Argumentative Writing and Research February 18, 2008

Reminders Essay Two due today!! Essay Two due today!! Arguments GPAW due today!!! Arguments GPAW due today!!! Next GPAW coming up: Summary, Quote, Paraphrase due Monday 25 th Next GPAW coming up: Summary, Quote, Paraphrase due Monday 25 th Rough draft Essay Three due this Wed!! Rough draft Essay Three due this Wed!! Final copy due Wed. 27 and presentation (we’ll talk more about this on Wed). Final copy due Wed. 27 and presentation (we’ll talk more about this on Wed).

Today’s Agenda Writing prompt Writing prompt Discuss argumentative writing Discuss argumentative writing Understanding how to conduct research Understanding how to conduct research MLA MLA Plagiarism Plagiarism

Writing Prompt This is process work– Don’t lose!! Where do you go to find Where do you go to find credible sources about the world around you? What resources do you rely on daily to further your knowledge of the world?

Structuring Your Argument Learning how to organize your thoughts

Argumentative Writing Introduction of essay Introduction of essay –Set up and introduce your topic and any necessary background information –State your argument clearly Body of essay Body of essay –Each paragraph should focus on one central subtopic or piece of evidence –Evidence should be set up clearly and followed up by explanation Conclusion of essay Conclusion of essay –You can take the conclusion in many different ways –You can request change, more research to be done on the issue, what the future will be like. –Avoid simply summarizing your entire paper—try to lead the conclusion into the next direction.

Body of Essay The heart of your essay will be the middle sections (or body paragraphs). The heart of your essay will be the middle sections (or body paragraphs). You must provide evidence in this area to support your argument. You must provide evidence in this area to support your argument. Basic structure: Basic structure: –Set up your piece of evidence –Provide the piece of evidence using MLA –Then warrant the piece of evidence. Let’s look at an effective and ineffective example… Let’s look at an effective and ineffective example…

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

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

Examine Argumentative Writing This is process work—Don’t lose!!! Take a few moments to read the sample essay on page 456 “Life Without Health Insurance.” Take a few moments to read the sample essay on page 456 “Life Without Health Insurance.” When you are done please write your answers individually to the following questions: When you are done please write your answers individually to the following questions: –What is the author’s thesis or argument? –What evidence does the author use to support her position? –How does the author connect the evidence to her argument?

Conducting Research Where to go, What to look for Chapters in your text provide the basics on research—Use this as a guide!

Research For this assignment you may: For this assignment you may: –Go to the library and research books on your topic –Search the databases of the library for journal articles –Search the internet for CREDIBLE sources –Interview an expert –Document a television broadcast, movie or radio clip

Internet Reliability Determining if an online source is credible or not can be tricky. Use the criteria provided on page 576 of your textbook to determine if your source is credible: Determining if an online source is credible or not can be tricky. Use the criteria provided on page 576 of your textbook to determine if your source is credible: –Source: Where does the website come from? Is it a.gov or.edu website? If so, these are generally more reliable than a.com –Author: Who is writing the information? Do a quick Google search on the author to learn their credentials. –Timeliness: When was the site last updated? The more current the information, the better. You wouldn’t want to cite something published 10 years ago if you are writing about the current state of an issue. –Biases: What biases exist on the webpage? Some will state their position clearly, others will layer their position with statistics and citations. Always double check the author, source and links to determine credibility. –Advertising: Many websites are loaded with Ads and though they may provide you with some information they are no more trustworthy than other forms of advertising.

Internet Search Where to get started: Google Scholar –Begin internet search with Google Scholar ( –This will automatically eliminate any sources that are not credible –Google scholar only searches books, academic articles and other reliable sources

What type of evidence do you need? This is process work—Don’t lose!! Take a few moments and free write on what type of evidence you will need to find to support your argument. How will you find these pieces of evidence? Take a few moments and free write on what type of evidence you will need to find to support your argument. How will you find these pieces of evidence?

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

MLA: Modern Language Association Chapter 21 in Writing: A Guide for College and beyond Chapter 21 in Writing: A Guide for College and beyond Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) – –Or Google the word OWL

Citing Sources Understanding MLA –Used for humanities and fine arts –Requires you to give credit to your outside sources through parenthetical citations (otherwise known as in-text citations) –*There are different ways of doing this depending upon what type of source you are using* –Requires a Works Cited page in which you list all of your outside sources used in your paper

Parenthetical Citations In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what's known as parenthetical citation. In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what's known as parenthetical citation. Immediately following a quotation from a source or a paraphrase of a source's ideas, you place the author's name followed by a space and the relevant page number(s). Immediately following a quotation from a source or a paraphrase of a source's ideas, you place the author's name followed by a space and the relevant page number(s). Example: Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). Example: Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work, or italicize or underline it if it's a longer work. When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work, or italicize or underline it if it's a longer work.

Works Cited Page According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text. All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text. Your in-text citation will correspond with an entry in your Works Cited page, which, for the Burke citation on the previous slide, will look something like this: Your in-text citation will correspond with an entry in your Works Cited page, which, for the Burke citation on the previous slide, will look something like this: –Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P, 1966.

Works Cited Page Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page. Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page. Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries. Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries. List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as If you're citing an article or a publication that was originally issued in print form but that you retrieved from an online database, you should provide enough information so that the reader can locate the article either in its original print form or retrieve it from the online database (if they have access). If you're citing an article or a publication that was originally issued in print form but that you retrieved from an online database, you should provide enough information so that the reader can locate the article either in its original print form or retrieve it from the online database (if they have access).

Practicing MLA Get out your computer and log on to the Purdue Online Writing Lab Get out your computer and log on to the Purdue Online Writing Lab Click on the MLA Formatting and Style Guide found in the box on the right titled Most Popular Resources. This will take you directly to the MLA pages. Click on the MLA Formatting and Style Guide found in the box on the right titled Most Popular Resources. This will take you directly to the MLA pages. Scroll down to the very bottom of the screen until you reach a gray box numbered THIS WILL BE YOUR MOST USEFUL RESOURCE! Scroll down to the very bottom of the screen until you reach a gray box numbered THIS WILL BE YOUR MOST USEFUL RESOURCE! Both basic and specific information can be found here about citing ANY type of source Both basic and specific information can be found here about citing ANY type of source

Practice MLA This is process work—don’t lose!!! Activity: Activity: –Using your text and the OWL website create a works cited page with your textbook Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond and one website of your choice. –You should have TWO entries on this works cited page (textbook and internet source) –You can handwrite this or type and print if off but you MUST include a copy of this in your Essay Three folder to earn all process work points.

Homework Please read Chapters 16 and 17 in Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond. This will help you locate your sources for Essay Three Please read Chapters 16 and 17 in Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond. This will help you locate your sources for Essay Three Write your rough draft for Essay Three including at least ONE source. Your draft should be a minimum of TWO pages Write your rough draft for Essay Three including at least ONE source. Your draft should be a minimum of TWO pages If you do not have a draft or miss class on Wed. you will lose 15 points from your final essay grade. Be here and be prepared!!! If you do not have a draft or miss class on Wed. you will lose 15 points from your final essay grade. Be here and be prepared!!!