Pros and Cons of an Issue
The pros and cons of an issue refer to the arguments in favor of or against an issue. No matter what stance you take in your thesis, it is necessary to look at the opponent's side also to be able to defend your issue better. For this part of your essay just list 2-3 arguments in favor of your issue and 2-3 arguments against your issue.
Annotated Bibliography
You should have a minimum of TWO entries for your Annotated Bibliography.
NOTE: Go to OWL Purdue website for particular examples and extensive information on MLA formatting
MLA Format: Examples
1) Book: hard copy in print
Leek, Robert Jay, and Greg Michaell. Why Cheat Death? New York: Morrow, 2012. Print.
2) E-book
James, Henry. The Ambassadors. 1903. New York: Scribner's, 1909. Oxford Text Archive. Web. 5 Mar. 2012.
3) Journal On-line
Pallen, Fran. "Talking to the Moon." Journal of Psychology 4.1 (2008): n. pag. Web. 7 Mar. 2012.
4) Video on Internet
Crop Circles. Dir. Lester Gamble. 2012. YouTube. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
Example of an annotated bibliography entry:
Pallen, Fran and John Frantz. "Can Young Children Understand Complex Emotions." Journal of Psychology 4.1 (2008): 78-82. CQ Researcher. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.
In this article the authors have made an extensive study of children in an effort to establish a baseline on just how much understanding a young child can be expected to exhibit in a situation involving complex emotions. They have covered ages 3 through 10 in their study and have sampled a population of 5,000 children. They have come to the conclusion that although children display these emotions, such as jealousy, competitiveness, and anger, even as young as 3 years old, they have a difficult time actually understanding these emotions and controlling or redirecting them into avenues of more positive responses. However, if parents and counselors take the time to talk with them and try to reason with the child, the child will show definite signs of being able to control negative emotions in what an adult may say is a mature manner, such as a control over tantrums. This finding especially applies to children 4 years old and up. These two researchers seemed to be very credible in that they have post-doctorate degrees from the Universities of Austin and Michigan, respectively, and have been involved in this type of research for over 15 years.
I intend to use this article extensively in my research paper because it has reputable studies and good graphs and statistic to prove their hypothesis. Their arguments are very clear and well supported. Although they aim for a professional audience, even the general, educated population can understand their clear presentation. Because this subject is rather new to the field, they do not have very many formal source citations, so I will need to find some other sources to back up my claims concerning the ability of young children to understand and redirect their emotions.
Outline
NOTE: What follows is just a suggestion of some items to include in an outline. You may have more or less items in your outline. An outline is not mandatory, but the outline below may help you to organize your essay.
TITLE
I. Introduction
A. Thesis statement
B. Define terms your audience may not know (may or may not have this in your paper)
C. Give background on your topic; it may be historical
II. (Body) Pros and Cons of the Issue
A. First Argument in favor of your Issue (Pro) and the refutation to this argument (Con)
1. Evidence #1
a. Graph (may or may not have this in your paper)
b. Statement made by an author in a journal article (may or may not have this in your paper)
2. Evidence #2 - Expert Witness
B. Second Argument in favor of your Issue (Pro) and the refutation to this argument (Con)
1. Evidence #1
a. Statistic (may or may not have this in your paper)
b. Interview (may or may not have this in your paper)
2. Evidence #2 - Your own experience (may or may not have this in your paper)
C. Third Argument in favor of your Issue (Pro) and the refutation to this argument (Con)
1. Evidence #1 - State by author from a book (may or may not have this in your paper)
2. Evidence #2 - Table from a journal article (may or may not have this in your paper)
3. Evidence #3
a. Video Link (may or may not have this in your paper)
b. Expert Witness (may or may not have this in your paper)
c. Article from CQ Researcher (may or may not have this in your paper)
III. Conclusion
Templates
[Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say, I Say. WW Norton & Company: New York, 2010. Print.]
General Template for Argument Essays
a) He claims that __________, and I have mixed feelings about it. On the other hand, I agree that __________. On the other hand, I still insist that __________.
b) In recent discussions of __________, a controversial issue has been whether __________. On the other hand, some argue that __________. From this perspective, __________. On the other hand, however, other argue that __________. In the words of __________, one of this view's main proponents, " __________." According to this view, __________. In sum, then, the issue is whether __________ or __________.
c) My own view is that __________. Though I concede that __________, I still maintain that __________. For example, __________. Although some might object that __________, I would reply that __________. The issue is important because.
Start with what others are saying and then introduce your own ideas as a response (your thesis). Tell audience why you are responding to the issue. Summarize what "they say," a quick preview of what is motivating your argument. Then present your thesis. Return to what "they say" at strategic points in your essay.
