1

ENG110

–

College Wr

it

ing
Unit 4

A

ssignment:

Argument Essay Organizer

Due Date:

11:59 p.m. EST

,

Sunday of Unit 4

Points:

100

Overview:

T

he

purpose of this organizer is to help you evaluate and arrange your information into

an effective

essay format.

Each section of the organizer will include a different aspect

of your argument essay.

By the end of the organizer, you should have a good sense of

how you will plan and implement your argument.

Instructions:

Please review th

e below sample e

ntries for the Graphic Organizer.

Parts of the

organizer have been left blank for you to fill in with the required information about your

argument essay issue.

Requirements:

·

Fill in the empty sections of the organizer that pertain to the different

elements of

your essay

,

beginning with your research question, parts of the introduction,

supporting sections, and conclusion.

·

Use evidence within the organizer from academic and reliable Library resources.

Make sure to include that evidence in the specifie

d areas.

·

Use objective third

–

person language

–

“

he

,”

“

she

,” “

it,” “

him

,” “

her

,” “

himself

,” “

herself

,” “

itself

,” “

they

,” “

them

,” “

their

,” “

themselves

.”

(

A

void

subjective language, such “I,” “me,” “you,” “we,” “us,”

etc.)

·

Complete each section with whole se

ntences when called for.

Pay special attention to the specific directions for each section.

·

Follow proper APA formatting when citing quotes and using

evidence.

Introduction:

General Information: What are you writing about? Look at your thesis and choose key words. Then create a few general statements about that topic. This “hook” should grab the reader’s attention. This section should be two to three sentences—possibly an intriguing question or example.

View:

Middle Statements: This is the part of the intro when you introduce your subject as well as possible sides of the potential argument. What might people in general write about this subject? Why are you writing about it? What are the possible options to the argument/thesis? This should be three to five sentences.

Thesis Statement: This is the most narrow and focused part of the introduction and the foundation on which the essay is built. It contains (a) your stand on the argument as well as (b) the areas that you will be using for

evidence.

What is your definitive opinion on this issue? What is your answer to the research question? How will you support your opinion? A thesis is assertive, is only one sentence and single focused. It NEVER contains the words “I believe” or “I think”. State your thesis as if it is fact.

View:

http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/

An example of how to prewrite your Introduction:

Research Question:

Do vampires really exist?

General Statements:

Most people around the world have been raised on the dark stories and cautionary tales of monsters, ghouls, and nightmarish necromancers, and yet, they easily dismiss the potential truth in their existences. Was there once a Dr. Frankenstein who created a monster out of body parts, and did someone actually encounter a werewolf that changed forms during the full moon? How can anyone truly argue that there are not things in our world that go “bump in the night”?

Middle Statements:

One of these monsters is the favorite of many movie-makers and authors—the vampire. Whether it is Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula, or the sparkly bad boys of the Twilight series, most people do not believe in the existence of vampires as a species. To say that vampires do not exist is the logical argument. However, if one digs deeply enough, they will find at the root of these tales, the historical story of Vlad the Impaler, and many other Romanian tales of supernatural occurrences that still occur.

Thesis Statement:

It is apparent that vampires do exist as a species as evidenced by their long history in Romanian tales, the continued revitalization of their stories in the media, and the evidence by reputable sources of modern vampire societies.

Now it is your turn!

What is your research question (usually the writing prompt on your assignment page):

Complete the following sections of the introduction:

General Statements:

Middle Statements:

Thesis Statement:

B. Supporting Sections:

Topic Sentence:

A topic sentence is a mini-thesis statement that announces what your supporting section is about. The topic sentence tells the reader that they are going to read about one particular supporting area of information.

When you are done with this supporting section and move to a different one, you will begin that new section with another topic sentence. If you have three supporting areas in your essay, you will have three topic sentences.

Your research:

Your instructor will tell you how many academic and reliable sources you need in your essay. It is important to choose only research that defends your thesis and to put your research into your own words. Too much cutting and pasting from websites could lead to plagiarism.

Remember that all newly acquired information requires an in text citation, even if it not a direct quote or paraphrase. Be confident in your own words!

Direct Quotations:

Check with your instructor about how many direct quotes are required in your essay. Usually, one sentence quote per paragraph is enough. You must have an in text citation for this quote.

Transitional Sentence:

Just as each supporting section begins with a topic sentence, it ends with a transitional sentence. This sentence tells the reader, ‘I’m finishing writing about this information, and now I’m moving on to this next section’.

An example of how to prewrite your supporting section:

Topic Sentence:

Vampires have been historically charted since the 1400s through modern times.

Your research (bulleted information that will need to be revised to full sentences):

· Vlad the Impaler (1456-1462) Conqueror, staked his prisoners, dipped his bread in their blood.

· Middle Ages: stories of vampires who destroyed entire towns.

· Mercy Brown: real person, Rhode Island, late 1800s. body didn’t decay, townspeople treated her like a vampire.

· Modern day people who drink blood to stay alive

Direct Quotation (include in text citation):

According to History. Com, “Although modern science has silenced the vampire fears of the past, people who call themselves vampires do exist” (History editors, 2017, p.3).

Transitional Sentence (what section is the reader leaving and what section are they moving on to next?

Although there are numerous historical accounts of vampires that have circulated since the 1400s, it is modern day novels, films, and stories that keep them alive to the public.

Now it is your turn!

