:

• You can carry your topic from Essay 1 into this assignment.
• Alternatively, you can choose texts covered in class or from the Essay Bank.
• Or you can find a source connected to a different hot button issue related to your major or another course.
• Find a source that takes on one side of the debate from your Essay 1 topic. Example sources include: Opinion pieces, TikTok videos (limited to those over 3 minutes in length), Song, Film, spectacle/event, Album, Podcast, Memes, and other media can also be selected such as advertisements (Think Super Bowl or recent TV ads.)

Step 1: Your Essay Question

Your paper needs a focused question your essay answers.

Good options:

1. Do sports betting advertisements mislead viewers by emphasizing winning while minimizing the risks of gambling?
2. How do sports betting advertisements use emotional appeals to encourage risky gambling behavior?
3. Do sportsbook advertisements rely more on persuasion and bias than logical reasoning?

The first question is probably the strongest.

Step 2: Possible Thesis

Your thesis needs to make an argument.

Example thesis:

Sports betting advertisements present gambling as an exciting and profitable activity, but they rely heavily on emotional appeals, selective information, and logical fallacies that minimize the real risks of gambling.

Step 3: Essay Structure (45 Pages)

Introduction

• Introduce the rise of sports betting apps (FanDuel, DraftKings, etc.)
• Mention how advertising for betting is everywhere during sports broadcasts
• Introduce the debate about gambling promotion
• End with your thesis

Body Paragraph 1 Emotional Appeals

Explain how ads use excitement and celebration.

Examples:

• fans cheering
• people winning money
• dramatic game moments

Explain the appeal to emotion fallacy.

Point:

The ads focus on the thrill of winning rather than the probability of losing.

Body Paragraph 2 Selective Information

Explain how ads show wins but not losses.

Concepts you can mention:

• availability bias
• selective framing

Explain that viewers remember the exciting wins but not the statistical reality.

Body Paragraph 3 Logical Fallacies

You can talk about things like:

False cause fallacy

Ads imply that knowledge of sports leads to winning bets.

Bandwagon fallacy

Everyone seems to be betting.

Overconfidence bias

Body Paragraph 4 Counterargument

Address the other side:

Argument:

People should be responsible for their own gambling choices.

Then respond:

Advertising still shapes perception and risk behavior.

Conclusion

Summarize your argument:

Sports betting ads create a misleading image of gambling by emphasizing excitement and success while hiding the statistical reality of loss.

USE THE TWO SOURCES AND CITE BOTH