WORKING ON ESSAY #1
· REVIEW MY POWERPOINT!
· Your essay should be at least three full pages.
· Use at least two scholarly sources. This means you quote or paraphrase each
source at least once and include them both on a Works Cited page. Find GOOD sources that help support your
specific claims!
· How to use Turnitin.com’s Originality Report
· Proofread very carefully.
TOPIC SENTENCES
Write ARGUMENT topic
sentences. Make a claim in each topic sentence. State an opinion/a position.
NOT just facts:
FACT: The U.S. Constitution states that everyone is
created equally.
ARGUMENT TOPIC SENTENCE: Denying
same-sex couples the right to marry violates their constitutional rights.
FACT: Many
people who get married don’t have children.
ARGUMENT TOPIC SENTENCE: Some suggest
that the key purpose of marriage is for procreation and, thus, same-sex unions
should not be recognized as marriage.
FACT: Some religious texts express disapproval of
homosexuality.
ARGUMENT TOPIC SENTENCE: Same-sex
marriage should be banned because it violates many religious views of marriage.
Outlines, Revisited
Thesis: in favor of same-sex marriage
ARGUMENT TOPIC SENTENCES:
· First of all, denying same-sex couples the right to
marry violates their constitutional rights.
· Counterargument: Some suggest that the key purpose of
marriage is for procreation and, thus, same-sex unions should not be recognized
as marriage.
· Counterargument:
Opponents of same-sex marriage often argue that such unions violate many
people’s religious beliefs.
· Counterargument – Still others oppose same-sex
marriage because they fear it may be harmful to children raised by same-sex
parents.
Thesis: opposed to same-sex marriage
ARGUMENT TOPIC SENTENCES:
· Same-sex marriage contradicts with the traditional,
widely accepted definition of marriage being between a man and a woman.
· Additionally, same-sex marriage should be banned
because it violates many religious views of marriage.
· Another drawback to same-sex marriage involves the
harm it may cause to children raised by same-sex parents.
· COUNTERARGUMENT:
Supporters argue that banning same-sex marriage is a form of
discrimination.
SUPPORT - How could a writer
support these claims?
· First of all, denying same-sex couples the right to
marry violates their constitutional rights.
· Another drawback to same-sex marriage involves the
harm it may cause to children raised by same-sex parents.
REFUTATION - How could a
writer refute these claims?
· Counterargument – Still others oppose same-sex
marriage because they fear it may be harmful to children raised by same-sex
parents.
· Counterargument: Some suggest that the key purpose of
marriage is for procreation and, thus, same-sex unions should not be recognized
as marriage.
· First of all, denying same-sex couples the right to marry
violates their constitutional rights.
o What does the constitution say?
o How does that apply to same-sex marriage?
o Research: legal
scholar or judge?
o Recent rulings on DOMA
· Another drawback to same-sex marriage involves the
harm it may cause to children raised by same-sex parents.
o Anecdotal evidence from your own experience
o Evidence from research/experts
o Concession?
Heterosexual parents may also harm their children. Existence of single-parent families, etc.
REFUTATION - How could a writer
refute these claims?
· Counterargument – Still others oppose same-sex
marriage because they fear it may be harmful to children raised by same-sex
parents.
o Why fear is never a good motivator
o Importance of love and support from any parent figure available
o With legalization there will be less discrimination
o Concede that kids may be teased but they can learn
from it
o Research/experts
· Counterargument: Some suggest that the key purpose of
marriage is for procreation and, thus, same-sex unions should not be recognized
as marriage.
o Concession – many marriages do result in procreation,
BUT not a requirement
o Explore the logic problem here: Older couples,
infertile couples, etc. could not get married
o Legal experts/research?
MLA FORMAT
· Setting up the paper:
o One inch margins
o 12 point Times New Roman font
o Double space with no extra space between paragraphs
o Header
o heading
· Citing sources in the text of the essay:
o LOOK UP THE RULES!
o Introduce the source and set up their credentials,
briefly (if possible). Avoid dropped
quotations (quotations with no introduction).
· Create a Works Cited page
