Lesson Details

Library Day #2

2014-2015

Principles of English 1, fall 2014

Date

Sept. 16, 2014

Additional Info
We will be going to the library today. Seating in the library will be alphabetical order. Please listen carefully for your number.

When you get to the library, once again log in to your Google Drive and then go to my website and READ AND FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS.

Today will be broken down into two parts. The first part involves the practice argument that you started yesterday, and is due today. Open that document and complete the following:
  1. Using the comment function (either go to "Insert" then click "Comment" after you've highlighted what you want to comment on, or just highlight and then press Ctrl+Alt+M), identify each of the required parts of your essay: the salutation, the introduction, the background, the claim, the evidence, the counterclaim(s), the rebuttal(s), restatement of the claim, and the conclusion.
  2. Also using the comment function, identify any places where you utilize pathos, ethos, or logos. 

Once you have labeled your practice essay, please move on to do the following :

  1. Choose a topic for your official argument essay. You can find tons of great ideas here, here, and here. Use these as idea starters. If one resonates with you, put it into your own words and make a claim statement out of it.
  2. Do light research into your topic. What statistics can you find? What research has already been done? What do experts say? Make sure you start a Google document to keep track of all your notes, quotations (or paraphrases or summaries), and sources.
  3. Do some research into the view points of the other side. What does the opposition have to say? What is it using as evidence? Put this information in your notes as well.

Keep the following in mind:
  • Be very selective and choose a topic you actually have an interest in writing about. This might seem silly to say, but you have to be able to talk a lot about your topic. If you aren't invested in it, you can't expect your audience to be, either.
  • You aren't doing any writing yet. This is just a fact-finding mission. Don't worry about formatting or wording or anything. Just find sources and make notes.
  • This is not a research paper. Any research you do should be used only to bolster your argument. Your essay should be largely experiential and should not rely on others to do your arguing for you.