Argumentative Writing
Greater Albany Public Schools
TOPIC
Example: Children should be protected from secondhand smoke.
EVIDENCE
Example: According to the Center for Disease Control, about 3,400 non-smokers die annually from lung cancer related to secondhand smoke. The CDC also indicates that children are particularly vulnerable and can develop ear infections, asthma attacks, shortness of breath, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
ANALYSIS
Example: Each year that passes with no action is another year that lives will be put in harm's way. Opponents say smokers have the right to smoke in their own homes, but if they are smoking in such a way that they are putting others at risk, this is unfair and unjust. If the two come into conflict, a child's right to clean air should be valued over a person's right to smoke.
Citing Sources
A student using the article “Anatomy of a Cigarette” by Dr. Jeffrey Wigand might cite the article in a number of ways. Here are several ways one could cite the following passage: “Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Some of them are potent carcinogens.”
1. Summarizing: The article states there are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke (Wigand 1).
2. Quoting: According to research, “tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals” (Wigand 1).
3. Author’s name included in text: According to Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, there are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, some of which are strong carcinogens (1).
4. If the author’s name was not available, use a shortened version of the title of the work, and put it in quotation marks in the parentheses
For example: The article states there are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke (“Anatomy” 1).