RD 2

· Writing Your Argument Section

Writing Your Argument Section

The purpose of the Argument section is to convince your readers that your thesis is making a valid point. To do that, you should reiterate your thesis in a brief introduction to the section. Then, each of your 4 body paragraphs will seek to prove that your thesis is valid and important. You will integrate sources into the body paragraphs (as you did in Paper 1) in order to show readers that it's not only you who think this but others support your thesis as well.

Instructions

1. Watch  this video on writing the Argument section  .  Note: Once again, the video was made for Spring 2021. Instead of writing the structure of the Argument section on the Paper 2 Assignment Sheet, you will find it in numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 below.

2. Open your Paper 2 Word Doc and write Argument (bold, centered) below the last paragraph of the Literature Review.

3. Write a brief introduction (no anecdote, statistic, or offset quote necessary), no longer than 1/4 of a page. Make sure the thesis is the last sentence of this brief introduction.

4. Write your 4 body paragraphs supporting the thesis. Your body paragraphs must:

a. Begin with a topic sentence that references the thesis of the paper--it should be one claim as to why the thesis is true or reasonable. Do not cite a source here. If you need help developing topic sentences, see  this link  (although remember that this time your topic sentences will be argumentative rather than explanatory). 

b. Integrate several of your 10 sources to support your argument. Whereever possible, use paraphrases instead of quotes. Cite  using APA 7 formatting . If you need help with integrating sources, see  Integrating Sources into Your Body Paragraphs .

c. End with a concluding sentence that sums up the paragraph's argument. Do not cite a source here.

d. Body paragraphs should be 3/4 of a page long each.

5. There is no conclusion to your Argument section. There should be a brief Introduction and 4 body paragraphs for a total of 5 paragraphs.

6. When you are finished writing the Argument section, mark this item as reviewed and you will see what you need to write next.

7. Follow the 80/20 rule: 80% is you talking, only 20% is evidence from sources. Do not use quotes over 3 lines long! And do not summarize your sources. Argue for your thesis.

 Reviewed

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Writing the Conclusions section for Paper 2

Writing the Conclusions section for Paper 2

"Conclusions" section infographic

   

The Conclusions section has two purposes. First, to share with your readers an important realization or finding that occurred to you during your research. Your object in sharing this information is to make an impact on readers. Second, to be transparent. A research project cannot cover everything having to do with the topic. So...what could you not cover or find out? Why? Should other researchers take on the task of finding these things out? By teling readers this information, you are giving them ideas of what still needs to be looked into regarding your topic.

Instructions

1. Watch  this video on writing your Conclusions section  . Note: Once again, the video is from Spring 2021 sothe information that the video says is on the Paper 2 assignment sheet is written below.

2. Make sure that you understand that there are 2 paragraphs to the Conclusions section.

a. Paragraph 1 is where you look through your sources, find a surprising realization that you learned from one of your sources, and write about that, citing the source of course.

b. Paragraph 2 (the limitations paragraph) is where you tell us what your paper could not cover and why. This is for transparency--you want other readers to understand that not all important or significant concepts could be covered and that there is room for others to research. 

3. Open your Paper 2 Word Doc.

4. Below the Argument section, write the word Conclusions (bold and centered).

5. Switch back to left alignment and write your two conclusions paragraphs.

6. Mark this item as reviewed.

 Reviewed

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Writing Your Recommendations Paragraphs

Writing Your Recommendations Paragraphs

Hopefully, your argument section has been strong enough to really fire up your readers, make them want to do something to change the situation. Your job in the Recommendations section is to find two concrete actions readers can take now. These 2 actions must be in the form of activism. What can they physically do to effect change? 

Instructions

1. Watch  this video on writing the Recommendations   for Paper 2  . Note: Yes, this video is from Spring 2021. Instead of being on the Paper 2 assignment sheet, the information I talk about is described below.

2. Think of 2 activist actions readers can take that are connected to your thesis. These activist actions must be concrete and you must provide concrete steps how to do each action. If you say, for example, that readers should be wary of social media posts about protests, you are required to give them a concrete plan of action regarding how they can weed out predatory and false information. Note: Do not tell readers to simply change their attitudes about something. Changing one's attitude is not an activist action.

3. Open your Paper 2 Word doc and write the word Recommendations below the Conclusions section (centered and bold).

4. Switch back to left alignment, and write 2 paragraphs, one about each activist action that you recommend. Cite sources if and where necessary. 

5. Copy and paste your References page (see Journal 7) and place it below the completed Recommendations section.

6. When you have marked this item as reviewed, you will see the instructions on writing the Abstract.

 Reviewed

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Writing the Abstract for Paper 2

Writing the Abstract for Paper 2

An abstract is a short, paragraph-long summary of a paper that appears between the title page and the Introduction of the paper. For our paper, you should provide one sentece for each of the following parts of  your essay: the thesis, the four topic sentences, the first paragraph of the Conclusions section, and the two recommendations. Beneath the abstract, keywords are provided that are specific enough to become search terms that would help future researchers find further information on this topic.

Instructions

1. Go to our  1302 LibGuide  and click on the Abstract DIY tab to watch a video on abstract writing.

2. Watch  this video on writing the Abstract for Paper 2   . And again, the video is from Spring 2021, so the information is explained below for you and in this video rather than on the assignment sheet itself.

3. Open your Paper 2 Word Doc and scroll to the top of the page.

4. Above your Introduction, write the word Abstract (bold and centered).

5. Switch back to left alignment and write your Abstract including keywords. 

6. When you have completed this task, you will be able to see the Revising Skills folder and will be able to upload your completed rough draft to the Paper 2 Peer Review.

 Reviewed