Ms. Kadri's Classroom Pensieve - Home



Guidelines for Writing an Argumentative EssayCarefully read the question and make sure you know the key wordsLook at your unit handout, notes, class assignments and the textbook for ideasThink about the opposing views on the issue (who would agree or disagree and why)Decide what position you will take = your thesis (all parts of the essay must surround your defense of your thesis)Base your position on at least three reasoned arguments (more persuasive, forces you to choose a side while still allowing for a more moderate position)Think of how you would describe the issue to someone who knows nothing about it (even though I know what you are talking about, you need to prove that YOU know!). You want to think of the way in which you can impress the reader with your understanding of the issue – this is shown by the quality of your evidence and arguments (what do you think, why do you think this and prove it by using examples)What are some examples (past or present) to help PROVE your pointJust like in a debate, you need facts, figures and events that prove your ideas are validPossible outline of an essay (5 paragraph/3 parts)Introduction – Start with a broad, general statement on the subject (What unit is this? What’s the main issue?)Try to show both sides of the issue you are about to discuss(“Some people believe…” “Others say…”)What is your answer to the question (remember - this is your thesis)What are your reasons for this answer (pick an odd number of reasons, this allows you to look at both sides while still taking a position)FOR EXAMPLE: Should Canada abolish, keep, or reform the Senate?The government of Canada helps to keep the nation organized. It consists of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Within the legislative branch, there is a lower house called the House of Commons, and an upper house which is the Senate. There is much debate about what Canada should do with the Senate. Some feel that it is an important check on the power of the House of Commons, while others feel that it is a waste of tax dollars. We should keep the Senate, but reform it to make it better. The Senate does need to be reformed because it is not representing the regions of Canada equally. Another reason is that Senators are often seen as lazy because they are not accountable to voters. However, Senate is important as it acts as a ‘sober second thought’ when looking at a bill before it becomes a law. Body- Start with your first reason for your position (thesis)Explain your reason – give details to demonstrate your level of understandingGive an example to illustrate it (the best examples are actual events)Go to your next reason and repeat the processHints:Begin with your weakest argument and build up to your strongestWhen you are changing to a new idea or example, use a transitional word or phrase to tie it to the first (e.g. First, Next, Before, Also, Another example, In addition to, Second, However, For example, In summary, To conclude, Therefore, In conclusion)All of your ideas should lead back to defending your thesis (proving your position is right and all others are wrong)Conclusion - Restate the introductory paragraph (vary wording but not meaning)Refer back to the ideas and examples you have used to prove your thesis is correct* Never introduce new ideas into this section of the essayGeneral HintsSuggestions for Paragraph ConstructionFirst sentence is the topic sentence (what is the focus of this paragraph: what is the reason that you will you be explaining)Start each paragraph in a unique way i.e. don’t start each paragraph the same way; don’t tell the reader “In this paragraph I will be discussing…”There is a difference between reasons (arguments) and examples (evidence)Explain the reason for your thesis (or the source) in 1-3 sentences, including any ideas from class lessons that will back up that reason.Explain one example (or more) that will support that reason. *the trick here is to have enough detail to demonstrate understanding without going too long. The explanation of an example that takes more than a few sentences is too long, and will distract from the reason it is intended to support. If you have more than one reason or example in this paragraph, use transition words (in addition to, secondly, another…) to let the reader know you are moving to another idea.Other hints:“I think…” is redundant. You are the author and therefore all of the paper is your thoughts on the evidence you have collected. Also, “I think” means you are not sure, and an argumentative essay must convince the reader you are right.Brainstorm!! 10 minutes of brainstorming and organizing ideas can save you loads of time in the long run.The use of key terms is vital – using the appropriate terms you have been taught to use in the unit will make your writing more persuasiveDon’t Do not use contractions. They make your expression less formal.Review current events before you go into the essay writing session so that you will have some good examples to defend your position. The use of current events demonstrates a deeper understanding of the theoretical ideas. And don’t forget the case studies we talked about in classBegin with your weakest argument and build up to your strongestWhen you are changing to a new idea or example, use a transitional word or phrase to tie it to the first (e.g. First, Next, Before, Also, Another example, In addition to, Second, However, For example, In summary, To conclude, Therefore, In conclusion)All of your ideas should lead back to defending your thesis (proving your position is right and all others are wrong)“In this essay I will…” sounds like a middle school writerBeware of extremes – never, cannot, always, everybodyRemember – the purpose of a Social Studies essay is to demonstrate what you have learned and apply it to a specific issue. Like a multiple-choice exam, its purpose is to discover what you know and how well you know it. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download