Tuck Everlasting Argumentative Research
If death is a natural part of life should humans try to control either?
Winnie Foster is faced with a decision: To drink or not to drink the spring water. She hears both sides; from Tuck, Winnie hears about the desperation and desire to return to the wheel of life, while from Jesse, Winnie is told of the beauty of eternal existence.
InTuck Everlasting, Winnie symbolizes the journey of life, beginning to end. Natalie Babbitt portrays this journey through life as an obligatory, mandatory one. So, if death is a natural part of life, should humans try to control either?
Think about these controversial issues: Life support systems, euthanasia, capital/corporal punishment, organ transplants, stem cell research, cancer/disease cures,The Human Genome Project,What is informed consent? What does it really cover?What is the Hippocratic Oath and how should it be applied?
Your mission:
Choose 2/3 topics from the above list (or come up with your own but have it approved by Mrs. F).
Research the pro and con positions of these issues and write an argumentative essay discussing both sides.
Each student will be responsible for finding supporting evidence as well as defense against a rebuttal for this evidence.
CITE YOUR SOURCES. Plagiarism will not be tolerated…Zeros will be given until work is completed properly.
We will then hold a debate as a culminating activity at the conclusion of our research paper.
Argumentative Paper Format
Outline in Preparation
I. INTRODUCTION
· 1-2 paragraphs
· PURPOSE: To set up and state one’s claim
· OPTIONAL ELEMENTS:
o Make your introductory paragraph interesting. How can you draw your readers in?
o What background information, if any, do we need to know in order to understand your claim? If you don’t follow this paragraph with a background information paragraph, please insert that info here.
· REQUIRED ELEMENTS:
o Provide a brief explanation of your issue/theory.
· Thesis: STATE your PERSONAL claim at the end of your introductory paragraph: What do you believe? Which side are you taking?
II. BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH
· 1-2 paragraphs max
· PURPOSE: Lays the foundation for proving your argument.
· Will often include:
o Summary of works being discussed
o Definition of key terms
o Explanation of key theories
III. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1
· PURPOSE: To prove your argument. Usually is one paragraph but it can be longer.
· Topic Sentence: What is one item, fact, detail, or example you can tell your readers that will help them better understand your claim/paper topic? Your answer should be the topic sentence for this paragraph.
· Explain Topic Sentence
· Introduce Evidence: Introduce your evidence either in a few words (As Dr. Brown states ―…‖) or in a full sentence (―To understand this issue we first need to look at statistics).
Claim: Keeping assault weapons out of private citizens’ hands can lower the increasing occurrences of barbaric public slayings.
Evidence: Jul 93 Law firm murders, Columbine School Shootings, University of Virginia incident
· Explain Evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing us? How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make in this paragraph? Can be opinion based and is often at least 1-3 sentences.
· Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts how the topic sentence of this paragraph helps up better understand and/or prove your paper’s overall claim.
IV. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2, 3, 4 etc.
· Repeat above
V. COUNTERARGUMENT PARAGRAPH
· PURPOSE: To anticipate your reader’s objections; make yourself sound more objective and reasonable. Usually 1-2 paragraphs.
· What possible argument might someone pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your reasoning? Insert one or more of those arguments here and refute them.
· Addressing the opposite side actually makes your argument stronger!
· End paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim as a whole.
VI. CONCLUSION: SUM UP & “SO WHAT?”
· PURPOSE: Remind readers of your argument and supporting evidence
· The conclusion should bring the essay to a logical end. It should explain what the importance of your issue is in a larger context. Your conclusion should also reiterate why your topic is worth caring about.
· Some arguments propose solutions or make prediction on the future of the topic.
· Show your reader what would happen if your argument is or is not believed or acted upon as you believe it should be.
· Your conclusion should serve as the climax of your paper. So, save your strongest analytical points for the end of your essay, and use them to drive your conclusion
OUTLINE WORKSHOP
INTRODUCTION
THESIS:
BACKGROUND
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #1
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #2
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #3
COUNTERARGUMENT
SUM UP CONCLUSION
Sum up claim + supporting evidence statements
SO WHAT CONCLUSION