Argumentative Argumentative Writing and ResearchWriting and Research

February 18, 2008February 18, 2008

RemindersReminders

Essay Two due today!!Essay Two due today!! Arguments GPAW due today!!!Arguments GPAW due today!!! Next GPAW coming up: Summary, Next GPAW coming up: Summary,

Quote, Paraphrase due Monday 25Quote, Paraphrase due Monday 25thth

Rough draft Essay Three due this Wed!!Rough draft Essay Three due this Wed!! Final copy due Wed. 27 and Final copy due Wed. 27 and

presentation (we’ll talk more about this presentation (we’ll talk more about this on Wed).on Wed).

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Writing promptWriting prompt Discuss argumentative writingDiscuss argumentative writing Understanding how to conduct Understanding how to conduct

researchresearch MLAMLA PlagiarismPlagiarism

Writing PromptWriting PromptThis is process work– Don’t lose!!This is process work– Don’t lose!!

Where do you go to find Where do you go to find

credible sources about the credible sources about the

world around you? What world around you? What

resources do you rely on resources do you rely on

daily to further your daily to further your

knowledge of the world?knowledge of the world?

Structuring Your Structuring Your ArgumentArgument

Learning how to organize your Learning how to organize your thoughtsthoughts

Argumentative WritingArgumentative Writing

Introduction of essayIntroduction of essay– Set up and introduce your topic and any necessary Set up and introduce your topic and any necessary

background informationbackground information– State your argument clearlyState your argument clearly

Body of essayBody of essay– Each paragraph should focus on one central subtopic Each paragraph should focus on one central subtopic

or piece of evidenceor piece of evidence– Evidence should be set up clearly and followed up by Evidence should be set up clearly and followed up by

explanationexplanation Conclusion of essayConclusion of essay

– You can take the conclusion in many different waysYou can take the conclusion in many different ways– You can request change, more research to be done on You can request change, more research to be done on

the issue, what the future will be like.the issue, what the future will be like.– Avoid simply summarizing your entire paper—try to Avoid simply summarizing your entire paper—try to

lead the conclusion into the next direction.lead the conclusion into the next direction.

Body of EssayBody of Essay

The heart of your essay will be the The heart of your essay will be the middle sections (or body paragraphs).middle sections (or body paragraphs).

You must provide evidence in this area You must provide evidence in this area to support your argument.to support your argument.

Basic structure: Basic structure: – Set up your piece of evidenceSet up your piece of evidence– Provide the piece of evidence using Provide the piece of evidence using

MLAMLA– Then warrant the piece of evidence.Then warrant the piece of evidence.

Let’s look at an effective and Let’s look at an effective and ineffective example…ineffective example…

Body of EssayBody of Essay

Good example: Good example: – Many historians believe early American life is Many historians believe early American life is

misrepresented in today’s current texts. James misrepresented in today’s current texts. James Baker, a historian at University of Michigan, Baker, a historian at University of Michigan, claims “there is no proof that what took place claims “there is no proof that what took place years ago holds any relevance in today’s years ago holds any relevance in today’s literature,” (Baker 25). Baker’s comment literature,” (Baker 25). Baker’s comment suggests that history may not be as well suggests that history may not be as well documented as Americans believe. Additionally, documented as Americans believe. Additionally, Baker’s suggestion leads to further areas of Baker’s suggestion leads to further areas of question such as how much of the truth do we question such as how much of the truth do we hold and how can we fill in the gaps of missing hold and how can we fill in the gaps of missing history? Though there are no easy answers to history? Though there are no easy answers to the above questions, they must be addressed in the above questions, they must be addressed in order to successfully understand our past.order to successfully understand our past.

Body of EssayBody of Essay

Bad example:Bad example:

– ““There is no proof that what There is no proof that what took place years ago holds took place years ago holds any relevance in today’s any relevance in today’s literature,” (Baker 25). If literature,” (Baker 25). If this is true, then we won’t this is true, then we won’t ever know the truth.ever know the truth.

Examine Argumentative Examine Argumentative WritingWriting

This is process work—Don’t lose!!!This is process work—Don’t lose!!!

