People are Good at Heart

 Description ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY General Guidelines •Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. •Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (Times New Roman). The font size should be 12 pt. •Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks. •Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. •Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. It is recommended that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times. •Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis. •If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted). Formatting the First Page of Your Paper •Do not make a title page for your paper. •In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your teacher’s name, the subject, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text. •Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. •Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in “After Apple Picking” •Double space between the title and the first line of the text. WORKSHEET/OUTLINE FOR ANALYTICAL/ARGUMENT ESSAYS 1. My subject is (complete this sentence in 10 words or less) 2. I believe that (make an assertion about your subject to complete this sentence) 3. One reason this assertion is true is that (in completing this sentence, support your assertion by supplying the main reasons for your belief about the subject) 4. Supporting evidence for this reason includes (give specific examples) Supporting Evidence 1: Supporting Evidence 2: Supporting Evidence 3: Counter evidence that needs to be accounted for in my evidence is: 6. Continue with the pattern of step 4 for as long as your essay requires (usually at least one more time) THE FIVE-PART ESSAY: Two common variations on the pattern Pattern 1: 1. Introduction, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! One or more audience-engaging sentences ! A specific, clear, arguable, supportable thesis statement ! One or more sentences that develop and explain your thesis in more detail 2. Supporting Paragraph #1, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A topic sentence beginning the paragraph that further develops the thesis ! At least one specific example that supports the topic sentence ! A sentence that explains the significance of this example to your thesis statement 3. Supporting Paragraph #2, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A topic sentence beginning the paragraph that further develops the thesis and that is linked to the previous paragraph through transitions, word choice, etc. ! At least one specific example that supports the topic sentence ! A sentence that explains the significance of this example to your thesis statement 4. Supporting Paragraph #3, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A topic sentence beginning the paragraph that further develops the thesis and that is linked to the previous paragraph through transitions, word choice, etc. ! At least one specific example that supports the topic sentence ! A sentence that explains the significance of this example to your thesis statement 5. Conclusion, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A sentence restating the main idea of the thesis, but in different words ! A sentence summarizing the main ideas in the supporting paragraphs ! A sentence that presents a new perspective on the information in the rest of the essay that has broader implications than those discussed earlier in the essay, but which leaves the reader with something new to consider about the topic in light of the argument Pattern 2: 1. Introduction, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! One or more audience-engaging sentences ! A specific, clear, arguable, supportable thesis statement ! One or more sentences that explain your thesis by providing the background to your argument 2. Evidence Paragraph 1, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A topic sentence beginning the paragraph that introduces the first piece of evidence in your argument and links back to your thesis (normally, you should present your weakest piece of evidence here) ! At least one specific example that supports the topic sentence ! A concluding sentence that accounts for an opposing view, but presents it in such a way that it does not completely refute your own argument 3. Evidence Paragraph 2, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A topic sentence beginning the paragraph that introduces the second piece of evidence in your argument and links back to your thesis ! At least one specific example that supports the topic sentence ! A concluding sentence that accounts for an opposing view, but presents it in such a way that it does not completely refute your own argument 4. Evidence Paragraph 3, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A topic sentence beginning the paragraph that introduces the third, and normally strongest, piece of evidence in your argument and links back to your thesis ! At least one specific example that supports the topic sentence ! A concluding sentence that accounts for an opposing view, but presents it in such a way that it does not completely refute your own argument 5. Conclusion, at least 3-5 sentences, includes ! A restatement, in different words, of the thesis and a summary of the evidence and counter arguments presented in the rest of your paper ! And/or a new perspective on the information in the rest of the essay that has broader implications than those discussed earlier in the essay, but which leaves the reader with something new to consider about the topic in light of the argument.