Argumentative Essay

A minimum of 5 full, double-spaced pages required
Use Times New Roman 12-inch font with 1-inch margins
Use correct MLA in-text and final citations
Final citations belong on a separate page (titled Works Cited) that does not count towards the minimum 5.

Remember that you want to write analytically and argumentatively about the author’s choices and how they affect readers. So, based on those few details or devices that stood out to you about the text, create an argumentative thesis statement. Asking and answering questions about your text will help you get to a tentative thesis. In addition to a firm thesis, MLA citations, and formatting, be sure to achieve the following:
Discuss in depth at least one literary device from course materials like our anthologies, PowerPoints, handouts, and lectures. You may choose to add the device(s) to your thesis.
These five pages should be focused, without fluff, provide a few brief quotes, and analyze those quotes in a way that support your thesis.
However, you may include up to two secondary sources. I recommend that you begin writing first, then ask questions of the text and of your work to see where and what kind of source would best help you. That way, the other sources won’t overtake your own voice and derail your argument. Though not required, these secondary sources may be as simple as historical or biographical information or as complex as an article on a similar text/topic. Please evaluate the reliability of your sources.
While you should have an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion, they must all be completely focused on the text and the significance of the details and devices you are discussing. This means that you might discuss why these details are important for the text at the beginning and end of your essay. Or, you could discuss the significance as you analyze certain quotes in the body of the paper.