5.1: Introduction

Your next writing assignment is an argumentative research paper, one based on both your own experience and outside resources. This assignment is where you get to put all of your skills together: paraphrasing, summarizing, critical thinking, clear organization and logical cohesion, developing and supporting your own opinions . . . the research paper has it all.

Research papers can seem like a large, daunting task, but they don’t have to be! Think of this assignment as a chance to start exploring your own writing voice.

The general organization of an argumentative essay is as follows:

INTRODUCTION
- Hook
- Background Information
- Thesis Statement
BODY
- Supporting Point }
    - Subpoint 1 + Evidence
    - Subpoint 2 + Evidence
- Supporting Point 2
    - Subpoint 1 + Evidence
    - Subpoint 2+Evidence
- Supporting Point 3
    - Subpoint 1 + Evidence
    - Subpoint 2 + Evidence
CONCLUSION
- Restatement of Thesis
- Summary of Supporting Points
- Final Comment

Here are our goals for this chapter:

• outlining an argumentative essay, including a solid thesis statement
• analyzing the parts of a research question
• developing an argument
• locating sources and annotate them for evidence
• using that evidence to compose source sandwiches
• developing argumentation ability and critical thinking through incorporating opposing viewpoints
• creating a Works Cited page with multiple sources
• writing a 5-paragraph argumentative essay with an opposing viewpoint

---