Overview
For your assignment, you will create an argument paper explaining how you reached your verdict during the mock trial. Although there is not a lot you can do before the mock trial, I wanted to go ahead and send out some information about the paper and the best practices for writing it.
Argument Paper
Prepare an APA 7 formatted paper of no more than 10 text pages (double-spaced; title page, abstract, references, tables/charts in the appendix excluded) of the arguments that you heard during the mock trial. No “fluff” please! Make concise arguments with premises and a logical conclusion. Your paper needs to include at least 5 references (hopefully more) that you found (i.e., not course content) and have read.
- Your thesis statement will be the decision you reached. Then, you will structure your argument based on the evidence presented by the lawyers and witnesses during the mock trial.
- During the mock trial, I recommend pulling up a blank template (see attached outline) so that you can quickly fill in the premises and supporting information.
- After the trial go back and research the evidence that is presented during the trial to help write up your paper.
- Develop a bullet-pointed outline of your argument and the evidence (i.e.,
references) for the argument. This will help you stay on track of what you want to say in
this paper. - Be concise. If a sentence doesn’t really help you build the major argument, it means it’s
unnecessary. It’s a relatively short paper: if your paper does not get to the point and discusses
irrelevant issues or research, you will not be able to impress the grader. - Do not just list references. Don’t make the grader ask you a “so what?” question. Explain
why and how the references you’re citing is helping you build an argument. Make a coherent,
organized, and sound argument throughout the paper. Use a sandwich method: introduce the
topic, provide supporting evidence, and then explain the relevance of that information. - Quality over quantity! Make sure you include high-quality evidences (e.g., peer-reviewed
journal articles) to support your argument. Try to avoid anecdotal evidence (e.g. “I/my friends
have experienced”; “I believe/think”) – this will not help you earn points. Show the grader
that you’ve done your homework and did thorough searching and thinking!
Rank of the quality of references
1. Peer-reviewed journal articles
2. Book chapters
3. Class lectures/ textbook
4. Popular media/ mass media
5. Internet sources (e.g., wiki etc.)
6. Anecdotal evidence
- Make logical arguments. After all, it’s a debate. If you’re not logical, you can’t make a
sound argument of how you reached your conclusion/verdit. A sound argument consists of relevant premises (e.g. empirical or theoretical
evidence, usually a reference to research findings) and a logical conclusion from these pieces
of evidence. - Provide proper APA 7 writing style. Points will be deducted for improper use of APA
writing style.- DO NOT USE long direct quotations – direct quotations should only be used
when it is absolutely essential that you present the original author’s words verbatim – show the
grader that you digested the material and paraphrased it in your own words. - DO NOT INCLUDE first name of the author or his/her affiliation, or the title of the article/
journal. Please note that the grader will deduct more points for improper APA
style writing. - DO INCLUDE correct citation rules such as in-text citations, include title page, abstract, and
references.
- DO NOT USE long direct quotations – direct quotations should only be used
- Proofread before submitting. Typos and incomplete sentences (which are very often found
in student papers) can degrade your credibility and will likely lower your grade.