CCELA Regents Exam Argumentative Essay CCELA Regents Exam

CCELA Regents Exam Argumentative Essay

CCELA Regents Exam Argumentative Essay • Is the most heavily weighted part of the CCELA English Exam • Will require the most exam time to prepare for and write • Is the easiest part to “study” for, once you understand what the requirements are, because you are good critical thinkers and good writers

Argumentative Essay = a mini research paper. • You must cite outside sources (not just info from your head) • You must QUOTE those outside sources • You must CITE those outside sources

Argumentative Essay = a mini research paper. • Use your outside info to SUPPORT YOUR THESIS • You should address the COUNTERCLAIM, AKA the OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT (this means, mention it and, if possible, try to discredit it; DO NOT support the other side!)

Argumentative Essay = a mini research paper. • You must organize your essay into paragraphs • You should have a formal writing style (don’t use “I”, and remember to use transitions)

Argumentative Essay Game Plan 1. Learn the exam lingo; be sure to define terms you don’t yet know. 2. Make sure you understand what is being asked of you and what you are REQUIRED to do; commit this to memory. 3. CLOSELY READ and ANNOTATE all of the texts provided in the task. 4. Formulate an opinion and, consequently, a THESIS that you can support. 5. Choose three or four examples (QUOTES!) from the texts that you will use to SUPPORT your side of the argument. (MINIMUM OF THREE)

Argumentative Essay Game Plan 6. Identify and ACNOWLEDGE the COUNTERCLAIM to the side of the argument you have chosen. 7. Create an outline for this essay, including QUOTES and CITATIONS; include the COUNTERCLAIM (and rebuttal). 8. Write the essay! 9. Edit it for conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation) and make sure you have PROPERLY CITED a minimum of THREE different sources.

Argumentative Essay Game Plan 10. Do a happy dance because you have just finished writing a REALLY important essay that will help you ace the CCELA Regents Exam! (P. S. , It will also make your research paper feel like a piece of cake! )