English 111
Week 4 | Tuesday, April 12
Week 4 Quiz
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Plan for Tonight
 Section 1 (5:15-7:00)
– Week 4 Quiz
– Discussion of Ch 14 & Walmart Essays in Patterns for College Writing
– Discussion of MLA Format and Semi-Colons/Colons
– Structuring Essay 2
 Section 2 (7:15-9:00)
– Peer Workshop of Essay 2
– Response to Peer Workshop
– Assign Homework
 Section 3 (9:15-10:15)
– Optional Conferences about Essay 2
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Chapter 14: Argumentation
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Toulmin Logic
 Developed by philosopher Stephen Toulmin
 An effort to describe argumentation as it actually occurs in
everyday life.
 Model is divided into three parts
– Claim: the main point of the essay that is usually stated directly
as the thesis; can also be the main point of a section within the
essay
– Grounds: material a writer uses to support the claim; can be
evidence (facts or expert opinion) or appeals to the emotions or
values of the audience
– Warrant: an inference that connects the claim to the grounds
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Toulmin Logic
 Example 1
– Claim: Carol should be elected class president.
– Grounds: Carol is an honor student.
– Warrant: A person who is an honor student would make a good
class president.
 Example 2
– Claim: King George III deserves no loyalty.
– Grounds: King George III is a tyrannical ruler. (supported by facts
and examples)
– Warrant: Tyrannical rulers deserve no loyalty.
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Is Wal-Mart Good for America?
 Claim 1: The theory goes that Wal-Mart could then set prices high,
and make monopoly profits. (D&E, par. 9)
 Claim 2: Wal-Mart improves the lives of people in rural areas.
(D&E, par. 15)
 Claim 3: Given the poverty they have in common, it makes sense
that Wal-Mart’s workers often express a strong feeling of solidarity
with the shoppers. (F, par. 6)
 Claim 4: While [boycotts] could be fruitful in some community
battles, it’s unlikely to catch on nationwide. (F, par. 13)
 Claim 5: To effectively battle corporate criminals like Wal-Mart,
the public must be engaged as citizens, not merely as shoppers. (F,
par. 20)
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Is Wal-Mart Good for America?
 With a partner, use Toulmin Logic to take a position on the WalMart debate.
– Claim
– Grounds
– Warrant
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MLA Format, Semi-Colons, Colons
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MLA Format
 Overall Paper
– Margins should be 1 inch
– Movie titles should be italicized.
– Handbook: See pages 569-71 for exact specifications
– Textbook: See pages 782-88 for an example
 Creating a Works Cited page
– Center the title, Work(s) Cited
– Double space and alphabetize entries
– Indent the second line of each entry
– See above pages for exact specifications and example
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MLA Format
 Citing a film or video
– Italicize the title of a film
– List the title, director, performers, and any other pertinent
information. End with the name of the distributor and the year
of distribution.
– When you cite a videocassette or DVD, include also the medium,
the name of the distributor, and the date of the recording.
– Handbook: See page 560 for exact specifications
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Semicolon Use
 Period separates independent clauses with finality
 Semicolon
– provides a less distinct separation
– indicates more to come
– use a semicolon instead of a period when
• the ideas in two independent clauses are very closely connected
• you want readers to expect more
 Example: Biography tells us about the subject; biographers also tell
us about themselves.
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Semicolon Use
 Use semicolons with transitional expression, such as
– However
– Moreover
– In fact
– Nevertheless
– Above all
– Therefore
 Example: The result of the study support the hypothesis; however,
further research with a variety of tasks is necessary.
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Colon Use
 Colon
– follows an independent clause
– introduces information that balances or explains that clause
– tells readers, “What comes next will tell you more about what
you just read.”
 Ways to Use Colons
– After an independent clause to introduce a list
• Example: The students included three pieces of writing in their portfolios: a
narrative, an argument, and a documented paper.
– After an independent clause to introduce an explanation or
elaboration
• Example: The author has performed a remarkable feat: she has maintained
suspense to the last page.
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Colon Use
 Ways to Use Colons
– After a complete sentence prior to introducing a quote
• Example: Miss Mary believes that learning the proper use of colons is a
very important part of grammar: “Colons, to me, are more important than
the use of commas when it comes to grammar” (Smith 24).
– To introduce a rule or principle (use capital letter after)
• Example: The main principle of public speaking is simple: Look at the
audience.
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Structuring Your Essay
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Structuring Your Essay
 Introduction
– 3-4 sentences
• Brief summary of the movie
• Social issue(s) you have selected for the focus of your paper
– 1 sentence
• Thesis statement
• State your argument, your central claim, what you believe the theme of
the movie is, or what you believe the movie is arguing
 Review your current Introduction
– Make sure there’s some summary. Cut/edit any surplus
summary.
– Make sure your thesis statement clearly presents your argument
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Structuring Your Essay
 Each Body Paragraph
– Include a topic sentence (usually the first sentence of a
paragraph)
• introduces a claim
• supports your thesis statement
– Cites evidence from the movie
• Such as scenes, character analysis, prop choice, etc.
• Supports your topic sentence’s claim
– Explain to your reader how this evidence relates to your
argument (don’t just move on)
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Structuring Your Essay
 Conclusion
– Recap those claims you made in your topic sentences
– Reiterate your argument or central point in different words
– May also make a call to action and/or encourage other
researchers to investigate the issue(s) discussed in your essay
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Break
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Essay 2 Workshop
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Essay 2 Workshop Response
 Thesis
– Use the feedback provided to revise or clarify your thesis
statement.
– Make sure it addresses your analysis and the argument you are
making.
 Claims & Grounds
– Look at the claims marked by your reviewers.
– Make sure that each of these claims feeds back into the thesis.
– Does each claim have sufficient grounds? Mark places where you
need to add more support for a claim.
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Homework for Week 5
 Read the following before Week 5 class meets:
– Chapter 8 (Exemplification)
– Chapter 10 (Cause & Effect)
– Chapter 11 (Comparison & Contrast)
– David J. Birnbaum’s “The Catbird Seat”
– Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull’s “The Peter Principle”
– Lawrence Otis Graham’s “The ‘Black Table’ Is Still There”
– Gwendolyn Brooks’s “Sadie and Maud”
 Essay 2 due (email/hard copy & turnitin.com)
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