How to Use Parenthetical References in an Argumentative Essay
- 1). Research your topic thoroughly, familiarizing yourself with research that both supports and refutes your argument. In order to effectively make your case, it's imperative that you gain a clear understanding of the logic and research of opposing viewpoints, as well as of evidence that adds authority to your opinion. Your essay will need to acknowledge both. Otherwise, your argument will lose its validity for the reader.
- 2). Write a rough draft of your argumentative essay using your own ideas. The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University advises you to use strong transition sentences to wrap up each point and introduce the next logical idea, leading your reader progressively through your argument.
- 3). Integrate quotes and ideas from your research into your essay. Your research informed and buttressed your rough draft, and now it's time to insert facts, statistics and testimony that substantiate your position. Don't leave out opposing data, but make sure you follow it with factual evidence that emphasizes weaknesses in the viewpoint, whether it's based on outdated research or fails to consider relevant details.
- 4). Enclose direct quotes from sources in quotation marks, and follow all parenthetical references with in-text citations in the formatting style dictated in your assignment instructions. For example, according to Purdue's Online Writing Lab, in Modern Language Association, or MLA style, if the reference author's name is provided in the sentence, follow the sentence with a space, the page number for the source in parentheses and the proper punctuation. If the author's name isn't referenced in the statement, include the author's last name and the page number in parentheses.
- 5). Proofread your revised draft, making sure your references are incorporated smoothly and logically. If you notice awkward transitions between your parenthetical references and your own ideas, rework your paragraphs to improve the flow of your essay.
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