Argumentative Essay

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Instructions
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  1. In a minimum of 6 pages, write an argumentative paper in MLA format using a minimum of 4 secondary sources.
  2. You must use Alone Together, The Happiness Effect, and/or It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Teenagers in your paper as part of these 4 secondary sources.
    1. You need to retrieve secondary sources from either our library book catalog, our library’s electronic databases, or from any websites that end in the following:
    2. .edu .org .gov
    3. Do NOT use .com websites.
  3. You must address at least 2 counter arguments (1 body paragraph each) and then refute them in the same paragraph or in a new one immediately after.
  4. To write an effective argumentative essay, you must…
    1. have a clear arguable thesis that has at least 2 points of view.
    2. qualify your thesis so that it produces a complex and unique stance on an issue. Ask yourself Graff’s two questions: “So what? Who cares?” about my claim/thesis. You must find that you have something important to say about your issue.
    3. provide any necessary background information about your topic.
    4. have good reasons in an attempt to convince your audience of your thesis. Typically, this revolves around individuals’ values, ethics, moral foundations etc.
    5. use convincing evidence (think about the types of appeals including logos, ethos, and pathos)
    6. write in third person. Do NOT use first or second person “In my opinion, I think, I believe, you should, etc.”
    7. use other scholars for support; however, you need to differentiate your argument from theirs when finding points of agreement.
    8. organize your essay according to the organization handout
    9.  write a works cited page as your 7th page.
    10. Below is your prompt. Whatever one you choose, you must extend the lauthors’ argumentsand say something new rather        than just echoing their main ideas.