Your argumentative essay will be on an environmental topic from the list of options below. Consider your audience for this paper to be your peers. The essay should be between 3 ½ and 4 pages (850 to 1,000 words) in length, not including the cover page, abstract, or reference page. In this paper, you will be demonstrating your ability to synthesize information from differentinto a coherent argument that is properly documented. Your papershould be double spaced in Times New Roman 12 point font and must include:

An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion
a clearly articulated thesis that states the claim, position, or stance that your essay will prove in the introduction to your paper
4 cited sources, at least 2 of these sources should come from the MDC databases
At least 4 quotes from your sources
Topic sentences that focus the discussion in the body paragraphs
Examples, details, and explanations, and other researched evidence in the body paragraphs that clearly support the claim of your thesis
Counterarguments and refutations that show you understand the complexity of your argument and can accurately acknowledge the views of the opposition and refute them
Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs (coherence)
Proper APA style format in the cover page, in the abstract, in the in-text citations, and in the Reference page (see the template and instructional video for creating the APA format)
Reference page listing a minimum of four sources
Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics