Argumentative Response

Assignment #1: Argumentative Response

This assignment is described in your LBB textbook and the materials online.  The group of essays referred to in the assignment description is located on Bb. Your essay should be 1,000 – 1,500 words. Be sure to cite your sources and use class documents to guide your paper.

Format

Each essay must be double-spaced with 1” margins, left-justified. Use either Calibri 11 pt. font or Times New Roman 12 pt. font.  In the upper left-hand corner, type the following (double-spaced with no spaces in-between paragraphs):

Yourfirstname Yourlastname                                                                                                              Last Name 1

Professor Burford

ENG 111

Assignment #2, Draft #?

Day Month Year

Your Essay Title Should be Centered on the Next Line

Place your last name and page number in the upper right-hand corner of the header.

Last Name 2

Blah, blah, blah………………………………..……………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A1 Outline

1. Summary of your article

Start your summary off with the author’s full name, his/her credentials (the title of the newspaper she/he writes for should be fine), the title of his/her article (in quotes), and a general overview of the article’s purpose. The summary should be comprehensive but also concise (no bigger than 200 words). Try to focus on the 3-5 main points in the author’s article that will be useful in discussing your ideas on the topic. Every sentence should be cited, quotations should be avoided, and first/second person language should not be used. The easiest way to find problems with your summary is to read it aloud. *Your thesis is the last line in your summary and it will state your opinion on the subject and give an essay map that outlines the rest of your body paragraphs (e.g., “I agree/disagree with (author’s last name) that guns need regulations because of crime rates, accessibility to guns, and the 2^nd Amendment”).

1. Paragraph involving a main point from the author and what you think.

Refer back to specific examples in your article but try to paraphrase them over quoting. Your own response to the author’s point should be one of agreement or disagreement followed by evidence. Do you have examples that support your view? Each cited quote or paraphrase from the author should have 3-4 sentences of your own in response. Personal opinion is fine but you have to support that opinion with a reasonable argument.

NOTE: You need to utilize at least two outside sources to support your argument for or against the author.

1. A personal experience from your life that reflects on the topic in the article.

Try to make connections between what the author says and what you experienced. The connection does not have to be literal. In other words, if your article is about gun control but you have no experience with guns, you can still talk about a time you were restricted by rules or disagreed with a policy. The point of the reflection is to use a personal experience from your own life to either support or disprove the author’s points. Make sure you use at least one main idea from the article (quote or paraphrase) in this section.

1. Paragraph involving a main point from the author and what you think.

Refer back to specific examples in your article but try to paraphrase them over quoting. This second thought should try to connect to your first. The paper should transition well. Be careful not to merely summarize the article. You are using the article as a background for your own thoughts, beliefs, and opinions. Remember the 80/20 rule: 80% of your paper should be your own words and 20% of your paper should be quotes and paraphrases from the article.

1. Paragraph involving your thoughts on the larger issue and its implications on society.

Not only are you responding to the author, but you are also discussing future implications for the issue. Some questions to consider: What does your idea on the topic say about society? Does it offer a solution? How does your idea compare to the general opinion of other people in society? Why do you think your way of thinking about this issue is important? In this paragraph, your goal is to move past the author’s and your own ideas; try to think about how this issue will/should be handled in society now and in the future. You still need to reference the author and outside ideas.

F, G, Etc.  Do repeats of paragraph B/D as you see fit.

-The days of 5 paragraph essays are over. There is never a paragraph-length requirement for full papers in our class. You need 1,000 to 1,500 words. Say what you feel needs to be said!

1. Conclusion of your essay with a restated thesis, summarized main points, and an insightful ending.

Include a modified thesis statement and try to summarize each of your main points. In general, you should have at least one sentence for each main body paragraph. After you finish summarizing your main ideas, your conclusion should have a “light bulb moment” for the reader. You want to leave the reader thinking so offer an insightful perspective/thought.

MLA Citation Reminder

Print:     Burford suggests “blah, blah, blah” (1).   OR   The situation could be “blah, blah” (Burford 1).

Online: Burford believes that (“First Few Words of the Article Title”)   OR   It would appear that “blah, blah” (Burford).

Works Cited Entry (Online Article):

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Site, Sponsor or Publisher (if different from name of site), Day Abbreviated Month. Year, website URL.

Rubric

Assignment 1: Argumentative Response