Argumentative and Persuasive Writing Terms

Argumentative and Persuasive Writing Terms Ms. Cook Pre-AP English 9

Argument • Discussion in which reasons are put forward in support of and against a claim. The argument needs to meet several requirements in order to be a valid argument and not merely an effort to persuade.

To be considered an argument: • The central claim needs to be debatable. • The claimneeds to be supported by evidence. • The writer needs to address the opposition by acknowledging other claims and the evidence supporting them.

Argument vs. Persuasion • Argument contains a reasoned examination of both sides of the issue. Provides several reasons for their side while acknowledging opposing counterclaims. • Persuasion tries to aggressively convince the reader to agree with their point of view. • Persuasion is often about “winning” while argument is not.

Argument has 3 major purposes • To change a reader’s or listener’s point of view. • To ask the reader or listener to take action. • To gain acceptance of the writer’s ideas about a problem or issue.

Claim • Clear and straightforward statement of the writer’s belief about the topic. • Where does a claim belong? • In the introduction.

Reasons • Offered in support of your claim, developed through a variety of evidence. • Where do the reasons go? • In the body paragraphs.

Evidence • Facts, examples, statistics or anecdotes used in the reasons to support the claim.

Counterclaim • Claim made by the other side that opposes the claim of an argument.

Concession • Restating valid counterclaims made by the opposing side.

Refutation • Writer’s arguments against those opposing viewpoints. • Explains why the writer’s position is more valid.

Conclusion • Closing statements restating the major arguments in defense of the claim.

Call to Action • Final challenge to the reader to take action.

Validity • Whether an argument is logical, reasonable and believable. Invalid: Milky Way is the best because it was created by elves at Hogwarts.

Credibility • The trustworthiness of a source. Someone who has never played video games is not a credible source about the best 1st person shooter game on the market.

Argument is putting forth and defending claims. To be a valid argument it needs to have a debatable claim supported by evidence. Argument is the refined, classier older brother of persuasion. A good argument has a claim (like a thesis) and reasons, plus a counterclaim from the other side. It ends with a call to action, or what you want the reader to do.

Argumentative and Persuasive Writing Terms