Take a few moments to read the Take a few moments to read the sample essay on page 456 “Life sample essay on page 456 “Life Without Health Insurance.”Without Health Insurance.”

When you are done please write your When you are done please write your answers individually to the following answers individually to the following questions:questions:– What is the author’s thesis or argument?What is the author’s thesis or argument?– What evidence does the author use to What evidence does the author use to

support her position?support her position?– How does the author connect the evidence How does the author connect the evidence

to her argument?to her argument?

Conducting ResearchConducting ResearchWhere to go, What to look forWhere to go, What to look for

Chapters 15-22 in your text provide the Chapters 15-22 in your text provide the basics on research—Use this as a basics on research—Use this as a

guide!guide!

ResearchResearch

For this assignment you may:For this assignment you may:– Go to the library and research books Go to the library and research books

on your topicon your topic– Search the databases of the library for Search the databases of the library for

journal articlesjournal articles– Search the internet for CREDIBLE Search the internet for CREDIBLE

sourcessources– Interview an expertInterview an expert– Document a television broadcast, Document a television broadcast,

movie or radio clipmovie or radio clip

Internet ReliabilityInternet Reliability

Determining if an online source is credible or not can be tricky. Determining if an online source is credible or not can be tricky. Use the criteria provided on page 576 of your textbook to Use the criteria provided on page 576 of your textbook to determine if your source is credible:determine if your source is credible:– Source:Source: Where does the website come from? Is it a .gov Where does the website come from? Is it a .gov

or .edu website? If so, these are generally more reliable than or .edu website? If so, these are generally more reliable than a .coma .com

– Author:Author: Who is writing the information? Do a quick Google Who is writing the information? Do a quick Google search on the author to learn their credentials.search on the author to learn their credentials.

– Timeliness:Timeliness: When was the site last updated? The more When was the site last updated? The more current the information, the better. You wouldn’t want to cite current the information, the better. You wouldn’t want to cite something published 10 years ago if you are writing about the something published 10 years ago if you are writing about the current state of an issue.current state of an issue.

– Biases:Biases: What biases exist on the webpage? Some will state What biases exist on the webpage? Some will state their position clearly, others will layer their position with their position clearly, others will layer their position with statistics and citations. Always double check the author, statistics and citations. Always double check the author, source and links to determine credibility.source and links to determine credibility.

– Advertising:Advertising: Many websites are loaded with Ads and though Many websites are loaded with Ads and though they may provide you with some information they are no they may provide you with some information they are no more trustworthy than other forms of advertising.more trustworthy than other forms of advertising.

Internet SearchInternet Search

Where to get started: Google Where to get started: Google ScholarScholar

– Begin internet search with Google Begin internet search with Google Scholar (Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/http://scholar.google.com/))

– This will automatically eliminate any This will automatically eliminate any sources that are not crediblesources that are not credible

– Google scholar only searches books, Google scholar only searches books, academic articles and other reliable academic articles and other reliable sourcessources

What type of evidence do What type of evidence do you need?you need?

This is process work—Don’t lose!!This is process work—Don’t lose!!

Take a few moments and free Take a few moments and free write on what type of evidence write on what type of evidence you will need to find to support you will need to find to support your argument. How will you find your argument. How will you find these pieces of evidence?these pieces of evidence?

Now that you understand where to Now that you understand where to go to find information, now we go to find information, now we need to learn how to give credit need to learn how to give credit to these sources…to these sources…

Through MLAThrough MLA

MLA: Modern MLA: Modern Language AssociationLanguage Association

Chapter 21 in Writing: A Guide for Chapter 21 in Writing: A Guide for College and beyondCollege and beyond

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)– http://owl.english.purdue.edu/http://owl.english.purdue.edu/– Or Google the word OWLOr Google the word OWL

Citing SourcesCiting SourcesUnderstanding MLAUnderstanding MLA

– Used for humanities and fine artsUsed for humanities and fine arts– Requires you to give credit to your outside Requires you to give credit to your outside

sources through parenthetical citations sources through parenthetical citations (otherwise known as in-text citations)(otherwise known as in-text citations)

– *There are different ways of doing this *There are different ways of doing this depending upon what type of source you are depending upon what type of source you are using*using*

– Requires a Works Cited page in which you list Requires a Works Cited page in which you list all of your outside sources used in your paperall of your outside sources used in your paper

Parenthetical CitationsParenthetical Citations

In MLA style, referring to the works of others in In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what's known as your text is done by using what's known as parenthetical citation. parenthetical citation.

