Argumentative research paper
• 4 sources (3 for 1 against)
• 6 paragraphs
• Paragraphs (6-12 sentences)
• Avoid using first person in the thesis statement.
• a. Using the first person weakens your argument,
as in "I believe that we should financially support
the space station."
• b. Instead make the statement more affirmative
for all by saying
"Funding for the space station is imperative to
maintain America's competitive edge in the
global econom
Sample opening paragraph
• Recently there has been a great deal of talk about the
need for the United States to revise the Second
Amendment to restrict Americans' right to own
guns. The Brady Bill, passed in 1993 in reaction to the
attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, sets a
waiting period for handgun purchases and also restricts
purchases of semi-automatic weapons (Aborn
417). Supporters believe that the bill protects
Americans from criminals who use guns. However, the
contrary is true. The most effective way to stem
growing violence in America is to encourage people to
arm themselves and learn how to use those weapons
correctly.
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The thesis must be backed up by data that persuades readers that
the opinion is valid.
a. This data consists of facts, statistics, the testimony of others
through personal interviews and questionnaires or through articles
and books, and examples.
b. The writer of an argumentative essay should seek to use
educated sources that are nonbiased, and to use them fairly.
c. It is therefore best to avoid using hate groups as a source,
although you can use them briefly as an example of the seriousness
of the problem.
d. Talk shows fall into the same category as they are frequently
opinionated or untrue.
e. Make sure that any "questionable" sources are justified by the
topic
• Example of a non-debatable thesis
statement:
• Pollution is bad for the environment.
• Example of a debatable thesis statement:
• At least 25 percent of the federal budget
should be spent on limiting pollution.
• Narrowed debatable thesis 1:
• At least 25 percent of the federal budget
should be spent on helping upgrade business
to clean technologies, researching renewable
energy sources, and planting more trees in
order to control or eliminate pollution.
• Example of a thesis that is too broad:
• Drug use is detrimental to society.
• Example of a narrow or focused thesis:
• Illegal drug use is detrimental because it
encourages gang violence.
• Adopt a reasonable tone.
• 1. Tone is the writer's attitude toward her or his
subject.
• 2. Assume that your readers will disagree with
you or be skeptical.
• a. It is important, therefore, that your tone be
reasonable, professional, and trustworthy.
• b. By anticipating objections and making
concessions, you inspire confidence and show
your good will.
How to compose your paragraphs:
• 1st – Topic sentence –Explains the topic
• The first reason why marijuana should be legalized
is because of its medicinal purposes. (topic
sentence)
• The second and third sentences are
called supporting sentences. They are called
"supporting" because they "support," or explain,
the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
• For example: Marijuana has been proven to
alleviate pain in suffering from ___(sentence 2).
Some of the illnesses that can be helped include
…..(sentence 3)
• Sentences 4 and 5 should provide factual, researched
support to your “supporting sentences”
• For example: “ In a study conducted by the Adams
research found that some of the medical benefits of
medical marijuana included _______ and ________ (cite
your source/sentence 4). Another study found that medical
marijuana ________________ (Sentence 5).
• Conclusion- Supporting statement about your research and
topic- (Sentence 6)
• “Therefore it is evident that legalizing marijuana for
medical purposes would have beneficial effects for people
suffering from various illnesses.”
In each paragraph use:
• Use examples and illustrations
• Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
• Examine testimony (what other people say such as
quotes and paraphrases)
• Use an anecdote or story
• Define terms in the paragraph
• Compare and contrast
• Evaluate causes and reasons
• Examine effects and consequences
• Analyze the topic
Counter argument
• A counter-argument should be expressed
thoroughly, fairly and objectively.
• Do not just write a quick sentence and then
immediately rebut it. Give reasons why
someone might actually hold that view
– A few sentences
How should the counter-argument be
introduced?
• Many people
[believe/argue/feel/think/suppose/etc.] that
[state the counter-argument here]
• It is often [thought/imagined/supposed/etc.] that
[state the counter-argument here]
• [It would be easy to/One could easily]
[think/believe/imagine/suppose/etc.] that [state
the counter-argument here] I
• t might [seem/appear/look/etc.] as if [state the
counter-argument here]
• You can also cite specific writers or thinkers
who have expressed a view opposite to your
own:
• On the other hand, Fund argues that...
