Check List for Argument Paper Final Copy

Cover/Title Page

APA format to be used in entire paper

Header has a shortened title 50 character of fewer, three words or fewer, and has page number with a tab
Insert page breaks (2), on title page and after concluding paragraph
Capitalize important words in title, 1 st and all words other than prepositions and articles
Avoid titles that are complete sentences
Date should be changed to the date paper is submitted; goes last in list of information
Spell DeVry correctly; put course and professor on same line after title
Do not use bold or italics or different size fonts unless required, as in books and newspapers: italicize

Body/Argument

Thesis paragraph

Explain, set up the problem and say why the situation is important to argue
Move in a triangle direction, going from wide to narrow and then back to wide for the thesis statement.
Finish with point to be argued, your thesis statement.
Never end the paragraph with a quote, or citation, or fact.
Thesis statement has key words from title but title comes last in process
Topic should argue a social issue, something that is a problem or controversial in our society
Avoid moral or theological topics

Support

Topic sentences need Transition + Key words + Point (to be shown in this paragraph
Introduce sources; identify source (Google) tell what person does, tell where article appeared
Use verbs like shows, explains, points out, and argues when saying what your author writes. (Avoid “He wrote an
article on X topic or called X. Say what the author
Unpack the quotes, explaining in your own words
Can have multiple sources in same paragraph
Include in-text citations for all paraphrases & quotes, at least one for each paragraph but often more than once
Proof read all material for correct grammar and punctuation.
Reintroduce source and use verbs such as adds, continues, further points out
Don’t end a paragraph with a fact or a quote or a citation.

References

Last page is the references page and has the word References at the top, centered
References are arranged in alphabetical order, by last name, first initial
Capitalize first letter of title of article
References should be formatted with hanging indents

Avoid “ghost” pages