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.

• 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...

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.

•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:

• 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”).

• 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.)

•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

• 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.