English Composition I Argument Essay
PURPOSE: Refer pages 67-85 of your Hacker text. This paper will present YOUR side of an issue. There is an example of an argument paper on pages 74-76 of your Hacker text.
TOPIC: Your topic must be approved by me.
SOURCES: Next you must locate information from a minimum of three sources about your topic; you must have information which supports the opposition’s stand as well as information which supports your stand. ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT COMES FROM YOUR SOURCES, NOT FROM YOUR PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW.
POINT OF VIEW: Use third person point of view for your argument. Your tone in this argumentative essay should be formal and serious.
AUDIENCE: Your audience will be a person of your own age who tends to disagree with your stand on this issue. Anticipate that your reader will ask questions like: Why should I change my mind? Can you prove it? Why should I do it?
THESIS STATEMENT: Include the word (s) must/must not or should/should not in your thesis sentence to produce a firm statement about your side of the issue. The thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introduction. The thesis statement must have a should/should not or must/must not in it to make it a thesis statement appropriate for a formal argument.
INTRODUCTION: Explain why the topic is controversial. Give any needed background information and definitions. The introduction needs to be one paragraph long. The last sentence in the introduction is to be your thesis statement.
BODY: The first body paragraph is to present information from an opposing viewpoint. Begin the paragraph with an appropriate transition; alert your audience that these points are from an opposing view. The second body paragraph begins your argument. The third body paragraph will be an emotional appeal to the audience. You will have a total of 3 body paragraphs. Which means, this paper will have a total of five paragraphs only.
CONCLUSION: Staying in third person, suggest what the audience can do to help make what you are suggesting happen. Be sure to restate the thesis.
WORKS CITED PAGE: Follow MLA Format. Review the MLA section in your Hacker text.
QUOTES: You will need a minimum of 3 quotes in your paper. You will also have to document where you got those quotes. This means you will be using MLA to cite your sources within the paper. This is called PARENTHETICAL DOCUMENTATION
TITLE: The title of your argumentative essay should clearly indicate your stand.
Point Value: 50
Due Date: April 5 by 11:55 pm via Moodle or April 4 in class as a hard-copy.
