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

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

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

4. Examples of Argumentative Topics Selling marijuana in public places should be illegal * Selling marijuana in public places should be illegal * Polygamy is a natural state, and should be legal * Polygamy is a natural state, and should be legal * Assisted suicide should be legal ¤ Assisted suicide should be legal ¤ Animal testing should be illegal ¤ Animal testing should be illegal ¤ Graphic video games make kids aggressive and/or violent Graphic video games make kids aggressive and/or violent Vista is a better operating system than XP Vista 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

5. Getting Started Picking a topic 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 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

6. The first option Pattern 1: Pattern 1: Thesis statement: Thesis statement: PRO idea 1 PRO idea 1 PRO idea 2 PRO idea 2 CON(s) + Refutation(s) CON(s) + Refutation(s) Conclusion Conclusion

7. The second option Pattern 2: Pattern 2: Thesis statement: Thesis statement: CON(s) + Refutation(s) CON(s) + Refutation(s) PRO idea 1 PRO idea 1 PRO idea 2 PRO idea 2 Conclusion Conclusion

8. The third and unusual option Pattern 3: Pattern 3: Thesis statement: Thesis statement: CON idea 1 ----->Refutation CON idea 1 ----->Refutation CON idea 2----->Refutation CON idea 2----->Refutation CON idea 3----->Refutation CON idea 3----->Refutation Conclusion Conclusion

9. Example Outline Thesis: Beans are a more healthy source of protein than beef. 1. Beans are fat-free and low in sodium. (Or, you can point out that beef is not fat-free or low- sodium) 2. Beans are cholesterol-free. (Or, you can point out that beef is not cholesterol-free) 3. People tend to not eat beans because of the side effects. Conclusion: Though beans can have undesirable side effects, 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.

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

11. Research Books can be found using the Librarys online catalog. Books can be found using the Librarys online catalog. Articles in magazines, newspapers, and journals can be found using the Librarys databases. Articles in magazines, newspapers, and journals can be found using the Librarys databases. Good websites can be found using engines like Google and Bing. NOTE: These are SEARCH ENGINES, not sources! Good websites can be found using engines like Google and Bing. NOTE: These are SEARCH ENGINES, not sources!

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

13. Keywords: Example Thesis: Beans are a more healthy source of protein than beef. 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 arent 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!

14. Quotations & Citations Quotations: when you use text from a resource in your own writing Quotations: when you use text from a resource in your own writing Citations: how you acknowledge resources youve used in your paper Citations: how you acknowledge resources youve used in your paper

15. 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).

16. Citations Book Book Langland, William. Piers the Ploughman. Baltimore: Penguin Books, Ltd., 1974. Baltimore: Penguin Books, Ltd., 1974. Journal article Journal article Thibodeau, P.L., and S.J. Melamut. "Ergonomics in the Electronic Library." Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 83.3 (July 1995): 322-329.

17. Citations Journal article from a database 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): 346-357. EBSCO ERIC. ULM University Library, Monroe, LA. 19 May 2009..

18. Citations Website Website Lowe, Megan. Citations Guide: MLA Style. Megan Lowe @ ULM. 8 June 2006. University of Louisiana at Monroe. 12 June 2007. Remember: citations are important for two reasons 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

19. Question & Answer Time

20. Argumentative Essay FYI Presentation Presentation http://www.ulm.edu/~lowe/argumentativeessay.ppt http://www.ulm.edu/~lowe/argumentativeessay.ppt http://www.ulm.edu/~lowe/argumentativeessay.ppt Sites Consulted for Presentation Sites Consulted for Presentation Bogacizi University Writing Center Bogacizi University Writing Center Glendale Community College English Dept. Glendale Community College English Dept. Dont forget: the OWL at Purdue! Dont forget: the OWL at Purdue!OWL at PurdueOWL at Purdue http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ My Contact Info My Contact Info Email: cullark@ccisd.com