Download Argumentative Synthesis Essay Topic

ENGL 1013:Writing an Argumentative Synthesis Essay
Length: 3-5 pages
Topic: After reading in MHR “Security Versus Civil Liberties” pp. 141-143, “Acts of Resistance” pp. 145-150,
“Face Facts: Patriot Act Aids Security, Not Abuse” pp. 152-153, and “The Patriot Act of the 18th Century” pp. 155156, develop a thesis on the topic of whether the USA Patriot Act is an effective response to a terrorist threat.
Develop a thesis and use citations and examples from the four essays to support your point of view while
remembering that you should also refute arguments against your own.
Defining the argumentative synthesis essay
An argumentative synthesis uses two or more sources and is meant to be persuasive, which means that it should
present an argument supporting an assertion or claim. You are trying to persuade your reader on a topic, and your
goal is to figure out which of the various articles you are using support your claim and then present that information
to your readers in an orderly, logical fashion. You will be using all of the skills you have learned so far this
semester: summarizing, paraphrasing, critical reading, etc. You will also be using new skills like appeals,
counterarguments, etc. This paper is similar to the explanatory synthesis essay; the difference is that you will be
including your own claim (opinion) in your thesis and then organizing summaries of the sources into a cohesive
paper that supports your thesis.
General guidelines for writing the argumentative synthesis essay (suggestions, not a formula)
 Consider your purpose--carefully read and annotate the sources. After identifying the thesis statements and
topic sentences in your sources, identify which statements and sentences are pertinent to the topic. Finally,
respond to the source material by forming your own opinion.
 Formulate a thesis statement by writing your opinion as a claim--a proposition or conclusion you are trying to
prove or demonstrate.
 Decide how you will use the source material by 1) summarizing the sections from your sources that support
your claim and list them, grouping similar ideas together, and 2) recognize arguments against your claim so
that you can develop counterarguments to them.
 Develop an organizational plan for the essay by considering both your thesis and the groupings of the
summary statements you have developed.
 Develop your argument strategies by using logos, ethos, and pathos appeals.
 Write the first draft of your argumentative synthesis by stating your thesis and then using direct quotations,
paraphrases, and short summaries from the sources to support your thesis.
 Use MLA style to include parenthetical citations after all summarized, paraphrased, and quoted material within
your essay. See page 471 in LB Brief for examples.
 Include a “Works Cited” page using MLA style. Also see the model essay on page 479 in LB Brief for an
example.
 Revise your argumentative synthesis essay. Check for style. Avoid a series of short, choppy sentences.
Combine sentences for a smooth, logical flow of ideas. Finally, check for grammatical correctness,
punctuation, and spelling.
Paper requirements
The essay must be typed, double-spaced on one side of 8.5 x 11 inch white paper. Use a 12 point font and standard
margins. Your name should be typed at the top of the page along with my name, ENGL 1013, and the time the class
meets. Double space from this heading and center your title (required), and then double-space and begin the essay.
Pages should be numbered. Essays not following these guidelines will not be accepted.