This is an actual picture of Stevenson Commons, my home, in Bronx, NY. The picture to the left was taken in 2015 while the picture on the right shows this transformation in the span of two years. Prior to this improvement in 2017, I lived under the same conditions as pictured on the left for 15 years without any visible change. However, upon the arrival of more white tenants in the area, the commons were bought out by new owners who established new rules and altered the home of the people who had settled there decades ago. While this may appear to be a clear improvement from the conditions pictured on the left, the purpose of these renovations lie in the owners need to please and impress the white tenants, as if their presence is worth greater quality of life than that of the minorities who had already lived in the area. This was my first time recognizing gentrification in my home.
ESSAY STRUCTURE
WHAT GOES IN THE INTRODUCTION?
GENERAL OPENING: this element has two purposes
1) introduce the reader to the overall topic of the essay/paper
2) to introduce the reader to the topic in an interesting way/to grab the readers attention.
a) You can open with a question, quote, brief personal experience, or interesting facts and observations.
b) You may use “I” only if you are relating a personal experience, but must revert back to 3rd person as soon as your experience has been related to the audience.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: this element of the introduction has the purpose of providing background on the OVERALL topic for the audience’s benefit, and to begin shaping the topic and developing the argument narrowing it down to a thesis. This information is provided by using the following elements:
1) Definition: formal (dictionary), extended (origins of the word), and personal definition.
2) Pertinent history and general knowledge on the topic.
3) Facts and Statistics that help give the audience a full understanding of the topic.
DEVELOPMENT OF ARGUMENT: This is part of the background information and must state the argument to your audience without taking a position. Briefly state what the argument is and define any terminology that needs to be defined. At the end of the paragraph, add the research argument question.
THESIS PARAGRAPH: state your position on the argument question in one sentence, and then state each point in their own sentence. The thesis paragraph should be four sentences.
1) Using one concise sentence state what your position is on the developed argument.
2) State in the thesis a “because” explaining why you feel this way.
3) Take one side of the argument or the other.
POINTS: State in three separate sentences three PRO points that support your thesis and a specific position on the argument. The pro points listed in the introduction will indicate how the body of the essay will organize the argument.
WHAT GOES INTO THE BODY OF AN ARGUMENT?
The body of the argument argues the pro points stated in the introduction of the essay. The points are arranged in the body in the same order as they are listed in the introduction. The body of a formal argument has two parts.
Body A: Argues the merits of your position discussing points 1, 2 and 3.
Body B: Recognizes the opposing viewpoints and refutes them.
BODY A:
Each pro point is stated in a topic sentence in the point paragraphs
Each point is discussed at length using analysis and argument/persuasive strategies (ethos, pathos or logos).
Examples of each point are given using a personal experience (personal experiences should only be used once in the entire essay/paper), or any applicable example that illustrates the point.
Supporting evidence is used throughout the point paragraphs to help prove your reasoning and position.
Use transitional sentences to move the reader from one point to the next point.
Throughout the discussion of the points, be sure you argue and connect the ideas back to your position or thesis. Use this structure for each of the pro points. You may have more than one paragraph per pro point.
Supporting Evidence:
Outside sources (one or more sources which should be primary or secondary sources) in the form of quotes, paraphrases, and summaries are used to support and give validation to your points and ideas in the argument. This is done throughout each point paragraph. Relate each citation to the point it supports and use proper MLA documentation for each citation.
TRANSITIONAL PARAGRAPH: a transitional paragraph is unique in that it can be very short, even one sentence long. Its single purpose is to move or shift the audience from the pro points to the second part of the body, the opposing viewpoints.
Note: If you choose to reverse the order of the body of your essay i.e. discuss cons before the pros, you will need to use an additional transitional paragraph after the introduction and before Body A and again between Body A and Body B when you shift the topic to pro points.
BODY B:
This second part of the body recognizes two opposing viewpoints of your argument. You must state each view point honestly and then refute it. 1st opposing view point:
1) briefly state the point honestly and thoroughly
2) refute the opposition’s position by arguing against this view using supporting evidence if necessary to back up your position.
2nd opposing view point: same as above: each opposing view point has its own paragraph. Each opposing view point can be one or two paragraphs long.
CONCLUSION: Restates your thesis/your position.
Summarize your points: Continue to argue your side without introducing new ideas, but by bringing your points together and showing how they are valid and present strong support for your thesis. A conclusion can be more than one paragraph.
Solutions: the conclusion should find solutions to the argument and discuss how, when, who, and what guidelines will be used to implement them. Solutions help the audience to see how feasible your point of view is, and how it would be reasonably put into practice if people agreed with your position.
Closing statement: use a statement that ends the essay gracefully and leads the reader to action or thoughtfulness on the argument.
WORKS CITED: a works cited page should follow the conclusion (on its own page) numbered sequentially after the last page of your text and formatted using the MLA style of documentation. It is usually not counted as part of the page requirement for the paper.
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