Sample Essay:
Argumentative
Ms. Alonso

Imagine enjoying a movie at Cinema 10, eating a meal
at Taco Bell, or even sitting in a history class at
Carman-Ainsworth High School while people all around
you are carrying loaded guns! Although this may seem
unbelievable, it is possible because the second
amendment of the United States Constitution gives
citizens the right to possess and carry guns. It is
understandable that Americans would want to possess
guns such as shotguns and rifles for the popular sport
of hunting. However, it is ridiculous that our
government would allow people to carry handguns.
Handgun possession should be strictly limited, because
they are made solely to kill people, they have increased
the murder rate in the U.S., and they have even
allowed children to easily kill other children.
◦ Identify:
 Hook
 Background Information
 Thesis Statement/Claim
Sample Introduction

Second, we should ban the possession of handguns,
because the homicide and robbery rate in the U.S. is much
greater than in Canada where there are stricter handgun
laws. From 1987 to 1996, 52% of all homicides in the U.S.
involved handguns while only 14% of all homicides in
Canada involved handguns. Also, between 1987 and 1996,
firearm homicide rates increased by 2% in the United
States but decreased by 7% in Canada. Furthermore,
handgun homicide rates in the U.S. are 15.3 times higher
than in Canada. Finally, firearm robbery rates in the U.S.
are 3.5 times higher than in Canada. Obviously, homicide
and robbery rates involving handguns are higher in the
U.S. where handgun laws are not as strict as in Canada.
Our high crime rate is another reason handguns should be
banned.
◦ Identify:
 Transitional words
 What is missing from this paragraph that would make it stronger?

Body Paragraph

In conclusion, handguns create an unsafe
environment and should be outlawed! Some
may argue they are needed for self-defense,
but if no one except police officials had
handguns there would be no need for that
kind of defense. If handguns were outlawed,
homicides would decrease, children could not
obtain guns, and our country would be less
violent. Until the law is changed, people will
continue to kill other people.
◦ Identify:
 Restated thesis
 Universal Application
Sample Conclusion
Transitional Words

Attributive tags are short phrases that
help you indicate that an idea in your
writing comes from somewhere else. In
other words, you "tag" ideas and other
evidence to show that they should be
attributed to outside sources.
Attributive Tags For Introducing
Quotes
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according to
acknowledges
adds
admits
advises
agrees
argues
asserts
claims
comments
responds
states
suggests
thinks
writes
Attributive tags can be placed before,
within, or after the quotation. When an
attributive tag is placed within a
quotation, the second half of the
quotation is not capitalized unless it
begins a new sentence:
Michael Karnok says, “To be a father is
to know the meaning of failure.”
“To be a father,” says Michael Karnok, “is
to know the meaning of failure.”
“To be a father is to know the meaning
of failure,” says Michael Karnok. (714)
Sample Attributive Tags
Rubric