essay : argument v.summaries MLA format.Read the attached article and then answer the essay question. Be sure to include the required number of library data base sources, or the paper will not be grad

Summarizing v. Arguing

Be sure that your body paragraphs develop arguments and don’t just summarize the story.

What’s the difference between summarizing and arguing? A summary states the facts of what happened. An argument uses what happened (textual evidence) as support for a point you are trying to make.

Let’s look at the example below.

Summary:

Creon is the protagonist because his intentions are honorable ones. Creon passes a law stating that no one will be allowed to bury the body of Polynieces. This makes Antigone very angry, but he does not change his mind. Tiresias, the Chorus, and Haimon all try to convince him to reconsider his decision. Creon goes forward with his plans, though instead of having Antigone stoned to death, he decides to enclose her in a cave. Eventually, he does change his mind about the law and the punishment and buries Polyneices and releases Antigone from the cave, even though Antigone has already hung herself. Creon is very much the protagonist in the story.

Other than the topic and concluding sentences, there’s nothing in that paragraph that argues Creon as the protagonist. It’s just a summary of what happened.

Argument:

Creon is the protagonist because his intentions are honorable ones. When Creon passes the law forbidding anyone to bury Polyneices, he does so to set an example. His intention is to protect the city by showing what would happen to those who might attack the city. Yes, leaving an exposed body is against their religious law and certainly repulsive, but Creon does it for the good of the city. As a protagonist, he serves and protects not just himself, but others. Similarly, when Creon refuses to listen to the advice from others, it may seem like he doesn’t care what the people think. However, he makes it clear later on that he’s unwilling to excuse his family members from the expectations of following the law. He has to hold them just as responsible as he would any other citizen. This dedication to fairness is one of the qualities that make him a fair and just leader. Creon is the protagonist of the play because every law he makes and all of his actions are to protect the city and be fair to the citizens.

Notice how the textual evidence (what happened) is used as evidence for the argument that I am making.