1	Building Your Argument
2	Building your argument is like building a house. You need a plan You need a solid foundation You need walls to support You need a roof to enclose it
3	A blueprint helps you plan. Use your outline as your research plan Consider your materials What sources are going to offer accuracy and quality? Are they easy to use or do you need special skills? What kind of primary source data might be convincing?
4	Gather your materials. Research to understand both sides Look for quality information Authority Currency Purpose Look for value Relevancy Redundancy Confidence
5	Currency on the Internet. Look for a ìlast updatedî phrase Look for a bibliography at the bottom of the page or as a hyperlink
6	Confidence in Websites. Can you find information about the sponsor of the website? Can you find information about the author? Where do you find it? How easy is it to follow up? Can you tell the purpose of the site? Have you read this information in another reputable source?
7	Who you gonna trust? True Crimes Center for Media Literacy
8	What about Primary Sources? Reading hints Motive Strategy Values Truth content Relationship Online help: How to Read a Primary Source Repositories of Primary Sources Opposing Viewpoints
9	Analyze it before you accept it. Deceptive arguments Scare Tactics Generalizations Exaggerations Biases Fact based Application
10	Build your foundation. Based on your educated opinion Identify facts to support Identify ideas you will need to refute Written in your own language Shows you understand the issue Avoids plagiarism
11	What is Plagiarism? Failure to give credit to someone elseís thoughts, words or creative products Against federal law Against our district discipline code
12	How do I avoid it? Cite all your sources Use quotes when necessary Use the proper format to document citations within your text
13	What must be cited? Quotations Ideas Paraphrased Summarized Common knowledge used verbatim
14	How do I cite quotations? Must be exact wording Use [ ] to enclose words you added to clarify Writerís Handbook Must be cited using the right format Source must be introduced in your text Must be enclosed in quotation marks Other punctuation must be correct Writerís Handbook
15	How do I paraphrase ideas? Put it in your own words Maintain the authorís ideas, opinions and order Donít add your own opinions Be sure to cite the sources Online help: Writerís Handbook Writing Resources The Writing Place
16	How do I summarize ideas? Take notes on the main ideas Uses: Passage is too long Writing style is different from yours Meaning remains the same Must be cited
17	What is common knowledge? Certain well known facts Found in most reference books Must be cited if used verbatim from a text May not include your interpretation of facts (opinion) Writing Resources Writerís Handbook
18	How do I keep all this straight? Use note cards with the citation information Use several sources Helps you understand concepts Helps you identify common knowledge
19	How do I cite my sources? Follow the guidelines in your textbook Online help: Citing Electronic Sources Using MLA Style Citing Electronic Sources Using APA Style
20	Understanding Citing Logic
21	Works Cited
22	Works Cited
23	Add the walls. Identify your main points Use facts and your research to explain Be clear about your ideas Donít ignore the other side
24	The roof closes it up. Write your closing Restate your thesis statement Reinforce your arguments Make your final appeal
25	Clean up for Presentation. Edit for grammar, spelling, capitals, etc. Check your format Make sure margins are right Neatness counts Check your Works Cited page Format Capitals Punctuation