Topic Sentence:

Your research (bulleted information that will need to be revised to full sentences):

Direct Quotations (include in text citation)

Transitional Sentence (what section is the reader leaving and what section are they moving on to next?

C. Conclusions:

Specific statement:

Conclusions are formatted the opposite of the introduction and go from specific to general

Begin your conclusion with one sentence that restates your thesis. Try to paraphrase your original words.

Middle Statements:

In 3 to 4 sentences, recap the main supporting points.

Important note: do not introduce any new information in the conclusion that was not used as support in the body of the essay.

General Statements;

Called a “so-what” ending, these last two sentences (possibly one of them is a question), leave the audience with a speculation, or a recommendation, or a revelation.

Ask yourself, “what do I want the audience to leave this essay with”?

An example of how to prewrite your Conclusion:

Specific statement—restate your thesis (one sentence):

Despite what many non-believers say, research can prove the existence of vampires.

Middle Statements—recap your main supporting points (3-4 sentences):

· Sentence about valid history of real life vampires.

· Sentence about vampires in media (movies, books, tv).

· Sentence about real life current vampire societies.

· Sentence about how these supports prove the thesis.

General Statements—your ‘so what’ ending (1-2 sentences/questions):

It can be scary to introduce the concepts of vampires into one’s life as a factual concept. Is it not better to be prepared with all the information and history of real life vampires, than to have them live in only our minds?

Now it’s your turn!

Specific statement—restate your thesis (one sentence):

Middle Statements—recap your main supporting points (3-4 sentences):

General Statements—your ‘so what’ ending (1-2 sentences/questions):

Evaluation Rubric for Argument Essay Graphic Organizer

CRITERIA	Novice	Emerging	Competent	Exemplary
Thesis Support	0-10 points	11-14 points	15-17 points	18-20 points
No thesis statement is present. Essay lacks direction.	The information in the graphic organizer minimally supports and defends the thesis statement.	Most of the information in the graphic organizer supports and defends the thesis statement.	All information in the graphic organizer supports and defends the thesis statement.
Content, Purpose, and Organization	There is no information in the organizer.	Information in the organizer has minimal organization and purpose.	Information in the organizer is mostly organized and purposeful.	Information in the organizer is effective, purposeful, and well-organized.
Required Elements	The tasks of the assignment are not met.	A minimal number of the required tasks of the assignment are met.	Most of the required tasks of the assignment are met.	All of the required tasks of the assignment are met.
Evidence and Support	There is no evidence or support in the organizer.	Minimal evidence and support in the organizer is from academic, reliable sources and/or is not cited properly.	Most of the evidence and support in the organizer is from academic, reliable sources and is cited properly.	The evidence and support in the organizer is from academic, reliable sources and is cited properly.
Grammar and Mechanics	Grammar and mechanics’ errors make the essay difficult to understand.	Several errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling and mechanics present.	Some spelling, grammar, punctuation and mechanical errors are evident.	Free of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and other mechanical errors.

Created by L. Dressel Dec.2019

1

Created by L. Dressel Dec.2019

Due Date:

11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 4

Points:

100

Overview:

The purpose of this organizer is to help you evaluate and arrange your information into

an effective
essay format.

Each section of the organizer will include a different aspect
of your argument essay.

By the end of the organizer, you should have a good sense of
how you will plan and implement your argument.

Instructions:

Please review th
e below sample e
ntries for the Graphic Organizer.

Parts of the
organizer have been left blank for you to fill in with the required information about your
argument essay issue.

Requirements:

·

Fill in the empty sections of the organizer that pertain to the different
elements of
your essay
,

beginning with your research question, parts of the introduction,
supporting sections, and conclusion.

·

Use evidence within the organizer from academic and reliable Library resources.
Make sure to include that evidence in the specifie
d areas.

·

Use objective third
–
person language
–

“
he
,”

“
she
,”

“
it
,” “
him
,”

“
her
,”

“
himself
,”

“
herself
,”

“
itself
,”

“
they
,”

“
them
,”

“
their
,” “
themselves
.”

(
A
void

subjective language, such “I,” “me,” “you,” “we,” “us,”

etc.)

·

Complete each section with whole se
ntences when called for.
Pay special attention to the specific directions for each section.

·

Follow proper APA formatting when citing quotes and using
evidence.

1

Created by L. Dressel Dec.2019

Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 4

Points: 100

Overview:

The purpose of this organizer is to help you evaluate and arrange your information into

an effective essay format. Each section of the organizer will include a different aspect

of your argument essay. By the end of the organizer, you should have a good sense of

how you will plan and implement your argument.

Instructions:

Please review the below sample entries for the Graphic Organizer. Parts of the

organizer have been left blank for you to fill in with the required information about your

argument essay issue.

Requirements:

 Fill in the empty sections of the organizer that pertain to the different elements of

your essay, beginning with your research question, parts of the introduction,

supporting sections, and conclusion.

 Use evidence within the organizer from academic and reliable Library resources.

Make sure to include that evidence in the specified areas.

 Use objective third-person language – “he,” “she,” “it,” “him,” “her,”

“himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “they,” “them,” “their,” “themselves.” (Avoid

subjective language, such “I,” “me,” “you,” “we,” “us,” etc.)

 Complete each section with whole sentences when called for.

Pay special attention to the specific directions for each section.

 Follow proper APA formatting when citing quotes and using

evidence.