Name: ______Date: ______
Lord of the Flies English 10
Argumentative Essay
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies claims two impulses exist in all human beings. The impulse to live peacefully and follow moral standards dissolves when the conch explodes into “a thousand white fragments.”
Argue: Should the boy’s savage and immoral behavior, shown at the end of the novel, be blamed on the situation/environment OR on biological factors (brain, emotional development)?
Pick a side. Was it the environment (external factors) or biology (internal factors)?
Explain your reasoning using supporting details from Lord of the Flies by William Golding and evidence from 2 of the following non-fiction works: “The Perils of Obedience” by Kendra Cherry, “The Teenage Brain” by Amanda Leigh Mascarelli, “Not Your Average Summer Camp” by Marisa Brook, or “Stanford Prison Experiment” by Martyn Shuttleworth. Make sure you refute counterarguments using logical reasoning and evidence.
Task Requirements
1. Create an organized structure, with correct paragraphing. (Five paragraphs total).
2. Use relevant details and a sufficient amount of textual evidence from all three sources. (This means you must cite quotations from ALL three sources).
3. Type in 12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced
4. Follow the conventions of English grammar, with no errors in spelling, grammar and sentence structure
5. Use sophisticated language. (Do not use pronouns such as I, you, we, us, me, my, etc.)
6. Make sure to follow the rubric attached. This rubric must be handed in when you hand in your paper or points will be deducted from your final score.
How to write an Argumentative Essay
The aim of writing argumentative essays is to convince or persuade the reader. One attempts to change the
reader’s mind and convince the reader to agree with the point of view or claim of the writer. So an argumentative
essay needs to be highly persuasive and logical.
l WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF ARGUMENTATION?
l present an opinion on a controversial topic to the reader;
l explain, clarify and illustrate that opinion;
l persuade the reader that the opinion supported in the essay is valid by:
a. moving the reader to action,
b. convincing the reader that the opinion is correct, or
c. persuading the reader that the opinion is at least worth considering;
l support the opinion by means of giving evidence: facts, examples, physical description, support of authority,
and statistics;
l present counterarguments to the thesis and refute them respectfully and critically.
l HOW TO WRITE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
STAGE 1: CHOOSING A TOPIC AND WRITING THE THESIS STATEMENT
- Decide on a controversial topic (debatable and interesting) In this case you are given your topic.
- Write an argumentative thesis statement.
- Generate ideas (free writing or brainstorming
l The Argumentative Thesis Statement
l The thesis statement should define the scope of the argument and make an assertion that is open to debate.
l Sample Argumentative Thesis Statements
l Something should be done on media bias.
This is not an effective argumentative thesis statement because it does not clearly state the writer’s idea.
The answers of questions like “what is that ‘something’ that should be done?” or “who should do it?” are not clear.
l Sample Argumentative Thesis Statements
l CNN is the best TV channel.
This is not an effective thesis statement. This sentence is not debatable as it involves personal choice or
preference.
l Sample Argumentative Thesis Statements
l There are 3 ways of media censorship.
This is not an argumentative thesis statement as the writer aims at listing the types of media censorship.
Therefore, the writer’s purpose of writing this essay is not to persuade the reader but to give information.
Also, the ways of media censorship are not open to debate, thus, not suitable for argumentation.
l Sample Argumentative Thesis Statements
l Newspapers should not identify people by color, race, or religious faith in any way.
This is an effective argumentative thesis statement. Firstly, the topic is open to discussion.
There may be people who would oppose this argument claiming that this kind of restriction would damage the
objectivity of the news. Therefore, the writer holds a clear stance. Above all, it is obvious that the writer’s
aim is not simply to inform the readers but to convince them to take his / her side in the debate.
STAGE 2: GENERATING IDEAS
l After formulating your argumentative thesis statement, you need to brainstorm a variety of supporting ideas,
counter arguments and ways to refute these opposing views.
l When Supporting your Argument
One important concern in writing an argumentative essay is to strengthen your argument. To do this, you need to
base your argument on sound evidence. In supporting your argument, the evidence that you include can be facts,
examples, support from authority (testimony), and statistics.
l Facts: data that have been objectively proven and are generally accepted (such as historical facts,
scientific data, statistics etc.)
l Examples: should be sufficient number of examples to prove the case.
l Opinions of experts
l Counter Arguments
One way to strengthen your argument is to show that you have a deep understanding of the issue and also to
show that you can anticipate and address the counterarguments or objections that your audience may have.
