Wednesday, February 26, 2014

My notes from today's class - working on Essay #1



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

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