Warm Up

1. Warm Up Pick up the grammar warm up and complete it. You have 5 mintues.

2. Comma or no comma • Fused sentences (AKA run-on sentences) are two independent clauses smashed together with no punctuation. • Incorrect grammar • Comma splices are two independent clauses combined using a comma. • STILL incorrect grammar!! • Two independent clauses must use a comma AND conjunction to be combined. • Otherwise, use a period or semicolon (if you know how)

3. Writing the Argument Essay: Constructing a Thesis ENGLISH 1301

4. The Position • An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

5. Argumentative Thesis Statement • Example: High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness. • The paper that follows should: • Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

6. Your goals • Write an argument to convince the audience concerning the nature of happiness • Develop a statement that reflects your argument • Construct at least three crucial points to prove your argument • Offer examples, details, facts, anecdotes (but watch the use of “I”), etc. • Ultimately, your audience should be convinced that you understand something profound about the nature of happiness.

7. Is this thesis good or bad? • The state of happiness is subjective. • Happiness is subjective and is not easily described since it may vary as a result of numerous factors, among them culture and social class. • I believe happiness is subjective and based on numerous factors. • Happiness is getting what you want because that makes everyone feel better. • It is important that one understand that happiness is subjective, based on ever-changing ideas and circumstances.

8. Thesis Checklist • Did I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. • Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument. • Is my thesis statement specific enough? Avoid making broad, general statements.