An argumentative essay requires you to present an issue, take a position on that issue, and then develop a logical argument with supporting evidence that will convince the reader that your position is the correct/best one. Write a well-researched argument essay stating and supporting your position on the film (or film-related topic) that you have written about for the annotated bibliography (this must be the topic I approved). Take a position on your topic and develop your viewpoint with as many details, examples, and pieces of supporting evidence as you deem necessary.
Assignment guidelines:
Use at least THREE reliable, credible outside sources from which to pull additional evidence that supports your ideas, including at least one journal article from the library databases.
Avoid works of fiction (excluding one your film is based upon, if applicable) and general sources like IMDB, dictionaries, and encyclopedias. Additional information about selecting credible sources can be found in this handout: Evaluating Online Sources.docx
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Remember, source material must be properly integrated and referenced according to MLA guidelines to avoid plagiarism.
Your paper should NOT read like a research paper. The purpose is to present YOUR argument rather than just summarizing the ideas of others.
Your essay should be 3-5 pages (900-1500 words), not including the works cited page.
Write in 3rd person, which is used for most academic writing. The first-person perspective (“I/we”) can be used when sharing personal experiences, but overall it should be avoided. Do not use statements like “I believe” or “In my opinion.”
Your essay should contain the key elements of a closed-form composition:
An original, effective title
An engaging, attention-grabbing introduction with a clear and explicit thesis statement
Sufficient background information so that someone who is unfamiliar with your topic can understand your argument (can be part of your introduction, included in a separate paragraph, or sprinkled throughout your paper)
Well-developed body paragraphs with topic sentences that connect the paragraphs’ main ideas to your thesis
In-text citations whenever you quote, summarize, paraphrase, or directly reference an outside source (including page numbers, if applicable)
A non-repetitive conclusion that explores the greater implications of your argument and responds to your readers’ question of “So what?”
An MLA-style works cited page containing bibliographical information for all sources referenced in the essay
The proper use of MLA format will be vital to succeeding with this assignment. Please note that while you are welcome to use the sources and works cited entries from your annotated bibliographies, you should not include your annotated bibliography or annotations for the works cited in this essay.
Your essay should be double-spaced, typed in 12-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins on all sides, and should not have a justified right margin. (Please be sure to submit your essay as a .docx file.) Your works cited page will use a hanging indent and provide full bibliographic information for each resource following the MLA style (including URLs for web sources not found through the library’s databases). Failure to use proper formatting will negatively impact your grade.
This video will walk you through the process of formatting your essay according to MLA standards:
