Within the first paragraph (the introductory paragraph) it's advised to restate the argument. Is a straight copy/paste (or close to, if not adjusted slightly) ideal for this? Essentially, copying the argument verbatim helps eat up the word count and is also the most comprehensive--therefore the most E-rater friendly (right?).
For instance, I've restated the below argument; notice that, except for the first sentence, I didn't paraphrase anything else in the orignal argument, the rest is verbatim. Is this appropriate? How would
you do it?
THE ORIGINAL ARGUMENT:
Quote:
“Currently more and more books are becoming available in electronic form—either free-of-charge on the Internet or for a very low price-per-book on compact disc.* Thus literary classics are likely to be read more widely than ever before. People who couldn’t have purchased these works at bookstore prices will now be able to read them for little or no money; similarly, people who find it inconvenient to visit libraries and wait for books to be returned by other patrons will now have access to whatever classic they choose from their home or work computers. This increase in access to literary classics will radically affect the public taste in reading, creating a far more sophisticated and learned reading audience than has ever existed before.”
MY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH (note: i've provided only the restated-argument-portion of the first introductory paragraph, for sake of discussion):
Quote:
The argument claims that cheap and free books are now easily available in electronic form. Thus, literary classics are likely to be read more widely than ever before because people who couldn’t have purchased these works at bookstore prices will now be able to afford them for less money; similarly, people who find it inconvenient to visit libraries and wait for books to be returned by other patrons will now have access to whatever classic they choose from their home or work computers. Hence, this increase in access to literary classics will radically affect the public taste in reading, creating a far more sophisticated and learned reading audience than has ever existed before. ....