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The Argumentative Essay

Learn how to craft a compelling argumentative essay with expert tips on forming a strong thesis, supporting points, and countering arguments effectively.

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The Argumentative Essay

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  1. The Argumentative Essay A research experience

  2. What to Write • Anything is possible! As long as people could (and do) disagree with you. • Also, you must know enough about your subject. • Remember, writing about specialized knowledge, requires specialized information.

  3. What’s an opinion? • An opinion is a belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge. • If you can prove beyond all reasonable doubt that it is true, it is not an opinion; it is a fact. • Opinions are interesting if a substantial number of people disagree with your views on a subject. • The stronger the opposition, the hotter the argument – and the greater the interest.

  4. What is a Thesis? • A thesis of your essay is your opinion boiled down to one arguable statement. • Everything else in the essay depends on your thesis. • The purpose of your essay is to explain and clarify and defend your thesis – persuade the reader of its truth. • It is one sentence -- which is NOT a question. • A thesis doesn’t use “I” or “my.”

  5. A Thesis • Shouldn’t be too general • Capital Punishment is good. • Shouldn’t be too emotional • Capital Punishment rids our streets of worthless criminals. • Shouldn’t be an overstatement • Capital Punishment is the only way to solve the crime problem. Use qualifiers (best, most, frequently) to limit your thesis to exactly the area you choose to defend, making it precise and reasonable.

  6. Full and Final Thesis • A Full and Final Thesis contains: • Thesis • Pro Points -- Points that can be made in favor of your thesis • Con Points -- Points that can be made against your thesis

  7. Full and Final Thesis Thesis: I should be allowed to go to Florida over Spring Break with my friends. Pro Con • I’ve never gotten into trouble before. • I’ll be in college soon and be able to do what I want. • You should trust me. • All of my friends are going. • Other people will be drinking. • I trust you, but I don’t trust everyone else. • When you are in college, you can do what you want, but now you must follow my rules. Refute (v): to prove that a statement or idea is incorrect CIRCLE STRONGEST CON & PRO

  8. Full and Final Thesis Thesis: Capital Punishment should be illegal in the United States. Pro Con • No direct relationship between crime and punishment. • Judicial system is biased. • Immoral to take a life. • Keeps people from their right to due process. • Deterrent to crime • People who kill deserve to die • Overcrowding in prisons. CIRCLE STRONGEST CON & PRO

  9. Possible topics • Dress codes in school • School hours • Censorship in TV, movies, music, etc • Alternate fuel sources/ fuel efficient cars • Stem cell research • Gay rights (marriage, adoption, military) • Drinking Age • Welfare Reform • Sex Education • War in Iraq/Afghanistan • Health Insurance • Public Unions • Gun Control • Global Warming • Animal testing • Vegetarianism • Year round school • Torturing prisoners • Economic Bailouts • Healthy school food/fast food • Recycling • Morning after pill • Title 9 • Nuclear Power • Violent video games • Rap/ Heavy Metal’s influence • Women in Combat • Cloning • Minimum Wage • Homework • Pornography • Prostitution • College Football Playoffs • Images in advertising • Drilling for oil • Aid to foreign countries

  10. Research – Note cards • When reading/researching for a paper, most people use note cards to record and organize their information. • Note cards allow people to organize research by subtopics. • Each card contains ONE piece of information. • Cards can be written by hand or electronically using Noodle Tools.

  11. Works Cited cards Works Cited Cards • For each source used, write a Works Cited card. • The card should include the EXACT MLA citation for the source as it would appear on your Works Cited page. • See MLA handouts for proper format. Heiger, Heidi. The Behavior of Animals in the Zoo. New York: Dover, 1999. Print.

  12. Informational Cards Note cards with a quotation • subject heading • direct quotation with quotation marks • author (If no author’s given, record the title of the article.) • page number Note cards with a summary • subject heading • Paraphrased/summarized information • author (If no author’s given, record the title of the article.) • page number Animals always alert “The wild animal, with its marked tendency to escape, is notorious for the fact that it is never completely released from that all-important activity, avoiding enemies.” Hediger 25 Animals always alert Animals who live in the wild have to be on the watch for predators constantly. Hediger 25

  13. Note Cards •Each informational card should have ONE piece of information. •Create one works cited card for each source. •You must have 10 informational cards. •You must have 3 works cited cards. •THAT’S 13 CARDS TOTAL!

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