Final Examination, WR115
Argument
College Athletes Should Be Paid to Play
100 points
Essay Description
Write an argumentative essay for or against this proposition:
College athletes should be paid to play.
You will write an argument of five paragraphs for your final examination. You will have 100 minutes to
write this paper, but if you need more time, please know that I will allow you up to 120 minutes to
complete the final. If you have another final exam right after this exam and you think you may need
more than 120 minutes to complete the exam, please speak with me immediately so I can arrange for
you to have extra time.
Your introductory paragraph
Your introductory paragraph will introduce the topic you will argue. You will explain the importance of
your topic and/or briefly discuss why your reader should care about the topic. Your introductory
paragraph will end with your thesis statement, which is a statement of your stance on the issue. Your
thesis should be normative, and because you do not really have an abundant amount of time to craft
fancy wording, you would do well simply to use “should,” “ought to,” or “need to” in your thesis
statement. Your thesis statement may be composed of either one or two sentences. Strive to use
concession (“although,” “even though,” “though,” and “while”) when you express your thesis
statement.
Your three (3) body paragraphs
Your body paragraphs will each be controlled by a strong topic sentence, that is, a clear, strong
statement of a reason to support your thesis statement. Your discussion will use well-developed and
supported arguments in which you acknowledge other points of view. Your paragraphs will be unified
and coherent, and you will carefully identify your sources when you paraphrase or quote another writer,
or when you use someone else’s ideas. You will, of course, use quotation marks whenever you directly
quote another writer. You will use the sources that informed your evaluative essay in order to support
your discussion.
Your concluding paragraph
Your concluding paragraph will summarize your major points and briefly restate the thesis. You will not
introduce or develop any major arguments in your conclusion.
Directions for Writing Your Essay
Preparing the Argument

Plan to spend at least the first 30 minutes in pre-writing activities.
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
Begin by reviewing your summaries, your Cornell notes, an opposing viewpoint article,
and your evaluation essay.

Then, in order to bring clarity to your writing and get the job done quickly (within the
time constraints) make two lists of reasons, one pro and the other con.

Review your brainstorming activities and formulate a normative thesis statement about
what you really want to argue. Make sure that your thesis a normative statement, not a
question. A thesis is normative when it establishes a new norm. The easiest way to
write a normative thesis is to use the words should, ought to, or need to to express your
main idea. List from three to five major reasons in support of your thesis.

Identify your major support for your argument by listing and evaluating information in a
manner similar to the one you used in your evaluative essay. Keep track of your sources
as you do so! This will save you a great deal of time in the end.

Outline your essay by either using the Blueprint for Argumentative Essays or a detailed
idea map.
Writing the First Draft

Format your paper in MLA style; use the template conveniently placed on the portal. If
you need help, ask your kind (mostly) and understanding (mostly) instructor.

Begin by assigning your paper a working title.

Then, you may next write either your body paragraphs or your introduction (if you really
know what you want to say). Use your outline!

Make sure that you properly cite your sources in your paper by placing your source’s
last name or web address in parenthesis after the sentence in which the quote or
paraphrase appears. Remember, you must set off all direct quotes with quotation
marks, clearly cite the source, and you must cite all paraphrasing. Make sure that you
give credit to those who originate the ideas you use: Cite the sources! If you need help,
ask!

Examine your paper to make sure that you have discussed at least one argument
counter to the ones you advance. Remember, in argumentative essays it is essential
that you briefly discuss counter-arguments to your own arguments. Have you
acknowledged these counter-arguments by using concession?
Revision

Carefully re-read your work, examining it for clarity, unity, coherence, and idea flow.
When you do so, apply the rubric that I will use to score your paper.

Have you explained your ideas so that someone not familiar with the topic can
understand and follow them?
Mt. Hood Community College
Mary Kelly-Klein, Instructor, WR115
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
Did you use transitional phrases and words (on the other hand, on the contrary,
therefore, etc.) to signal to your reader when you are shifting from one perspective or
another or when you are making a conclusion?

Have you supported your ideas with facts, expert opinions, and illustrative scenarios?

Did you acknowledge other arguments or points of view in your paper?

Underscore or highlight areas of your paper you might want to revise or rewrite.
Rewrite them.

Then rewrite your paper from the top down in order to re-establish the flow of your
ideas.
Proofreading
Carefully proofread your paper for spelling, homophone, punctuation, capitalization and other
errors.
Resources
Please use the MHCC portal, your summaries, and your evaluative essay as your major
resources. Except for the portal, do not use the web for any reason whatsoever. I am open to
answering your questions and providing guidance. Otherwise, I expect you to work quietly and
independently.
Please take care to cite all sources in the text of your essay. This includes both direct quotes
and paraphrasing. Simply tell me in parenthesis who said what in which publication or website
(example: John Doe quoting Sally Smith in “College Athletes Should Be Paid,” Washington Post,
Feb. 30, 2012). If you use a website, simply copy and paste your source into parentheses at the
end of the sentence (http://www.professorknowitall.edu).
Celebrate Your Success!
Turn in your paper and celebrate your success!
Grades and Returning Your Work
I will post your grades on the web by the end of Monday, Sept. 3rd. Please do retrieve your evaluation
paper, the argument, and any other materials I may still have next term.
Have a great lovely and restful break—
And keep in touch!
Mt. Hood Community College
Mary Kelly-Klein, Instructor, WR115