Argumentatively Essay

ENGL1302 – 8-Week Online Anytime Writing Project #3 – The Argumentative Essay

Overview

This is where all of your research and ideas come together - The Final Argumentative Research Essay. Here you are expected to craft a strong argument based upon your thematic exploration of the nonfiction book Picking Cotton. It is expected that there will be similarity between parts of your Response Essay and parts of your Argumentative Essay. I asked you to write the Response Essay to start getting ideas about what to focus on for this final essay!

Essay Requirements

1. MLA Formatting

2. Direct and Arguable Thesis at the end of the Introduction

3. 1000 words MINIMUM ( not including the Work Cited page )

4. 6 paragraphs MINIMUM

a. Introduction, 3 body paragraphs (minimum), 1 Refutation/Concession paragraph (minimum), conclusion

5. Work Cited page with at least 4 entries

a. One entry MUST be Picking Cotton

b. One entry MUST be a scholarly essay from a Library Database

6. 4 quotations (or instances of paraphrase) MINIMUM

a. at least 1 per body paragraph

b. at least 1 in the Refutation

c. at least 1 from Picking Cotton

7. Grammar and Spelling

We are going to work on completing this final essay in a series of steps. These steps are aimed at keeping you on track so you do not fall behind. Remember, research is time consuming! Do not put off your research. In fact, if at all possible I recommend you start your research early. This is why I am including information and assignments in Week 5 that aren’t due until Week 6.

In an effort to alleviate some of the burden of research, the final group work assignment is focused on the SHARING of research. While you might not all be focused on the same specific argument, you will find that many of the themes are interlinked and research for one can be used for multiple arguments. You will be using the discussion boards to share your research beginning with Step 3.

Below are the steps you will take to write this essay. This list is just an overview, and the description of each step tells you where to find more detailed information and instructions.

Step 1 – The Working Thesis (25-point WP#3 Assignment)

Due Date: Sunday 21 February (Blackboard Upload)

Requirements:

1. MLA Formatted document

2. A SINGLE sentence that presents the main idea (or central message, argument, etc.) of your essay

a. Yes, this will almost certainly change as you research, draft, revise, and edit your essay.

More detailed information and instructions in the Week 5 Agenda folder.

Step 2 – The Supplemental Reading Assignment (10-point WP#3 Assignment)

Due Date: Sunday 21 February (Turnitin Assignment)

1. Select an article from the list of 5 in the Week 5 Agenda folder.

2. Summarize, Assess, and Reflect upon that article in a single paragraph.

3. Upload your SAR to the Turnitin Assignment in the Week 5 Agenda folder.

More detailed information and instructions are located in the Week 5 Agenda Folder.

Step 3 – The Annotated Bibliography Discussion Board (25-point Group Assignment)

Due Date: Sunday 28 February (Discussion Board – 4 posts minimum, 1 can be the Supplemental Reading Assignment)

1. Upload a Summary, Assessment, and Reflection paragraphs for four articles you have researched to the appropriate Group Discussion Board

a. 1 can be the paragraph on the article you chose in Step 2!

The goal of step 3 is to help your groupmates with their research!

More detailed information and instructions are in the Week 5 Agenda Folder.

Step 4 – The First Draft (50-point WP#3 Assignment)

Due Date: Tue 03 March 2021 (Turnitin Assignment)

Don’t forget to upload the first draft to Smarthinking!

More detailed information is in the Week 6 Agenda folder

Step 5 – Smarthinking Response (10-point WP#3 Assignment)

Due Date: Sun 7 March NLT (Blackboard Assignment)

When you get the Smarthinking Response Document

1. Download the Smarthinking Response Document and save it to your computer.

2. Upload the entire Smarthinking Response Document to the Step 4 Blackboard Assignment

*Not receiving the Smarthinking Response Document in time to upload it to Blackboard will NOT be accepted as an excuse for failing to complete this step!

More detailed information and instructions are in the Week 6 Agenda folder

Step 6 – Final Draft Turnitin Submission (100-point WP#3 Assignment)

Due Date: Sunday 7 March 2021 NLT 11:59 (Turnitin Assignment)

Important Notes:

1. No late submissions of this essay will be accepted. Failure to submit this essay by the deadline will result in an automatic failure of the course.

2. There will not be an opportunity to revise this essay.

See the next page for tips on the First and Final Drafts!

Do your First and Final Drafts have everything they need?

1. In the first paragraph:

a. Introduce the topic or issue.

b. Explain why this topic/issue is important.

c. Include a clear and direct thesis that forms a debatable argument

2. In the body paragraphs (3 minimum):

a. Implement strong topic sentences that guide the content of each individual body paragraph

b. Introduce a minimum of three separate and distinct pieces of evidence from the class readings and/or additional research that support your thesis or argument.

3. In the refutation/concession paragraph (1 minumum)

a. Refute a position held by those opposed to your thesis using at least 1 piece of evidence from the class readings and/or additional research

4. In the conclusion:

a. Wrap up your response using the So What conclusion.

i. Rephrase and restate the thesis/argument

ii. Why is this important?

iii. What is the larger view of the issue in question?

Tips

1. Proofread! Grammar and spelling count!

2. Your thesis should be debatable – it should be an argument with at least 2 opposing sides.

3. Your audience is people who do not believe the same thing you do.

4. Your goal is to convince those who do not share your views (your audience!) to join your side of the argument.

5. Make sure your topic sentences are strong and that you stay on topic in each body paragraph.

6. Make sure you have cited any and all quotations, paraphrases, and summaries – proper MLA citations will be graded.

7. Keep fine-tuning your synthesis of paraphrase and quotation.

8. Make sure your essay moves logically and creatively from 1 paragraph to the next – work on those transitional ideas, phrases, and words.

9. Proofread again… you missed something.