1. How to Structure Your Essay and Support your Point
Argumentation
How to Structure Your Essay and Support your Point

2. What is an Argument?

3. What are the parts of an argument essay?
Position/ Claim
Reason(s)
Analysis/
Reasoning
(Explanation)
Supporting details
(Thesis)
(Body Paragraphs)
(Examples and evidence)

4. What does your specific claim need to include?
Position: Is America the “land of opportunity”? (Yes, no, in some ways yes/no)
State why you think yes/ no: forecast of your body paragraphs

5. How will you support your reasons?
Personal experience/ observations
Credible journalistic sources: Newspapers, magazines (web or print)
Academic/ Peer-Reviewed Journals
Books (non-fiction books, textbooks, or Always Outnumbered)
Credible websites (especially .edu, .gov, .org)
Reliable multimedia: documentary, video/ radio interview, podcasts, lectures

6. In a team of 2-3, rank the following sources (Give each source 1, 3 or 5 stars)
Consider the following:
What’s the purpose of the source?
Does the source seem serious/ academic?
Does the source seem biased?
Does the source seem factual or research based?
Is the source reputable? (Does it have a good reputation? Does it seem credible?)

8. A feature story from the National Inquirer

9. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal

10. A study from the New England Journal of Medicine

11. An interview from the news

12. thesmokinggun.com

13. census.gov

14. cornell.law.edu

15. heritagefoundation.org

16. huffingtonpost.com

17. constitution.laws.com

18. How can you use your sources?
As you read/ review them, look for….
Specific examples, experiences or observations that illustrate your point
Facts/ statistics that support your point
Facts, statistics, programs, or laws from other places/ periods you can compare to the US today
Expert testimony/ opinion you can consult
Definitions or background information that can illuminate your topic.

19. How will you find sources?
Choose a search platform (Google, Google Scholar, Library Databases).
Narrow your topic.
Develop a “word bank” of key words & synonyms you can use to search.
QW: Develop word bank for your topic(s)

20. How can you use these sources?