However, Jones has written, ...
• Smith takes the position that...
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How should you address the counter
argument?
Show the reader that the opposing view is now being
answered.
• The essay has returned to arguing its own thesis,
strengthened by having taken the opposition into account.
Here are some typical strategies.
• What this argument [overlooks/fails to consider/does not
take into account] is ...
• This view [seems/looks/sounds/etc.]
[convincing/plausible/persuasive/etc.] at first, but ...
• While this position is popular, it is [not supported by the
facts/not logical/impractical/etc.]
• Although the core of this claim is valid, it suffers from a flaw
in its [reasoning/application/etc.]
MLA format follows the author-page
method of in-text citation.
• This means that the author's last name and the page number(s)
from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the
text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited
page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or
in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page
number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text
of your sentence. For example:
• Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a
"spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).
Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of
powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
• Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the
creative process (263).
• Author named in parentheses If a signal phrase
does not name the author, put the author’s last
name in parentheses along with the page
number. Use no punctuation between the name
and the page number.
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Companies can monitor employees’ every
keystroke without legal penalty, but they may
have to combat low morale as a result (Lane 129).
• 1. Author named in a signal phrase Ordinarily,
introduce the material being cited with a
signal phrase that includes the author’s name.
In addition to preparing readers for the
source, the signal phrase allows you to keep
the parenthetical citation brief.
Frederick Lane reports that employers do not
necessarily have to use software to monitor
how their employees use the Web (147).
Some verbs to use in your signal
phrases:
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acknowledges
argues
asserts
believes
claims
contends
illustrates
notes
observes
points out
refutes
reports
states
suggests
thinks
writes
• Notice that the period follows the
parenthetical citation. When a quotation ends
with a question mark or an exclamation point,
leave the end punctuation inside the
quotation mark and add a period at the end of
your sentence: “. . .?”(8).
• Author named in parentheses If a signal phrase
does not name the author, put the author’s last
name in parentheses along with the page
number. Use no punctuation between the name
and the page number.
Companies can monitor employees’ every
keystroke without legal penalty, but they may
have to combat low morale as a result (Lane 129).
• 3. Author unknown Either use the complete title
in a signal phrase or use a short form of the title
in parentheses. Titles of books are italicized; titles
of articles are put in quotation marks.
• A popular keystroke logging program operates
invisibly on workers’ computers yet provides
supervisors with details of the workers’ online
activities (“Automatically”).
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• TIP: Before assuming that a Web source has no
author, do some detective work. Often the author’s
name is available but is not easy to find. For example,
it may appear at the end of the page, in tiny print. Or
it may appear on another page of the site, such as
the home page.
• NOTE: If a source has no author and is
sponsored by a corporation or government
agency, name the corporation or agency as
the author.
• Page number unknown Do not include the page number if
a work lacks page numbers, as is the case with many Web
sources. Even if a printout from a Web site shows page
numbers, treat the source as pageless in the in-text citation
because not all printouts give the same page numbers.
(When the pages of a Web source are stable, as in PDF files,
supply a page number in your in-text citation.)
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As a 2005 study by Salary.com and America
Online indicates, the Internet ranked as the top choice
among employees for ways of wasting time on the job; it
beat talking with co-workers—the second most popular
method—by a margin of nearly two to one (Frauenheim).
Works Cited
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Very last page
The title of the page must be “Works Cited”
Your sources must be in alphabetical order
Double space and indent the second line of
your sources (if you have more than one line
per source)
In-text citations for print sources with
no known author
• When a source has no known author, use a shortened
title of the work instead of an author name. Place the
title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an
article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays,
books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide
a page number.
• We see so many global warming hotspots in North
America likely because this region has "more readily
accessible climatic data and more comprehensive
programs to monitor and study environmental change .
. ." ("Impact of Global Warming" 6).
• Websites & Web pages
• In general, websites are cited just like print resources in references
cited in the text. However, there are some exceptions since these
type sources often do not include authors or page numbers. Some
guidelines for websites appear below.
• State the author if known. Include paragraph, chapter, screen or
line numbers unless you are referring to the entire site.
• If the website or webpage does not have an author or sponsor, use
an abbreviated version of the title in quotation marks.
• If you refer to an entire website, place the title of the homepage in
italics.