Writer's Workshop - Research Based Argument Essay - Chocolate Milk Lesson 6
Today, we will learn the importance of using proper quotations to strengthen an argument essay.
For years your teachers have told you that if you borrow someone else’s exact words, you need to put quotations marks around those words. They also told you that you need to use quotations (as well as paraphrases and summaries) to support your argument essay.
That’s all well and good, and it doesn’t seem too terribly hard to put quotation marks around a sentence or two and paste the quote into your paper, but it actually takes some skill to effectively use quotations.
You're going to learn how to put a quote in your essay like a pro.
Don't Quote Just for the Sake of Quoting
We will learn you should use at least a few quotes to support your argument essay,
but you shouldn’t just throw them in because your teacher says, "It needs quotes".
We did not hear any text evidence.
The biggest mistake is that the whole letter is opinion or common knowledge.
To make it better we need to add evidence.
Examples #1
Say you’re writing an argument essay and are arguing that teens start smoking because of peer pressure.
To support this argument, you use the following quote:
“20-25% of all Americans smoke".
Would you consider this a good quote that supports your argument? Why/why not?
The quote doesn’t actually provide evidence to support the argument.
In this example, the argument is that teens smoke due to peer pressure. Thus, the quote should provide evidence of that.
Using a statistic to illustrate how many people smoke is not appropriate for this essay because it doesn’t help explain why teens smoke.
Examples #2
If a child spends at least five hours at school most of the week, isn’t P.E. the perfect time for students to get time for physical activity? However, when P.E. is given as an optional course or elective and not a required class, most students choose not to do it to avoid physical activity. Evidence shows “only six states—Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Illinois and Iowa—adhere to standards from the National Association of Sports and Physical Education that school children participate in 150 minutes a week of physical education. And just three states Delaware, Virginia and Nebraska have 20 minutes of mandatory elementary-school recess a day”
Would you consider this a good quote that supports your argument? Why/why not?
The quote does provide evidence to support the argument.
In this example, the argument is that school kids should have physical activity at school. Thus, the quote should provide evidence of that.
Using a statistic to illustrate very few states actually require physical activity during school supports the argument.
Use Signal Phrases
They introduce the quote and provide context.
Think of them like traffic signals. Traffic lights signal drivers to stop, go, or slow down. They keep traffic moving.
Signal phrases in writing do the same thing. They tell readers to slow down and pay attention to the information that is to follow and keep the writing cohesive.
Here’s an example from a paper about distracted driving. This writer uses “according to” as the signal phrase to introduce the quote:
Text messaging has been around for many years, but there was never a point where it was considered to physically provide harm to someone. However, as of today it has exceeded to a point where it is considered to be more dangerous than drinking and driving. According to the Department of Transportation, “approximately 3,092 people were killed and an additional 416,000 were injured due to distracted drivers in the year 2010 alone”.
Use Signal Phrases with Reporting Verbs
Quote Sandwich
To ensure that your reader fully understands how the quote you are using supports your thesis, you must smoothly incorporate the quote into your paragraph; otherwise, your reader may be left unsure of why you used the quote. The “quote sandwich” is a method that aides you in effectively adding quotes.
Let’s Try It
Watch this video.
Open the (Adding Quotes - Try It) Doc and answer the question. Remember, you need to make a copy and save it in your drive in order to type in it.
Your Job
Using the research material available to you, find 2 good and appropriate quotes that directly relate to your argument. Use transitional phrases to find the best place to insert them, so as to add strength and support to your argument.
When you are finished with the assignment, here is what you can do:
Just keep writing.
Keep adding seeds.
Add to a already started seed.
Decide to take a seed through the writer’s process.
Reread your writing.
Edit your writing.
Work with a writing partner (with permission).
NEVER say "I am finished"
You need to be writing for a minimum of 30 minutes.