Immediately following a quotation from a source Immediately following a quotation from a source or a paraphrase of a source's ideas, you place or a paraphrase of a source's ideas, you place the author's name followed by a space and the the author's name followed by a space and the relevant page number(s).relevant page number(s).

Example: Human beings have been described as Example: Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3)."symbol-using animals" (Burke 3).

When a source has no known author, use a When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work, or italicize or underline it if it's a short work, or italicize or underline it if it's a longer work. longer work.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

According to MLA style, you must have a Works According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. Cited page at the end of your research paper.

All entries in the Works Cited page must All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main correspond to the works cited in your main text. text.

Your in-text citation will correspond with an Your in-text citation will correspond with an entry in your Works Cited page, which, for the entry in your Works Cited page, which, for the Burke citation on the previous slide, will look Burke citation on the previous slide, will look something like this:something like this:– Burke, Kenneth. Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Language as Symbolic Action:

Essays on Life, Literature, and MethodEssays on Life, Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of . Berkeley: U of California P, 1966.California P, 1966.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. end of your research paper.

Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page. the words Works Cited at the top of the page.

Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries. entries.

List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as 225-50. page as 225-50.

If you're citing an article or a publication that was If you're citing an article or a publication that was originally issued in print form but that you retrieved from originally issued in print form but that you retrieved from an online database, you should provide enough an online database, you should provide enough information so that the reader can locate the article either information so that the reader can locate the article either in its original print form or retrieve it from the online in its original print form or retrieve it from the online database (if they have access). database (if they have access).

Practicing MLAPracticing MLA

Get out your computer and log on to the Get out your computer and log on to the Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue Online Writing Lab http://http://owl.english.purdue.eduowl.english.purdue.edu//

Click on the MLA Formatting and Style Guide Click on the MLA Formatting and Style Guide found in the box on the right titled Most found in the box on the right titled Most Popular Resources. This will take you directly Popular Resources. This will take you directly to the MLA pages.to the MLA pages.

Scroll down to the very bottom of the screen Scroll down to the very bottom of the screen until you reach a gray box numbered 1-14. until you reach a gray box numbered 1-14. THIS WILL BE YOUR MOST USEFUL RESOURCE!THIS WILL BE YOUR MOST USEFUL RESOURCE!

Both basic and specific information can be Both basic and specific information can be found here about citing ANY type of sourcefound here about citing ANY type of source

Practice MLAPractice MLAThis is process work—don’t This is process work—don’t

lose!!!lose!!! Activity:Activity:

– Using your text and the OWL website create Using your text and the OWL website create a works cited page with your textbook a works cited page with your textbook Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond and one website of your choice.and one website of your choice.

– You should have TWO entries on this works You should have TWO entries on this works cited page (textbook and internet source)cited page (textbook and internet source)

– You can handwrite this or type and print if You can handwrite this or type and print if off but you MUST include a copy of this in off but you MUST include a copy of this in your Essay Three folder to earn all process your Essay Three folder to earn all process work points.work points.

HomeworkHomework

Please read Chapters 16 and 17 in Writing: Please read Chapters 16 and 17 in Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond. This will A Guide for College and Beyond. This will help you locate your sources for Essay help you locate your sources for Essay ThreeThree

Write your rough draft for Essay Three Write your rough draft for Essay Three including at least ONE source. Your draft including at least ONE source. Your draft should be a minimum of TWO pagesshould be a minimum of TWO pages

If you do not have a draft or miss class on If you do not have a draft or miss class on Wed. you will lose 15 points from your Wed. you will lose 15 points from your final essay grade. final essay grade. Be here and be Be here and be prepared!!!prepared!!!