Your second major essay will be a multi-source argumentative essay. We will be employing argument, or for want of a more positive descriiption, persuasive essays from here on out.
Your job in this essay to persuade me what the greatest film of all time is. It will easily be arguable because no matter what you think, someone will disagree with you. I want to give you a tip about writing essays using sources in essays. Write the essay first as if you aren’t using sources at all. Write the entire essay. Then go in and add sources to back up your main points. So instead of looking up sources that are focused on your topic, you can look up sources focused on your points. This makes the info from sources more specific and powerful in your argument.
For instance, if I’m arguing that the greatest film of all time is Mad Max: Fury Road (though a fantastic movie, this is a ridiculous topic for greatest movie of all time), one of my body paragraphs might be focused on the intensity of the film being one of the reasons it’s greater than all other movies. I might search for “intensity films” and find an article explaining how intensity in films is one factor the Academy Awards use to decide if a movie is selected for Film of the Year. I’d find the quote that says that in the article and use it in that body paragraph. By the way, another tip: use quotes over summaries and paraphrases when possible. They’re easier to cite well and correctly, and they pack more punch in an argument.
If one of these requirements isn’t met, the essay will earn a zero (F). This is not a wish list; these are requirements. Please ask questions about any requirements you don’t understand.
Requirements:
– The thesis must be arguable. In other words, if it is a statement no one would disagree with, it isn’t arguable.
– Must use 2-3 outside sources in your essay. Sources must come from SIRS, ProQuest, or one of our other library databases. Since we are a little more prepared to decide what sources are credible or not, I will allow sources from other places than these databases as well, but you better be picky because it will hurt your grade if you don’t pick strong sources for good reason. As you find them, you’re welcome to ask me if they’re credible.
– Use correct MLA format and include in-text citations
– Every body paragraph must have at least one quote and in-text citation.
– Include a Works Cited Page
– Must be 2-4 pages of writing
– The submission must be turned in as a Word document or .rtf file. Text submissions won’t be accepted.
If one of these requirements isn’t met, the essay will earn a zero (F). This is not a wish list; these are requirements.
