Writing an Argumentative Research Essay, Step by Step Approach

This comprehensive writing class will take learners through the entire argumentative essay-writing process.  At the end of the course, students will have completed a polished final draft of an argumentative research essay on a topic of their choosing.  

Each class is interactive in nature, and will focus on a different element of writing an argumentative research paper. Because students will be writing an argumentative paper, we will spend time focusing on solid arguments and logical fallacies to help learners strengthen their ability to conduct effective research and construct solid arguments within their writing.  We will also focus on word choice specific to persuasive / argumentative writing and expanding arguments.  Students will write their own essay outside of class and will receive direct, personalized feedback from me throughout the writing process.  

Week 1: Research (how to select credible sources, annotating, etc); selecting a topic; (logical fallacies--spotting and avoiding them in research and writing as part of homework) 

Week 2: Planning / Prewriting: Bubble Maps, Thesis Statements and Outlines

Week 3: Using Text Evidence in Paragraphs (explaining and analyzing research in paragraphs), Active Verbs vs Passive Verbs, Transition Sentences, In-text citations (parenthetical references)

Week 4: Strengthening Your Argument: Word Choice, Avoiding Second Person, Dealing with the Counterargument

Week 5: Writing Introductions, Conclusions, and Works Cited Pages

Week 6: Revising and Editing Strategies

Students with a wide variety of background knowledge will do well in this class, but at a minimum students should feel comfortable writing a simple five paragraph essay on their own.  Students who have less essay writing experience are welcome to write a four or five paragraph essay (two or three body paragraphs) during this class, and students with a more advanced background in essay writing will be challenged to write longer essays or work on fine-tuning skills they already possess.  

Students will be given the option of having their final draft graded by me.  A rubric will be provided during the class, and parents may request a grade.  Regardless of whether a grade is requested, all students will receive personalized feedback throughout the writing process on their own essay via a shared google document or pdfs shared in the Outschool messaging system. 

This class is also offered in a FLEX (asynchronous format):
https://outschool.com/classes/essay-essentials-writing-the-argumentative-research-essay-flex-YIE7jMUK