Argumentative Essays: A Step-by-Step Guide
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  • Publication Date: September 1, 2021
  • ISBN: 9781554815272 / 1554815274
  • 8 pages; 11" x 8½"

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Argumentative Essays: A Step-by-Step Guide

  • Publication Date: September 1, 2021
  • ISBN: 9781554815272 / 1554815274
  • 8 pages; 11" x 8½"

This foldout reference provides a portable, scannable, and simple guide to the basics of argumentative essay writing. Designed to complement in-depth classroom instruction, it serves as a portable resource that students can use on their own or in class for quick, step-by-step guidance on how to plan, research, write, and edit argumentative essays. Advice on avoiding plagiarism and documenting sources is included, with up-to-date MLA and APA citation guidelines and a sample essay. Additional resources, including an essay outline tool and grammar exercises, are provided on a free companion website.

Step 1: Get Started

  • Tips for Brainstorming and Pre-Writing
  • Choose an Arguable Topic
  • Thesis Statements

Step 2: Conduct Research

  • Where to Find Sources
  • Library databases
  • Wikipedia
  • Google Scholar
  • Academic Books
  • How to Assess Sources
  • Taking Notes
  • Keeping Track of Sources
  • Note-Taking Tips

Step 3: Construct an Argument

  • Modes of Persuasion
  • Support Your Thesis
  • Counter-Arguments
  • Fallacies of Reasoning

Step 4: Sketch an Outline

  • Tips for Writing Outlines

Step 5: Create a First Draft

  • Parts of the Essay
  • Introduction
  • Body Paragraphs
  • Conclusion

Step 6: Integrate Sources

  • Quoting Directly
  • Summarizing main ideas and arguments
  • Paraphrasing

Step 7: Document Your Sources

  • Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
  • In-Text Citations (MLA)
  • Works Cited (MLA)
  • American Psychological Association (APA) Format
  • In-Text Citations (APA)
  • References (APA)

Step 8: Revise and Edit

  • Checklist: Content
  • Checklist: Mechanics

Sample Essay

  • • Simple but specific advice for planning, drafting, and revising argumentative essays
  • • Clear, step-by-step organization
  • • Current MLA and APA citation guide, including MLA 2021 updates
  • • Emphasis on common challenges for beginner students, including avoiding plagiarism, refining a thesis statement, and incorporating sources
  • • Additional resources, including an essay outline tool and grammar exercises, are provided on a free companion website

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