Verbs for introducing summaries and quotations:
* Verbs for making a claim: argue, assert, believe, claim, emphasize, insist, observe, remind us, report, suggest
* Verbs for expressing agreement: acknowledge, admire, agree, endorse, extol, praise, reaffirm, support, verify
* Verbs for questioning or disagreeing: complain, complicate, contend, contradict, deny, qualify, question, refute, reject, renounce, repudiate
* Verbs for making recommendations: advocate, call for, demand, encourage, implore, plead, recommend, urge, warn
Introducing an Ongoing Debate - Templates
* In discussions of X, one controversial issue has been __________. On the other hand, __________ argues __________. On the other hand, __________ contends __________. Others even maintain __________. My own view is ___________.
* When it comes to the topic of __________, most of us will readily agree that __________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of __________. Whereas some are convinced that, __________, others maintain that ___________.
Introducing Quotations - Templates
* X states __________.
* As the prominent philosopher puts it __________.
* According to X, "__________."
* X himself writes, "__________."
* In her book __________, X maintains that " __________."
* Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that "__________."
* In X's view, "___________."
* X agrees when he writes "___________."
* X complicates matters further when she writes, "____________."
Try to follow the quote with what it means:
* Basically, X is warning that the proposed solution will only make the problem worse.
* In other words, X believes __________.
* In making this comment, X urges us to __________.
* X's point is that __________.
* The essence of X's argument is that __________.
Agreeing, Disagreeing, or Some Combination of Both
a) Disagree and explain why - Templates
* I think X is mistaken because she overlooks recent fossil discoveries in the South.
* X's claim that __________rests upon the questionable assumption that __________.
* I disagree with X's view that __________because, as recent research has shown, __________.
* X contradicts herself/can't have it both ways. On the one hand, she argues __________. On the other hand, she also says __________.
* By focusing on __________, X overlooks the deeper problem of __________.
b) Agree--but with a Difference (add something new of your own) - Templates
* I agree that __________ because my experience at __________ confirms it.
* X is surely right about __________ because, as she may not be aware, recent studies have shown that __________.
* X's theory of __________ is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of __________.
* Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to __________.
* I agree that ___________, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people still believe __________.
* If group X is right that __________, as I think they are, then we need to reassess the popular assumption that __________.
c) Agree and Disagree Simultaneously - Templates
* Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that __________.
* Although I disagree with much of what X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion that ___________.
* Though I concede that __________, I still insist that __________.
* Whereas X provides ample evidence that __________, Y and Z's research on __________ and __________ convinces me that __________ instead.
* X is right that __________, but she seems on more dubious ground when she claims that __________.
* While X is probably wrong when she claims that __________, she is right that __________.
* I am of two minds about X's claim that __________. On the one hand, I agree that ___________. On the other hand, I'm not sure if ___________.
* My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X's position that __________, but I find Y's argument about __________ and Z's research on __________ to be equally persuasive.
d) Making It Clear Who Is Saying What in Your Essay - Templates
* Although X makes the best possible case for __________, I am not persuaded.
* My view, however, contrary to what has argued, is that ___________.
* Adding to X's argument, I would point out that __________.
* According to X, __________.
* X is right that __________.
* The evidence shows that ___________.
* X's assertion that ___________ does not fit the facts.
* Nevertheless, new research shows __________.
* X overlooks what I consider an important point about __________.
* My own view is that what X insists is a __________ is in fact a ___________.
* I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls __________.
* These conclusions, which X discusses in __________, add weight to the argument that __________.
e) Anticipating Your Critics Objections Can Disarm Them - Templates
* Yet some readers may challenge the view that __________.
* Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that ___________.
* Here many feminists would probably object that ___________.
* But social Darwinists would certainly take issue with the argument that ____________.
* Although not all Christians think alike, some of them will probably dispute my claim that __________.
* Mon-native English speakers are so diverse in their views that it's hard to generalize about them, but some are likely to object on the grounds that __________.
* But is my proposal realistic? What are the chances of its actually being adopted?
* Yet is it necessarily true that __________? Is it always the case, as I have been suggesting, that __________?
* However, does the evidence I've cited prove conclusively that __________?
f) Represent these objections fairly, but be sure that and counter-arguments you address are not more convincing than your own claims - Making Concessions while Still Standing Your Ground - Templates
* Although I grant that ______________, I still maintain that __________.
* Proponents of X are right to argue that ___________. But they exaggerate when they claim that __________.
* While it is true that __________, it does not necessarily follow that __________.
* On the one hand, I agree with X that ___________. But on the other hand, I still insist that __________.
g) Readers need to know why they should care about the topic under discussion. Templates
* __________ used to think __________. But recently [or within the past few decades] ___________ suggests that __________.
* Recent studies like these shed new light on __________, which previous studies had not addressed.
* X matters/is important because __________.
* Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in today's concern over __________.
* My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of __________.
* These conclusions / This discovery will have significant applications in __________ as well as in __________.
* Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of ___________, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about __________.
Ali malomahmed
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