Argumentative Essay Writing & Research Created by: Megan Lowe ULM Reference Librarian

Session Overview  What Is It?  Examples  Getting Started  Research  Quotations & Citations  Q & A Time

What is an argumentative essay?  Is like a persuasive essay  Should present pros and cons of the issue  Should contain an argument  Should contain evidence or support for the issue (facts, statistics, anecdotal evidence)  Should concern a manageable topic Derived from the Bogazici University Writing Lab Bogazici University Writing LabBogazici University Writing Lab

Examples of Argumentative Topics  Selling marijuana in public places should be illegal *  Polygamy is a natural state, and should be legal *  Assisted suicide should be legal ¤  Animal testing should be illegal ¤  Graphic video games make kids aggressive and/or violent  Vistas is a better operating system than XP * From Bogazici University Writing Lab Bogazici University Writing LabBogazici University Writing Lab ¤ From Glendale Community College English Department Glendale Community College English DepartmentGlendale Community College English Department

Getting Started  Picking a topic Something of interest to you Something of interest to you Something interesting Something interesting Something controversial Something controversial Something argumentative Something argumentative  Getting organized Outlining your paper Outlining your paper Outlining your paper Outlining your paper Creating a keyword list Creating a keyword list Getting research Getting research

General Outline of a Paper  Introduction | Thesis statement Argument-evidence paragraph #1 Argument-evidence paragraph #1 Argument-evidence paragraph #2 Argument-evidence paragraph #2 Argument-evidence paragraph #3 Argument-evidence paragraph #3  Summary of Argument | Conclusion

Example Outline Thesis: Beans are a more healthy source of protein than beef. 1. Beans are fat-free. (Or, you can point out that beef is not fat-free) 2. Beans are low-sodium. (Or, you can point out that beef is not low-sodium) 3. Beans are cholesterol-free. (Or, you can point out that beef is not cholesterol-free) Conclusion: Based on the facts that they are fat-free, low- sodium, and cholesterol free, beans are definitely a more healthy source of protein than beef.

Research  Evidence for argumentative essays can be objective – like facts, statistics, and case studies – or anecdotal – your personal experiences  Objective evidence will require research – you can use sources like books, articles, websites, and even people!

Research  Books can be found using the Library’s online catalog.  Articles in magazines, newspapers, and journals can be found using the Library’s databases.  Good websites can be found using engines like Google and Ask

Keywords  Regardless of where you seek resources – books, articles, or websites – the best way to search for resources is keyword searching  Keywords represent the most important parts of your thesis statement or argument  Before you start searching, develop a list of keywords from your argument

Keywords: Example  Thesis: Beans are a more healthy source of protein than beef. Beans  legumes Beans  legumes Source Source Healthy – health Healthy – health Protein Protein Beef = red meat Beef = red meat Cholesterol Cholesterol You will combine them together using AND! Remember: you aren’t limited to the actual words from the thesis – use related words or alternate ideas! Also, look to your arguments for keywords, too – those are key ideas!

Quotations & Citations  Quotations: when you use text from a resource in your own writing  Citations: how you acknowledge resources you’ve used in your paper

Quotations Indirect Quotation: Some researchers note that "children are totally insensitive to their parent's shyness" (Zimbardo 62). Direct Quotation: Zimbardo notes that "children are totally insensitive to their parent's shyness" (62). Paraphrase: While not all children are, research has shown that some children are insensible to the introversion or timidity of their parent or parents (Zimbardo 62). Indirect Quotation: Some researchers note that "children are totally insensitive to their parent's shyness" (Zimbardo 62). Direct Quotation: Zimbardo notes that "children are totally insensitive to their parent's shyness" (62). Paraphrase: While not all children are, research has shown that some children are insensible to the introversion or timidity of their parent or parents (Zimbardo 62).

Citations  Book Langland, William. Piers the Ploughman. Baltimore: Penguin Books, Ltd., Baltimore: Penguin Books, Ltd.,  Journal article Thibodeau, P.L., and S.J. Melamut. "Ergonomics in the Electronic Library." Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 83.3 (July 1995):

Citations  Journal article from a database Becker, Karen. "The Characteristics of Bibliographic Instruction in Relation to the Causes and Symptoms of Burnout." RQ 32.3 (Spring 1993): EBSCO ERIC. ULM University Library, Monroe, LA. 19 May

Citations  Website Lowe, Megan. “Citations Guide: MLA Style.” Megan ULM. 8 June University of Louisiana at Monroe. 12 June  Remember: citations are important for two reasons They allow you to give credit where credit is due, which keeps you from plagiarism and cheating charges They allow you to give credit where credit is due, which keeps you from plagiarism and cheating charges Allows readers to retrace your research steps and look at the actual resources you used Allows readers to retrace your research steps and look at the actual resources you used

Question & Answer Time

Argumentative Essay FYI  Presentation  Sites Consulted for Presentation Bogacizi University Writing Center Bogacizi University Writing Center Glendale Community College English Dept. Glendale Community College English Dept.  Don’t forget: the OWL at Purdue! OWL at PurdueOWL at Purdue  My Contact Info