In this way you show that you have thought the issue in detail.
STAGE 3: ORGANIZING IDEAS INTO AN OUTLINE
l Create an outline for your essay by paragraph. This will help you include textual evidence and claims that you can
organize in an effective manner
STAGE 4: ACTUAL WRITING
l Begin writing your essay now that you have organized your thoughts
Introductory Paragraph
It is true that the first impression—whether it’s a first meeting with a person or the first sentence of a paper—sets the stage for a lasting impression. The introductory paragraph of any paper, long or short, should start with a sentence that peaks the interest of readers. In a typical essay, that first sentence leads into two or three other statements that provide details about the writer's subject or process. All of these sentences build up to the essay's thesis statement.
The introduction paragraph typically has:
· Attention-Getter (Lead-in)
· Set Up for the Thesis
· Thesis/Essay Map
Attention Getters & Lead-ins
To get a paper off to a great start, writers should try to have a first sentence thatengagestheir reader. This first sentence should bebroadly relatedto the topic of the essay.
Ways writers can begin:
Paradoxical or Intriguing Statement
Shocking Statement or Statistic
Rhetorical Question
Anecdote
Statement of the Problem
Proverb, Maxim, or Strong Statement
Set Up for a Thesis
After the attention getter or lead-in, writers need to gradually narrow the broad subject towards the thesis.
Gradually narrowing can:
providebackgroundinformation,
explainunderlying information,
describe thecomplexityof the issue,
introduce variouslayersof the subject, and
helptransitionfromthese more broad ideas to the narrow thesis.
Thesis Statements
A thesis statement manages to encapsulate an essay's main argument in a succinct, one-sentence comment. Beginner writers often times find it useful to create anessay map thesis,where the thesis briefly lists the areas that will be discussed in the essay.
A Thesis Statement:
has a clearly statedopinion,
but doesnot bluntly announcethe opinion ("In this essay I will..."),
isnarrowenough to write a focused essay,
but is alsobroadenough to write at least 3 body paragraphs,
is clearly stated inspecificterms,
iseasily recognizedas the main idea,
is forceful anddirect,
isnot softenedwith token phrases ("in my opinion" or "I think"), and
canlistthe 3 main points that will be made.
In the Introduction Paragraph
NEVER EVER EVER. . .
bluntlyannouncethe essay's intent ("In this essay I will...),
makeunreasonablestatements,
apologizefor the material that is being written ("In my humble opinion..."),
go into adetailed accountof the writing,
includerandom informationthat has nothing to do with the essay,
use an encyclopedia ordictionary definition("According to Webster's...), and
dilly-dally. Get to it. Move confidently into the essay
Sample Introduction Paragraph
...... [Attention-Getter]After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Towers and the Pentagon, the debate surrounding racial profiling in airports intensified. Many people believed that profiling was the best way to identify possible terrorists, but many others worried about violations of civil liberties. While some airports began to target passengers based solely on their Middle Eastern origins, others instituted random searches instead.[Begin setting-up the thesis]Neither of these techniques seems likely to eliminate terrorism. Now many experts in the government and in airport security are recommending the use of a national ID card or Safe Traveler Card.[Thesis]If every US citizen had such a card, airlines could screen for terrorists more effectively than they do now and avoid procedures that single out individuals solely on the basis of race.
Topic Sentences & (possible) Transitions
Readers like to know whythey're reading a particular passageas soon as possible.That's why topic sentences are placed at the beginnings of paragraphs. A topic sentence should contain themain ideaof the paragraph, and should follow the same rules as the thesis statement. Writers should start by writing down one of the main ideas, in sentence form; the topic sentence shouldframe the paragraph.
Transitions are a crucial part of every body paragraph, butnot all topic sentences require a transition. If writers are composing their 1st body paragraph, a transition within that first topic sentence will probably be useful. But if writers are composing their 2nd or 3rd body paragraph, a transition may not be necessary because the previous paragraph might have been concluded with a transition. Writers will have todecide where a transitionalword or phrase fits best.
