ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
This paper will need to be 4-5 pages long (not counting the works cited page). You will also need a “Works Cited” page (we will be using the MLA format–read the following on MLA):
in-text citations
works cited page
This assignment will take more independence from you than the others. You need to do a mountain of reading and research.
Now, as we get into writing a research paper, there’s one important thing I want to make clear. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. It’s often tempting to do so. Make sure that every sentence in your paper that borrows from a source, whether a quote or paraphrase, is cited. Basically, if it didn’t come from your head, you have to cite it. To cite it, simply write the author’s last name and the page number and put this info. in parentheses (in-text citations).
Do this even when you paraphrase, minus the quotes of course. Let me know if you have any questions.
So what kind of paper are we writing? We are writing an argumentative essay. The first thing you must have in order to write an argumentative paper is a controversial topic. A controversial topic is one that is debatable, meaning there is a significant percentage of the population who chooses one side or the other. Obvious example are: euthanasia (should assisted suicide be legal or illegal?), human cloning (good or bad?), the death penalty (for or against?), etc. I’m not saying you should choose from this list; these are just examples. Choose an issue, whether international, national, or local, that is debated and that interests you (except abortion and the legalization of marijuana–I’ve read enough of these to last five lifetimes).
So what is argumentative writing? The best way I can explain this is to make the distinction between argumentative writing and persuasive writing. These are two different things. The major difference is that persuasive writing relies a lot on eliciting an emotional response from the audience; argumentative writing, on the other hand, depends on logic and reasoning. So, you don’t necessarily have to be reasonable to be persuasive. For example, Hitler was persuasive, but he was a madman. Did Hitler have reasonable arguments? Absolutely not. So your job in this essay is not to persuade the audience, or to have them standing on their chairs cheering you on. Your goal, instead, is to present your opinion in a way that tells the reader that your opinion has been well-researched, is logical, and therefore, is valid.
“People spend too much time trying to confirm what they already think and not enough time trying to learn more.”
Because you want the audience to see you as reasonable, it’s important that they get the impression that you looked at both sides of the issue. Therefore, it’s important that you discuss the opposing argument in a polite fashion. This is how argumentative papers are usually structured:
Introduction
Thesis statement
Body
Opposing argument
Point 1 of your argument
Point 2 of your argument
Point 3 of your argument
Conclusion
A good argumentative paper acknowledges that there is another side to the issue in question, and politely refutes it. Most of the research that you will be doing will back your argument. Remember, statistics are powerful things; however, the chief strength of this paper should be found in your voice, not the words or numbers of others. In other words, don’t rely too heavily on your research materials. Make your own argument and use the research simply as evidence.
So get started on this. Refer to the schedule for due dates. Also, remember that you will need to write a “Works Cited” page.
I will be grading primarily on the following criteria:
grammar
paragraph development
organization (intro., thesis, body, opposing argument, topic sentences, conclusion)
organization of research (citing correctly done, works cited page correctly done, and amount text of writer’s own voice, compared to reliance on research materials–most of this paper should be in your words, not someone else’s).
