Argumentative
Writing
Brainstorming
Gather Evidence
Organize
Outline
Draft
Revise
Edit
Final Copy
911 attacks
Censorship
Addiction
Social media
Adoption
Capital punishment
Advertising
Charter schools
Air pollution
Dictatorship
Obesity
Alternative medicine
America’s global influence
Animal experimentation
Terminal Care
Suicide
Bioterrorism
Health Insurance
Hunting
Nuclear weapons
Religion
School uniforms
Book banning
Affirmative action
Civil rights
Athletes & sports
Corporate corruption
Military
Divorce
Cloning
Airport security
War crimes
Drug legalization
Genetic disorders
Freedom of speech
Feminism
Electronic voting
Gun control
Doomsday scenarios
Illegal immigrants
Teen pregnancy
Poverty
Peer pressure
Socialism
Creating a Research Question
Are the current
laws in the US
doing enough?
When children are abused,
are they more or less likely to
become abusive parents?
What can be done
to further prevent
child abuse?
Is parental
drug use a
form of child
abuse?
What constitutes
child abuse?
Topic : Child Abuse
Does child abuse
increase in families
below the poverty level?
Are the current laws
regarding child abuse
in the US doing
enough, or should they
be changed?
Thesis Statement:
The United States should improve the current laws against child abuse.
Thesis Statement with Forecasted Subtopics:
The United States should improve the current laws against child abuse
because too many parents who are caught using drugs are not
effectively punished, many parents are often able to coerce their children
into lying about injuries, and some parents’ reputation in the community
prevents them from being criminally investigated.
In general, unless the information is considered common knowledge,
you should cite your sources.
Direct Quotes
-must be identical to the original
-must be attributed to the original author
-no more than 10% of your paper
-should always be followed by your own analysis of the information
-needs to be tied to your thesis
Paraphrasing
-involves condensing a passage into your own words
-more detailed than summarizing but not as specific as directly quoting.
Summarizing
-broad and condensed overviews of the source material
How should an MLA citation look?
There are two main ways to cite a source within your essay:
Parenthetical Citation
It is possible that much of what we know about Edgar Allan Poe is actually untrue, as some theorize
that his main rival attempted to destroy Poe's reputation after his death (Ristovski 31).
Ristovksi‖ is the last name of the author who provided this theory. 31is the page number where this
information was found.
Use a Speaker Tag
Ryan Ristovski writes that much of what we know about Edgar Allan Poe might actually be false, as his
main rival attempted to destroy Poe's reputation after his death (31).
Identify the writer's name or the article/book's title within your sentence, and the page number will come
at the end.
Print Source with Author
In-text Example:
Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as
“symbol-using animals” (3).
Or,
Human beings have been described as “symbol-using
animals” (Burke 3).
Print Source With Unknown Author
In-text Example:
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).
Internet Sources
In-text Example:
One online film critic stated that Fitzcarraldo is “...a beautiful and
terrifying critique of obsession and colonialism” (Garcia, “Herzog:
a Life”).
Internet Sources w/o Author
In-text Example:
One online film critic stated that Fitzcarraldo is “...a beautiful and
terrifying critique of obsession and colonialism” (“Herzog: a Life”).
In 1591, Anne Hutchinson was born in Alford, Lincolnshire, England with the given name
Anne Marbury (Maier, “Hutchinson, Anne Marbury”). Her father, an English minister, greatly
influenced her religious beliefs and convictions (“People and Ideas: Anne Hutchinson”). A year after
the death of her father, Anne married her husband, William Hutchinson, in 1612. Shortly after they
were married, William and Anne began traveling to hear the sermons of the Puritan preacher, John
Cotton. During this time, many Puritans were settling in Boston, Massachusetts due to exile. John
Cotton also decided to settle in Boston to begin ministering to those exiled. William and Anne
Hutchinson followed the minister, John Cotton, and settled in Massachusetts (“Anne Marbury
Hutchinson”). The move to Massachusetts set the stage for the beginning of Anne’s religious influence
on people.
1. Find a print or online source
2. Take Notes…indicate the source
3. Add the source to citefast.com
www.sgcmediacenter.weebly.com
Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL)
Digital Public Library of America
Google Scholar
What do I do if
citefast.com asks for the
date last updated or
published?
Argumentative writing requires the development
of both sides of an issue, offering several claims for one
side while acknowledging that there are valid
counterclaims from the opposition. Argumentative writing
is about giving the reader another perspective to
consider on a debatable topic and proving why
that position is the superior choice.
Argumentative Essay Outline
Introduction
-Focusing event, Quotation, Shocking statistic, Analogy, Personal statement
-Establish a personal connection
-Establish your writing voice: compassionate, aggressive, etc.
-Announce the thesis
Narration
-Explains the situation to the reader
-Background information, Definitions/key terms, History, Legal Precedents,
Public opinion polls/statistics
Confirmation
-Start with the strongest claim from your thesis, provide evidence, and elaborate
-Facts, Testimony, Examples
Refutation and Concession
-Explain counterclaim, refute it, and elaborate
Summation
-Look back at your narration and identify key information to show the reader
why your claim is the best.
-Include a statement that provides an emotional or ethical appeal to the reader.
Sources
http://www.pekinhigh.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Writing-Handbook-Revised-Sept-23-2013.pdf
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj/archives/writ102/sampleclassicalargument.htm (Sample Essay)
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/writersref6e/lmcontent/ch07/PDF/Hacker-Hammond-MLA-Arg.pdf
(Sample Essay in MLA Format)