Argumentative Writing

Elements of an Argumentative Essay  Introduction:  Attention-getter  Background Information  Thesis Statement  Supporting Paragraphs (6 or more)  Topic Sentence  Explanation  Evidential Support/ Quote  Explanation  Transition Sentences  Counterargument Paragraph  Acknowledge the “other side” and refute  Reassert Thesis  Conclusion  Re-state Thesis Statement  Answer “so what?”

INTRODUCTION  Get your reader’s attention  Introduce your topic  Mention the title and author of the work  Give a specific THESIS STATEMENT, telling the reader exactly WHAT you will discuss in the upcoming body paragraphs

Hook/Attention-Getters  DON’T begin by telling us what your paper is going to be about  DO think of an interesting and creative way to begin discussion  Try not to be cliché

People are no longer tethered to a cord, cable, or wire when they want to share information. Since the introduction of the Internet, strangers from around the world can communicate information and ideas instantly. The ability to communicate online, without face to face contact, has positively changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally. Attention-Getter Transition Sentence Thesis Statement

Thesis  One sentence statement  Focus of your argument  Must connect the “what” to “why/how” Example: The ability to communicate online without face to face contact has changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally.

Thesis Statements  Are clear, concise, and defined  Ask : What position am I taking? How can I prove my point?  Begin the structure of your argument  Organize your main claims  Consistently return to your thesis paper when writing your supporting paragraphs  Everything included should relate back to the thesis

Thesis: Please Note Example: The ability to communicate online, without face to face contact, has positively changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally. The essay based on the thesis listed above will prove how communication has improved due to the ability to use the Internet. The main body paragraphs will focus on the personal, professional, and global changes that have resulted from Internet communication.

The ability to communicate online, without face to face contact, has positively changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally. (remember, my argument is focusing on the positive changes– you have to have something to prove!)  Think of your thesis statement as an outline for your body paragraphs (in ascending order of importance)  Body Paragraph 1: personal communication  Body Paragraph 2: professional communication  Body Paragraph 3: global communication

SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS  Don’t merely report on your subject—Use evidence to support your claim  How do you decide what to quote?  Quotes with information in new and interesting ways  No need to quote the obvious or boring  Find quotes that support your thesis statement

Punctuating Quotes  Put quotation marks before and after the DIRECT quote (that means word for word)  In parenthesis, put the author’s name SPACE page number: (Smith 12).  The punctuating period goes LAST: “Blah blah blah Internet” (Smith 12).  If you do not have a page #, then it is just the author’s name in parenthesis.  If you do not have an author, it is an abbreviated version of the title in parenthesis.

Quotes Requirement  At least 6 QUALITY quotes from at least 4 SOURCES  Document correctly  List on the Works Cited page

Quote Explanations  No quote can stand alone. It is your job to weave the quotes into your argument.  Explain the quotes before and after you use them  If you can’t relate your quotes back to your thesis in your explanation, DON’T USE THEM  Your explanation isn’t a summary. It explains HOW the quote relates to your thesis  No quote can stand alone. You must embed it correctly and follow it with explanation.

Topic Sentence  A topic sentence indicates the MAIN IDEA of the paragraph. If you are discussing the improvement of personal communication since the Internet in your paragraph, mention personal communication and the Internet in your topic sentence.  People can connect instantly with others to develop relationships, gain assistance, and share information.  BAD=  This paragraph will…  The Internet allows people to communicate.  “People meet people on Facebook” (Smith 4).

Format for each body paragraph:  Topic Sentence  Explanation  Documented Quote  Explanation  Transition

Paraphrasing  Putting something into your own words  It is okay to paraphrase, especially when there is a dialogue exchange and you want to explain to get to one important quote

Body Paragraph  People can connect instantly with others to develop relationships, gain assistance, and share information. Proximity is no longer a boundary for social interaction. Family members “can communicate with each other regardless of the county, State, or country in which they live” which is especially helpful to those with family members serving in the military(Smith 16). The world becomes much smaller when communication is not limited by the ability for people to be present. The Internet allows communication with anyone for just the price of an Internet connection. Business professionals have also gained exposure and profit through the ability to compete outside their locale with an Internet presence. Topic Sentence Explanation Documented Quote Explanation Transition Sentence

Counterargument Paragraph  Acknowledge the opposing view  Refute the opposing argument  Reassert Thesis Statement Not all changes in communication brought about by the introduction of the Internet are positive. Predators have easy access to victims and identities can be disguised easily without face to face contact. Even so, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Law enforcement has also gained valuable tools through the Internet. Therefore, the impact of the Internet on communication is largely positive in terms of personal, professional, and global interaction. Opposing View Refutation Reasserted Thesis

CONCLUSION  Re-state the thesis, but not word for word  Take the idea one step further to come to a conclusion about theme, character, etc  Have a clincher statement. End on a powerful confident note  Hint: Good clinchers are often short: The impact of the Internet on communication is positive for humans on a social, professional, and world-wide level. People have the ability to maintain relationships, grow their businesses, and connect with those in places they have never traveled. The Internet has changed the way Americans communicate permanently and for the better. Re-state Thesis Clincher Statement Take idea further

Tone  Formal  Avoid slang  No contractions : DO NOT USE “DON’T”  Avoid words with little meaning: really, a lot, just, kind of, maybe, I think, I mean, like, well, stuff, things  3 rd person only  Present tense

Final Thoughts  Body Paragraphs:  Introduction with thesis  6 body paragraphs with quotes and explanations  Counterargument paragraph acknowledging opposing views  Conclusion re-stating thesis and ending with a clincher statement  3 rd person: no “I”, “we”, “us” or “you”  MLA format  Must contain at least 6correctly documented quotations  Must have a Works Cited page listing ONLY sources cited in the essay