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person and launch into a detailed conversation without saying hello, you don't jump right into the thesis and supporting evidence. You use the paper's introduction to establish the tone and provide a hook to grab your reader. At some point, you do want to mention the thesis. Most people find it easier to end the introduction with the thesis.

Ending the introduction with the thesis allows you to lead directly into the middle of your paper with the supporting evidence. This is what most books call "creating a transition." This allows you to lead your reader from one portion of the paper, for example, the introduction, to the next section of the paper. You can also use the transition technique to help you flow from one supporting argument to the next.

When you've finished discussing your final supporting argument, you're ready to present the conclusion. Once again, the name is a big clue. It's your final chance to provide one more reminder of the thesis you're proving with your supporting evidence. And finally, you move towards the future, providing some wider significance to leave your readers with a feeling of closure.

But before we close on our arguments, let's look at how to make your paper interesting using memorable prose. No, this doesn't mean you have to fill your sentences with words that require your readers to open the dictionary. You build memorable prose by determining who will be reading your paper and tailoring the language to them. Then set your tone. Will you be scholarly, literary, sarcastic, low-brow, high-brow, snarky or just plain smarmy? Whether you are writing a formal paper will determine if the point of view is in first or third person. It doesn't matter which you choose as long as you consistently use the same tone and point of view throughout the entire paper.

Consistency is one reason you were probably given advice to write the introduction and conclusion after you write your supporting arguments. Rereading your full paper after it is complete will let you determine how well the introduction's tone matches the final conclusion.

Speaking of conclusions, you've made it to the conclusion of my argumentative paper. If you've gotten this far, then that alone has proved an argumentative paper can hold a reader's interest. Or, it shows you're a masochist. Either way I am now at the end. At this point, I could wrap up the paper by wishing you well in all your future writing experiences. Or I could add some profound quotation about writing. Instead I'll just leave you with a list of references I found helpful in writing this paper.

References
OWL: On-line Writing Lab at Purdue
http://owl.english.purdu e.edu/handouts/research/

Cerrit os College: Writing an Argumentative Research Paper
http://www.cerritos.edu/l ibrary/guides/research/argumen tative_paper.html

How to Write an Argumentative Paper by T. G. McFadden
http://www.union.edu/l ibrary/srs/argumentative.pdf

UN C Writing Center Handout
http://www.unc.edu/dept s/wcweb/handouts/argument.html

Words that Stick; Rix Quinn; Ten Speed Press, 2004

The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing; Thomas S. Kane; Berkley Books, 2000

Learn more about this author, Judith Herman.
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