Persuasive Synthesis Essay A Guide to writing
Your essay is a response to this question: In your opinion, how much control should the government exercise over an individual’s rights regarding vaccines?
Sources TOTAL AMOUNT = 4 SOURCES Required: 1 current event from a credible news source that relates to the topic for your opener. 3 outside sources in the body ¶s. Module packet List: Pg. 9 “Mom of Teen Not Vaccinated” Pg. 15 excerpts from The Supreme Court decision of Jacobson v. Massachusetts Pg. 21 “Government Vaccines—Bad Policy, Bad Medicine” by Ron Paul Pg. 25 “On Immunity” by Eula Biss Pg. 30 “The Speckled Monster” by jennermuseum.com Pg. 35 “Measles: A Dangerous Illness” by Roald Dahl Pg. 39 “ Mandatory Vaccination is Not the Answer to the Measles” by Bob Sears PBS Frontline documentary: “The Vaccine War” infographics in The College Board Module: NIH, WHO, Gillray’s satrical cartoon TOTAL AMOUNT = 4 SOURCES
Must cite your sources, so record publishing information Additional sources For current events news stories or for more evidence, go to… National Public Radio (NPR): https://www.npr.org/ ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/ New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com Center for Disease Control (supports vaccines) https://www.cdc.gov/ American Academy of Pediatrics (supports vaccines) https://www.aap.org/ National Vaccine Information Center (questions vaccines) https://www.nvic.org/ Must cite your sources, so record publishing information
3-PART INTRODUCTION Opener: Start with a current event connected to the topic. Connecting sentence(s): Overview of the topic and objective description of the multiple viewpoints of this debate. Thesis statement: Answer the question on Slide 2.
Help with Introduction Connecting Sentence Stems: In discussions of ______________, one controversial issue has been _______________. Many maintain that _______________, while others maintain ____________. On the one hand, _________________ argues. On the other hand, _____________ contends ________________. Thesis Statement Stem: My own opinion is _________________, because _______________.
3 BODY PARAGRAPHS 1 Paragraph (with 2 sources) Important Order: You determine logical order for paragraphing. One idea should feed into the next. Evidence: apply at least 3 different sources in the body paragraphs. In-text citations! 1 Paragraph (with 2 sources) 1main idea that supports the thesis 1quote from an outside source to support this ¶’s idea 1 paraphrasing/summarizing from an 2nd outside source 1 Paragraph (with 1 source) 2nd main idea that is mutually exclusive from the other main idea 1 Paragraph (addressing/attacking counterclaim) TACTIC: Directly refute a specific source “Call out” an author, expert, spokesperson, or entity on the opposite team of the paragraph: Why are they inaccurate, illogical, untrustworthy, or unethical? Use logic and/or evidence to directly disprove them. 1 quote and/or paraphrasing/summarizing the “ source you are directly refuted Feel free to add empirical or anecdotal evidence from a source to support your viewpoint
5-sentence Conclusion Restate your thesis Create a comparison to add logic: Think of another instance where the government can or cannot regulate citizens according to the constitution “Similarly, if the supreme court rules that the government can ______________________________, then _____________________. “In comparison, if it is unconstitutional for the government to ____________________________, then _______________________. Evaluate: Answer the reader’s “So What?” question. Why is this issue important? Create your own unique call to action based on your essay. End on a zinger
FormaT MLA: Proper header Title: Catchy and headline-worthy 12-size font Calibri or Times New Roman Double Space Entire Document Indent paragraphs Intext citations w/ author’s last name and page number or website Blended quotations that are grammatically correct Works Cited Page according to MLA guidelines
IN-Text Citations Use in-text citations for quotations and citations In-text citation should follow directly after the quote. In-text citations should match with the Works Cited Page. Candy confesses to George and Lennie that he “should have shot that dog” (Steinbeck 27) himself, and further notes that he regrets allowing a stranger to do it.
Citing module packet
Citing web sources