2- English Assignments

7/9/2021 Argumentative essay instructions: ENGL100-10763 (ONL) Freshman Composition

https://coastdistrict.instructure.com/courses/85131/pages/argumentative-essay-instructions?module_item_id=4826888 1/3

Argumentative essay instructions Follow these instructions carefully.

Table shows essay instructions.

Our argumentative essay

1. You're going to compose an Argumentative Essay in APA format. You must argue for a particular side. See video, notes, and our textbook readings about APA style.

2. Your essay, being argumentative, will use terms like "should" and "ought to" to call for readers to act or change their minds. You must argue FOR or AGAINST something. Do not just explore the history of a topic. Write persuasively!

3. Double-spaced, Times New Roman, size 12. 4. Running head: page numbers are inserted in the upper right corner; the title of

your essay appears in the upper left corner (not your name--that is MLA style, this is APA style).

5. You may pick your topic (see below). 6. You must use the Coastline Online Library or Google Scholar for at least three of

the sources. See guidance on the previous pages. 7. Be sure to prewrite: brainstorm, read, research, gather ideas, and group them into

an outline. 8. At the start of an APA-style essay you'll have a title page. At the end of your APA-

style essay you'll have a section titled References. 9. There should be one to two quotations with citations per body paragraph.

Please cite your sources in APA style. Remember that MLA citations require (author page #) after a quotation or paraphrase, whereas APA citations require (author, year, p. # OR para. #). Note the commas used in APA style to separate this info.

10. As this essay is short-ish, there is no need to include an abstract. (The abstract is a summary preview of the essay.) However, on your final project due at the end of the semester, you will write an abstract.

11. Total length will be around four to five pages Title page (one page)

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7/9/2021 Argumentative essay instructions: ENGL100-10763 (ONL) Freshman Composition

https://coastdistrict.instructure.com/courses/85131/pages/argumentative-essay-instructions?module_item_id=4826888 2/3

One intro paragraph + four argumentative body paragraphs + one conclusion paragraph = six paragraphs total References page (one page)

Additional pointers on organizing your argumentative essay

There should be no quotations in the introductory paragraph. Those too often congest the intro. Instead, save them for the body paragraphs. Your intro should provide the big picture, an overview with the background of the subject you're arguing for/against. Body paragraphs must be organized per the usual pattern: transition phrase, topic sentence arguing a specific aspect of your thesis, major and minor supporting details such as one or two well-chosen quotations with citations, your analysis and commentary, and a conclusion sentence wrapping up the paragraph.

We always follow this same pattern. Nothing fancy needed! Paragraphs should always be six to ten sentences long in this class.

This must be an argumentative essay, meaning you are advocating for or against a specific side. This is not an expository or exploratory essay. Again, your thesis sentence and each topic sentence must argue for or against a particular side, not just explore the topic. Quotations should be brief (one sentence long), forceful, and well-chosen. Do not drop giant quotation chunks into your paragraphs. Also, we do not need to use block quotations when writing such short essays.

To avoid congestion, no more than two quotations should appear in each body paragraph.

A signal phrase must lead into each quotation. After the quotation, you must provide an APA citation: (author, year, page #). Ex:

Psychology Today relays that intelligence is not specific to math or English, but is more general: "We find that G, or general intelligence, crosses all skills and competencies" (Lindenburger, 2012, p. 3). Note that the citation includes author, year, and page number. Always include this info whenever you use APA format. Note that the period always goes after the citation. Note that the title of the journal goes in italics.

Names of articles, on the other hand, go in " "s. Ellipses (. . .) go in the middle of a quotation when you remove unnecessary text. You do not need ellipses at the start or end of a quotation.

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7/9/2021 Argumentative essay instructions: ENGL100-10763 (ONL) Freshman Composition

https://coastdistrict.instructure.com/courses/85131/pages/argumentative-essay-instructions?module_item_id=4826888 3/3

Grammar and punctuation are always in vogue and should improve with each essay.

Do contact Smarthinking tutor to review your first draft! It's a terrific, free service that is almost guaranteed to help you improve your writing (and grade).

Keep in mind that this is a research-based argumentative essay rather than a personal essay. Even if you feel passionately about a topic, aim for an objective tone. You are encouraged to acknowledge the merits of the "other side," even if you then refute the other side's points.

This acknowledgement (think of it as "showing respect") is known as concession and is a powerful persuasive tool showcasing your fairness and trustworthy ethos. Still, from the introduction onward, you must advocate and argue for one side over the other. You'll of course include evidence (research, stats, data) to substantiate your claim.

Argumentative essay rubric /1 Format (font, margins, spacing, running head, title page, References) /2 Quotations (signal phrase, quotation, APA citation with author, year, p. #) /4 Argumentation (four body paragraphs, well-chosen evidence, major and minor supporting details, logic) /4 Organization (intro, thesis, body paragraphs, transitions, topic sentences, conclusion sentences, conclusion paragraph) /4 Grammar, punctuation, mechanics, syntax /15 TOTAL

Now head to the next page to see the potential topics!

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