Basing your argument on evidence from research, argue that people looking to acquire a pet should go to an animal shelter or a rescue organization instead of a pet breeder

Begin your research. You might start with a general Google search and then a Google Scholar search, but you will also need to visit the AU Library databases to find sound academic articles.

Find two to six reputable secondary sources and review them carefully. At least one source should be a peer-reviewed journal article accessed through the AU Library databases.

Develop a straightforward thesis that is sufficiently limited in scope (meaning that you can do justice to it in a short essay). Do not begin this sentence with phrases such as “In this essay…,” “This essay will,” or “I will argue….”

Create a very brief outline for your essay.

Your essay must include all of the following:

1. An introduction that includes an interesting lead-in and an explanation/summary of what the issue is. (As necessary, convince your audience that the problem or issue exists and that it matters to others—or should.) Then, still in the introduction, briefly summarize each side of the issue, and finally, add a thesis/essay map that takes a stance and clarifies the purpose of your discussion.

2. Body paragraphs that develop your viewpoint. The more thorough and detailed this section, the better. Don’t leave any stone unturned. Use specific, logical examples, and integrate information from your research, as follows:

   Of the reputable secondary sources that you located and reviewed in Step 3, choose at least two (and no more than six) to use within your essay. Integrate paraphrases, summaries, and quotations from these sources into your essay. Then, every time you paraphrase, summarize, or quote, follow these four steps to cite and integrate the source properly:

   1. Introduce the source.
   2. Present the research.
   3. Credit the source parenthetically.
   4. Discuss.

   In other words, include “quotation sandwiches” and “paraphrase sandwiches” in your essay. Don’t just drop in quotations or paraphrases from sources into your essay. (Some experts call these “hit-and-run quotations,” “dropped quotations,” or “floating quotations.”)

3. Opposing arguments/rebuttal. There are a variety of ways to approach this component. You will do it differently based on whether you are following Pattern A or Pattern B, and based on what your approach to the topic requires. When writing persuasively, assume that your audience opposes your thesis. Then, as you write, try to foresee any possible objections the opposition might have to your argument, and address those objections as necessary. This might be as simple as a sentence in your introduction or a sentence or two within the body paragraphs. Depending on the debate, a paragraph after your introduction or before your conclusion might be necessary. Be mindful that the only reason to address opposing arguments is to rebut or refute them in order to further promote your thesis.

4. A concluding paragraph that reinforces and emphasizes the thesis and main points without repeating them. Remember that this is your final opportunity to impress your reader and to emphasize the significance of this debate.

Create a bibliography that lists every source you cited in your essay. (In MLA style, this page is titled “Works Cited,” while in APA style it is titled “References.”) Take this task seriously. We expect you to pay very close attention to detail and follow samples for each entry. We recommend the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)  for all citation matters.