Preparing your rough Preparing your rough draftdraft

Remembering the Remembering the essentials of the college essentials of the college

essay.essay.

REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE!REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE!The purpose of an argument essay is to The purpose of an argument essay is to prove to the reader that prove to the reader that your unique, your unique, unified opinion is valid.unified opinion is valid. Remember, it’s not necessary for the reader to agree with you when s/he is finished reading. Rather, s/he should see that you have valid reasons, supported by evidence, for holding your view AND that you have addressed the concerns of those who disagree with you.

Remember Argument Remember Argument StructureStructureINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

ESTABLISH RAPPORT WITH READERESTABLISH RAPPORT WITH READER PREPARE READER FOR BODY OF PAPERPREPARE READER FOR BODY OF PAPER

PRESENT AN OPINION AND REASONSPRESENT AN OPINION AND REASONS

BODYBODY ESTABLISH A LOGICAL CHAIN OF REASONINGESTABLISH A LOGICAL CHAIN OF REASONING

SUPPLY EVIDENCESUPPLY EVIDENCE REFUTE OPPOSING ARGUMENTS IN PROPER PATTERNREFUTE OPPOSING ARGUMENTS IN PROPER PATTERN

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION REINFORCE OPINIONREINFORCE OPINION

DEMONSTRATE THAT OPINION HAS BEEN PROVEDDEMONSTRATE THAT OPINION HAS BEEN PROVED END WITH POWERFUL FINAL STATEMENTEND WITH POWERFUL FINAL STATEMENT

REMEMBER TONE AND REMEMBER TONE AND STYLESTYLE

* SELECT A CONSISTENT A STYLE: * SELECT A CONSISTENT A STYLE: Decide if Decide if your paper will be formal/informal in language, your paper will be formal/informal in language, depending on the seriousness of the subject. depending on the seriousness of the subject. (Because this is a formal academic paper, it (Because this is a formal academic paper, it should tend toward formality.)should tend toward formality.)

* ESTABLISH A TONE:* ESTABLISH A TONE: Decide on the Decide on the emotional stance (cautionary, alarmist, emotional stance (cautionary, alarmist, concerned, etc.) you will adopt toward the concerned, etc.) you will adopt toward the topic, and select words and evidence that topic, and select words and evidence that reinforce that tone.reinforce that tone.

Remember how to use sources:Remember how to use sources:Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing QuotationsQuotations reproduce a passage word reproduce a passage word

for word. for word. ParaphrasesParaphrases rephrase passages in rephrase passages in

one's own words but retain all, or almost one's own words but retain all, or almost all, of the original ideas and structure.all, of the original ideas and structure.

SummariesSummaries also rephrase a passage in also rephrase a passage in one's own words but retain only the main one's own words but retain only the main ideas or most important points of the ideas or most important points of the original. original.

Distinguish long and short Distinguish long and short quotesquotes

Short quotes are under 30 words in length. They Short quotes are under 30 words in length. They are integrated into the text:are integrated into the text:

According to a prominent sociologist, “The ‘mob mentality’ of a riot According to a prominent sociologist, “The ‘mob mentality’ of a riot is simmering under the surface of most gatherings” (Smith 37). is simmering under the surface of most gatherings” (Smith 37). Thus, all of us are capable of participating in mob violence.Thus, all of us are capable of participating in mob violence.

Long quotes are over 30 words in length. They Long quotes are over 30 words in length. They are set off in an indented paragraph:are set off in an indented paragraph:

As the U.S. Department of Justice reported in a decades-long review As the U.S. Department of Justice reported in a decades-long review of incarceration patterns:of incarceration patterns:The number of incarcerated drug offenders grew dramatically in The number of incarcerated drug offenders grew dramatically in the the 1980s due to stepped up enforcement against crack 1980s due to stepped up enforcement against crack cocaine cocaine distributors and users, and continued to climb in distributors and users, and continued to climb in the following the following decade decade as a result of increased attention to as a result of increased attention to anti-marijuana laws. anti-marijuana laws. (“Report”)(“Report”)

This proves that drug laws catch both traffickers and users.This proves that drug laws catch both traffickers and users.

Remember how to citeRemember how to cite Signal phrasesSignal phrases identify the source identify the source

when it is presentedwhen it is presented Internal citationsInternal citations lead the reader to lead the reader to

the Works Cited pagethe Works Cited page Works Cited page,Works Cited page, in MLA style, tells in MLA style, tells

reader where to find your sources.reader where to find your sources.USE ALL THREE METHODS NO USE ALL THREE METHODS NO

MATTER HOW YOU’VE USED A MATTER HOW YOU’VE USED A SOURCE.SOURCE.

Remember what you MUST Remember what you MUST cite:cite:

All borrowed ideas All borrowed ideas (anything that did not come (anything that did not come out of your personal experience or frame of reference, but out of your personal experience or frame of reference, but from your research, whether quoted, paraphrased, or from your research, whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized)summarized)

All borrowed evidence All borrowed evidence (facts/statistics, (facts/statistics, historical record, expert opinion, personal experience historical record, expert opinion, personal experience (someone other than you), collective experience that is not (someone other than you), collective experience that is not common knowledge, common mores mentioned by another common knowledge, common mores mentioned by another writer)writer)

Remember what you do NOTRemember what you do NOT need to cite need to cite

Common knowledgeCommon knowledge Personal experience of your ownPersonal experience of your own Collective experience with which the Collective experience with which the

reader is familiarreader is familiar Common mores evidence from daily Common mores evidence from daily

experienceexperience

Remember MLA StyleRemember MLA Style 8 ½ x 11 white paper, black ink8 ½ x 11 white paper, black ink 1” margins all around1” margins all around 12-point academic type12-point academic typeDouble spacing throughoutDouble spacing throughoutPages numbers on every pagePages numbers on every pageIndented paragraphsIndented paragraphsNo extra white spaceNo extra white spaceWorks Cited: double spaced, hanging indent, page Works Cited: double spaced, hanging indent, page numbernumber

Dealing with informationDealing with information“still to come”“still to come”

A rough draft is just that – an incomplete A rough draft is just that – an incomplete version of your essay.version of your essay.

If you have missing information, let your If you have missing information, let your rough draft reviewer know by rough draft reviewer know by indicating what’s missing. indicating what’s missing.

Place missing information in brackets Place missing information in brackets within the text:within the text:

[Grabber to come][Grabber to come] [Summarized evidence to be inserted][Summarized evidence to be inserted]

See PAL for detailsSee PAL for detailsVisit the PAL site for PowerPoints on Visit the PAL site for PowerPoints on

argument structure, using the argument structure, using the rhetorical triangle, refuting rhetorical triangle, refuting opposition and more.opposition and more.

Also visit PAL for information on using Also visit PAL for information on using signal phrases and proper text and signal phrases and proper text and Works Cited citations.Works Cited citations.