JRP – Draft 2

Step 1: Following the Outline

Use the outline to help you see the big picture before you begin drafting. This helps you establish a logical organization to your essay.

Remember the structure: *Subtopic 1: (Why you are interested in the

subject OR clarify the controversy to the reader):

Subtopic 2: (Support your side 2): Subtopic 3: (Support your side 3): Subtopic 4: (Support your side 1): Subtopic 5: (Rebuttal): Subtopic 6: (Warrants and Qualifier)* = optional

Step 2: Develop a Clear Thesis The thesis is the overriding statement that presents a

position on debate within your topic. Thesis needs to include topic and position on

debate. Thesis will either be SHOULD or SHOULD NOT

statement, or SUPPORT or DO NOT SUPPORT statement.

Example:-Teachers should not be evaluated based upon their students’ scores on standardized tests.-I support that teachers should be evaluated by how well their students perform on standardized tests.

Good/Bad Theses Good – Well Grounded: includes topic, key terms that need be

investigated, and is not too factual, too narrow, too broad, or too opinionated.

Example: Physical Education should be instructed at elementary, middle school, and high school to instruct students how to eat nutritiously and stay fit.

Bad: Too Factual: Physical Education is taught in the public schools. Too Narrow: Physical Education should be taught to pre-school

children in South Kent, between the hours 1-3 PM to keep them fit, unless it is raining on every other Tuesday during the months of February – April.

Too Broad: Exercise should be instructed throughout the world. Too Opinionated: Physical Education is good for your health.

Step 3: The Citation Sandwich

Develop a Clear Topic SentenceTopic sentences discuss what each body

paragraph is about. Like a thesis, your topic sentences guide

each paragraph.EXAMPLE:Claim: Computer programmers should

work as a team.Topic Sentence/Subtopic: In order to

work in a team setting, it is important that computer programmers have good interpersonal skills.

Use Evidence with In-Text CitationsOnce you have developed your

topic sentence, you need evidence to support your claims.

Tag your sources in your annotated bibliography and apply them to your subtopics to ground your claims.

How to do an In-Text CitationThere are two ways to weave in an in-text

citation in your essay.1. Summarize the evidence:EX: According to the Microsoft Corporation, 90%

of their computer programmers work in a team setting (www.microsoft.com).

2. Include an excerpt of a quote in a sentence:EX: According to the Microsoft Corporation, “as

of 2001 90% of Microsoft computer programmers work in a team setting” (www.microsoft.com).

What if I use the same source multiple times?If you use a citation in a paragraph

multiple times, you only need to cite it once.

However, if you cite the same source multiple times in different paragraphs, you need to cite it once in each paragraph.

What’s the difference between an in-text citation and a works cited citation? In-Text Citation: A citation you see within the essay. In-Text

Citations mention the webpage or author and page number in parenthesis at the end of a sentence.

EX: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the next ten years 75% of Special Education teachers will retire in the State of Washington (www.bls.gov).

Works Cited Citation: The complete MLA Citation you see in your Works Cited Page in the back of your essay.

EX: Bernstein, Mark. "10 Tips on Writing The Living Web." A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites. No. 149 (16 Aug. 2002). 4 May 2006 <http://alistapart.com/articles/writeliving>.

*Remember, each source in your works cited page must be cited at least once!

Citation Sandwich1. Set-Up: Explain what the evidence is

about and how it relates to your topic sentence.

2. Quote/Evidence: The evidence you are actually using with an in-text citation.

3. Analysis: Explain how this evidence should help persuade your reader to your side of the debate.

Use Transitions between paragraphs

Transitions help you connect paragraphs together.

In a persuasive essay it is essential you use good transitions or you will loose the reader.

Transition Words:-In addition –Similarly –Besides -Like –In Comparison –In Contrast-On the other hand…*Check Mr. Sun-K’s website for a list of

more transition words.

Other Side and Rebuttal Must include a Body Paragraph including

a reliable source and the other side. In your Rebuttal, address the following:-Warrants: assumptions being addressed by the other side.-Qualifier: Using phrases like “In most cases,” “In general” this is false because…

Optional Paragraph To gain ethos, consider including an

optional 1st body paragraph addressing the following:

Terms: defining terminology associated with topic/issue.

Background Info: give background issue about topic/issue to clueless reader.

Personal Interest: why are you interested/invested in this topic?

MLA Issues

Structure of Body Paragraph breakdown Topic Sentence (States the main objective of the paragraph):In western states today, the mountain lion is no longer in danger of

extinction. Citation Sandwich:-Set-Up Evidence (context of why you are using the evidence)

In fact, over the past thirty years, the population has rebounded dramatically.

-Cite Evidence (Evidence you are using to support your thesis): In California, fish and game officials estimate that since 1972 lion numbers have increased from 2,400 to at least 6,000 (Baker, 27).

-Analyze Evidence (How does evidence tie to your thesis?): This is significant because it demonstrates with the help of endangered species laws, governments can help maintain its natural resources.

Transition (Connects Paragraphs together): Similar increases are occurring outside of California, such as in

Montana.

Common Citations-Website: Simple URL: www.encarta.com.-Website with Author: Author, Title of Article, Source obtained: Jackson. “Feminism.” In Encyclopædia Britannica online. -Book: Author and page #: Sun-Kleinberger 24.-Video: Speaker, Title, Website, and Date Uploaded: Obama, Barack. "We Have a Lot of Work to Do." Speech. 2 Nov. 2008. YouTube. 23 June 2009. -Interview/Job Shadow: Interviewee’s last name and date interviewed. Sun-Kleinberger June 30th, 2011.

Common MLA Errors “Quote” (Citation).“Quote?!” (Citation). Heading: Heading goes on page one. Include a Header on all

pages. In-Text Citations: Citations within the essay itself. You should

have one citation per body paragraph Works Cited Citations: Entire MLA information listed in the

back of your essay with sources alphabetized. ALL sources referenced in your essay must be listed in your Works Cited page.

Please Note: Works Cited Page must be in hanging format. Titles: -Books: Underline -Essays/TV Shows/Poems/Songs: “Quotation Marks”

-Films: Italics.

MLA Format Example

Hanging Format in Works Cited Page

 Communication Assn., 1993. ERIC Document Reproduction

Fuss-Reineck, Marilyn. Sibling Communication in Star Trek: The Next

Generation: Conflicts between Brothers. Miami: Speech

Sample 1st Page using MLA Format

Draft 2 Format 4-6 Pages 6-8 Sources 6-8 in-text citations Works Cited Page 2/3/1 Format Other Side (Rebuttal) Include Warrants and Qualifiers Times New Roman, 12 point font Double Spaced MLA Format (Header/Heading)

Any Questions?

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