1. Blog #2: Using Sources
Expand on the topic of your cause/effect essay to give it a persuasive slant. Start your blog entry by writing
one complete sentence stating the debatable topic and explaining what your opinion is (what side of the
debate you’re on). Here is an example, from one of the sample persuasive papers posted in Bb: “Dogs should
not be discriminated against solely because of their breeds.”
Next, watch the “Using Sources” video link, where I walk you through searching the library databases, as
well as Bedford’s “Evaluating Sources” website and Harvard’s “Your Source’s Role” website. Then search
the library databases to identify a credible journal article that you may use in your paper (you’re not
stuck using this source in the final paper – this exercise is to get you thinking about credibility and how a
source will provide evidence to back up your opinions).
In the blog, under your opinion statement sentence, you will post an annotated bibliography entry for a
JOURNAL ARTICLE. See the posted example of an annotated bibliography entry which is posted in
Blackboard with these blog instructions. Refer to the MLA formatting links within the Persuasive
Research Paper folder under Weekly Units to see the Works Cited entry format for your particular type
of source (article from a database will fit most of your sources for this blog). In paragraph ONE,
summarize the article’s main points and evidence. Don’t include specific quotes or facts and figures here
– keep it general, and make sure you don’t unintentionally use any of the source’s exact words, since
that would be plagiarism.
In paragraph TWO, evaluate the credibility of the article. Why is the source reliable? Who is the author
and why is he/she a credible source? Who is the audience?
In a final paragraph, discuss the source’s usefulness in your persuasive paper. Using the categories and
terminology from the Harvard “Your Source’s Role in Your Paper” website, explain what role this source
will play in your argument.
In the end, your final blog entry will contain five things: your statement of opinion, the Works Cited
entry for your article, a paragraph summarizing its points, a paragraph evaluating its credibility, and a
final paragraph showing how it will be used in your essay.
NOTES: The blogs and journals don’t always format nicely, so if you end up with wonky line spacing and
indentation, it’s okay for this blog entry. Also, this is an OPEN blog, so you can all read one another’s
entries.