Additional Guidelines for Draft 2.1: Researched Argument

Below is a list of questions to help ensure that you have included all of the necessary components for your researched argument:

1. Does your introduction include a strong, clear, and specific thesis statement?
2. Is your argument focused on a narrow topic? Does you essay advance a specific argument rather than inform on your topic?
3. Are the specific rhetorical strategies you have selected to create your argument best suited to convince your selected audience?
4. How have you established your own credibility in your argument?
5. Have you fairly considered and addressed counterarguments? Do you cite sources that strongly present the counterargument?
6. Have you incorporated logical appeals into your argument?
7. Does you argument include six scholarly sources? Have you effectively integrated these sources into your writing and argument?
8. Have you considered the contexts of the articles you quote?
9. Is your your argument clearly organized? Does the design (five paragraph, headed sections, etc.) support your argument or distract from it?
10. Do your language choices consider the needs of your audience? Have you removed technical jargon, overly formal language, and cliches? Have you balanced your use of specific and general language?

Additionally, make sure to include a works cited list that reflects all of the sources you use in your argument, whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. Works cited and in-text citations should be in MLA format which you can review in your e-handbook or at Purdue's Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Also be sure to include a conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis.