Sample Essay: Argumentative Ms. Alonso

Imagine enjoying a movie at Cinema 10, eating a meal at Taco Bell, or even sitting in a history class at Carman-Ainsworth High School while people all around you are carrying loaded guns! Although this may seem unbelievable, it is possible because the second amendment of the United States Constitution gives citizens the right to possess and carry guns. It is understandable that Americans would want to possess guns such as shotguns and rifles for the popular sport of hunting. However, it is ridiculous that our government would allow people to carry handguns. Handgun possession should be strictly limited, because they are made solely to kill people, they have increased the murder rate in the U.S., and they have even allowed children to easily kill other children. Identify: Hook Background Information Thesis Statement/Claim  Sample Introduction

Second, we should ban the possession of handguns, because the homicide and robbery rate in the U.S. is much greater than in Canada where there are stricter handgun laws. From 1987 to 1996, 52% of all homicides in the U.S. involved handguns while only 14% of all homicides in Canada involved handguns. Also, between 1987 and 1996, firearm homicide rates increased by 2% in the United States but decreased by 7% in Canada. Furthermore, handgun homicide rates in the U.S. are 15.3 times higher than in Canada. Finally, firearm robbery rates in the U.S. are 3.5 times higher than in Canada. Obviously, homicide and robbery rates involving handguns are higher in the U.S. where handgun laws are not as strict as in Canada. Our high crime rate is another reason handguns should be banned. Identify: Transitional words What is missing from this paragraph that would make it stronger?   Body Paragraph

In conclusion, handguns create an unsafe environment and should be outlawed! Some may argue they are needed for self-defense, but if no one except police officials had handguns there would be no need for that kind of defense. If handguns were outlawed, homicides would decrease, children could not obtain guns, and our country would be less violent. Until the law is changed, people will continue to kill other people. Identify: Restated thesis Universal Application Sample Conclusion

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Attributive Tags For Introducing Quotes Attributive tags are short phrases that help you indicate that an idea in your writing comes from somewhere else. In other words, you "tag" ideas and other evidence to show that they should be attributed to outside sources. Attributive Tags For Introducing Quotes

Sample Attributive Tags according to acknowledges adds admits advises agrees argues asserts claims comments responds states suggests thinks writes Attributive tags can be placed before, within, or after the quotation. When an attributive tag is placed within a quotation, the second half of the quotation is not capitalized unless it begins a new sentence: Michael Karnok says, “To be a father is to know the meaning of failure.” “To be a father,” says Michael Karnok, “is to know the meaning of failure.” “To be a father is to know the meaning of failure,” says Michael Karnok. (714) Sample Attributive Tags

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