Transitions that Introduce New Ideas:
First...second...third, Finally, Moreover..., ______is also..., In addition,Next...then...after..., Furthermore, Previously
Supporting Information & Evidence
Paragraphs should be constructed with some sense of internalorder, so after the topic sentence, writers will need to deliver their firstsupporting detail. Supporting details should be facts, statistics, examples, quotes, transitions, and other sentences which support the topic sentence.
To support the topic sentence, writers should:
explainthe first supporting detail, then
give anexampleof this detail (see example transitions below),
next writers shouldunpackthis example in a sentence or two, and then
repeatthis three-step process abouttwo more times
Writers should remember totransition betweennew supporting details within the paragraph. (See transitions above).
Good Transitions for Giving Examples:
For instance, Specifically, In particular, Namely, Another, Other, In addition, To illustrate
Conclusions & (possibly) Transition Statements
Some writers may want to include asummary sentence concluding each paragraph. Conclusions for each paragraph are not generally needed, however, becausesuch sentences canhave a tendency tosound stilted, therefore writers are cautioned about using them. If a conclusion statement is deemed necessary, writers might considersetting up for the next body paragraphby means of atransition statement.But again, writers will have to make a discretionary decision on whether or not such sentences are required.
If writing a conclusion statement, writers may also want toflag that they're concludingthe paragraph by offering aconcluding transition.
Transitions for Concluding Statements:
Therefore,
Thus,
Consequently,
As a result,
Transitions to set-up the next paragraph:
Another...
______is not the only..
Sample Body Paragraph
...... [Topic Sentence]Perhaps the cheapest and most efficient security method is a so-called Safe Traveler Card or national ID card.[Support Info.]A Safe Traveler Card or national ID card would be about the size of a credit card, contain a computer chip, and cost little to produce. In some ways, these cards are like the EZ Pass devices that enable people to drive on highways, bridges, and tunnels without having to stop and pay tolls (Dershowitz 590).[Unpack Supporting Info]By scanning the card, airport security officials would be able to obtain background information from government databases for every passenger: flying history, residence, credit-card spending, travel habits, phone records, criminal background, and fingerprint and iris patterns (Safire 587).[Concluding Statement]It is easy to see how such a card could expedite security checks at airports one could tell at a glance whether a person should be searched or let through.
Conclusion Paragraphs
Writers have just taken the reader through a organized and convincing essay. Nowreaders seek satisfactionby reading a conclusion statement thatwraps up all the main pointsnicely. Frequently, the ideas in the body of an essay lead to some significant conclusion that can be stated and explained in this final paragraph.
Writers should also provide the reader with afresh new outlookon the subject, leaving them thinking about the issue. In other words, the conclusion can gobeyond the requirements of the assignmentas it allows writers to consider broader issues, make fresh connections, and elaborate on the significance of the findings.
Good conclusions can even have astriking ending. It shouldevoke supportive emotionsin the reader, reflecting the same emotions the reader felt throughout the essay.Nothing is more disappointing to a reader than reaching a flat and boring ending.Concluding statements which refer back to the introductory paragraph (i.e. the attention-getter) are appropriate here; it offers a nice stylistic touch which brings the essay full circle.
The conclusion paragraphs typically:
· Revisits the Value of the Essay
· Restates the Thesis
· Reviews Main Points
· Considers unexplored areas
Leaves the reader thinking
Revisit the Value
Writers should remind the reader of themagnitude and timelinessof the issue.
Restate the Thesis
The thesis and the restatement of the thesis are cousins, not identical twins: They share key similarities, but they still look and sound like separate individuals. Make sure therestatement looks and sounds differentfrom the thesis.
Review the Main Points
Beginner writers can have a tenancy to sound like they're making a list when they review the main points of the essay. Read and re-read this section. Make sure itflows and smoothly fitsinto the conclusion paragraph without sounding like a list.
Considers Unexplored Ideas & Leave the Reader Thinking
Now is not the time to introduce new key arguments; that argument should have properly expressed in the body paragraphs. Instead, writers might want to extend the reader's understanding on the argument by showing new aspects of the "big picture." Writers can do this by discussing what the future would look like if the situation remains the same; if the essay is not persuasive, writers can perhaps paint a picture of the situation in a new way. Referring back to an anecdote or an attention-getter that was used in the introduction paragraph adds a nice stylistic ending. Writers should take some time to be creative in this part of the conclusion; they should find a way to add an artistic, creative but focused element to the ending.