For this essay, we will make a logical argument. We will take a look at some arguable topics, pick a side, and write an Argument Essay.
Prompt Requirements:
This Essay must include an Intro Paragraph containing an “Although/because” Thesis Statement (preferably the last sentence of the Intro), Body Paragraphs containing a new reason (most of the reasons/body paragraphs will be the side you are arguing for – & at least 1 reason/body paragraph should be about the opposing view), and a Conclusion Paragraph.
The essay page requirements will be 4-6 FULL pages of writing, and you must have a minimum of 4 legitimate sources (at least 2 must be from the Chaffey Library Database).
Your essay should include a Works Cited page at the end (detailing all of your sources used, in proper MLA format).
Required Format (MLA):
This essay must be in MLA Format: 12 font size. Times New Roman or Arial font. Double-Spaced. A creative title (anything that represents the essay well. You’ll notice it’s a lot easier to come up with a title AFTER you finish writing the essay). Works Cited page. Save/upload all files as a Word Doc or PDF.
Here is a very helpful website that contains a guide on all things MLA Format (MLA Format OWL Purdue): https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html (Links to an external site.)
^You’ll notice there is a tab on the left-hand side of the page with all sorts of sections and helpful info. Be sure to use the those tabs, as many of them will be useful/required structure/format aspects for Essay 2.
Some extra advice/structure possibility:
Intro: A Hook Sentence (the first sentence of the paragraph, usually an attention grabber, can be creative).
Next up (and what usually takes up the most amount of sentences in an Intro), is the Background Information/Context portion of an Intro. For an Argument essay, this gives us a chance to explain any background info you feel your audience should know (useful information about the topic, history of the topic, anything you can think of that will be useful).
“Although/because” Thesis Statement: This Thesis Statement is required to appear as the last sentence of the Intro. (just make sure it is obvious and that I will know it is the Thesis right away).
A Thesis Statement should always include the main topic of the essay and it should foreshadow or state what you are about to talk about in the essay. In this case, Essay 2 will have a specific structure to follow…
Structure Example: Although (strongest opposing viewpoint’s reason), (your side of the argument) because (reason 1), (reason 2), and (reason 3).
(Example: Although In-N-Out is well known on the west coast, Super Chili Burgers is the best burger spot because of the quality taste, fair price, and customer service.)
Body Paragraphs: This section will contain 1 body paragraph for each reason. If you have 1 opposing viewpoint reason and 3 reasons for your side of the argument, then you will have 4 body paragraphs total (you can do 1 opposing reason and 4 main reasons, 2 and 3, 2 and 4, etc. – I just recommend that you have more reasons than opposing reasons in your essay).
Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence stating the reason, a claim and evidence to support, and analysis (your opinion, further explanation, your interpretation, etc.), and recommended to end each body paragraph with a transition sentence. *(only 3 minimum sources are required, but I recommend 1 source per body paragraph. This will help strengthen each body paragraph, and help you reach the page requirements since it gives you more to analyze).
Sources/Quotes: We will go over sources/quotes in more detail. But please do not quote full paragraphs of outside sources. This is your argument and your essay, the quotes are simply meant to aid YOUR argument. *(Recommended to keep quotes to anywhere from a few words, to 3 or 4 lines worth of page space maximum).
Conclusion:
Conclusions usually give us an opportunity to restate the thesis statement (using different words/in a different way) and then closes out the essay with an answer of why this matters (Why does topic/your side of the argument matter to your audience? Why does it matter to society?)
Finally, close out the conclusion paragraph however you’d like (creatively, in a direct way, with a final message, etc.).
As for the topic you can be broad with it and mention movies or social media that ties in with it but don’t use them as a source.
