1 / 15

Writing to Convince: Argumentative Essay

Writing to Convince: Argumentative Essay. Position statement reminders. Is the thesis of your paper Should specifically state what you are trying to convince your audience to believe and/or do Should express your opinion (not a fact) about the issue under discussion

marnin
Download Presentation

Writing to Convince: Argumentative Essay

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Writing to Convince:Argumentative Essay

  2. Position statement reminders • Is the thesis of your paper • Should specifically state what you are trying to convince your audience to believe and/or do • Should express your opinion (not a fact) about the issue under discussion • Should advance an argument that is controversial—there is an audience to convince • Often includes the word “should” • Examples • “More consumers should purchase hybrid cars in an effort to combat pollution.” • “Drivers under the age of twenty-one who have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit should immediately lose their licenses, and they should not be allowed to drive again for at least two years.”

  3. Elements of Argument: The Toulmin Method TheToulmin Method of logic is a common and easy to use formula for developing your main arguments. The basic format for the Toulmin Method is as follows: • Claim: The overall thesis [position statement] the writer will argue for • Data: Evidence gathered to support the claim • Warrant (also referred to as a bridge): Explanation of why or how the data supports the claim, the underlying assumption that connects your data to your claim • Qualifier: specific limits, conditions applied to the claim/warrant • Backing (also referred to as the foundation): Additional logic or reasoning that may be necessary to support the warrant • Rebuttal: Evidence that negates or disagrees with a counterargument Weida, Stacy, and Karl Stolley. "Organizing Your Argument." Purdue OWL: Establishing Arguments. Purdue University, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.

  4. Toulmin Model

  5. Elements of Argument:The Toulmin Method • Claim: • The federal government should ban smoking. • Reasons/data: • Smoking causes serious diseases in smokers. • Nonsmokers are endangered by secondhand smoke. • Warrants: • The Constitution promises to “promote the general welfare.” • Citizens are entitled to protection from harmful actions by others. Weida, Stacy, and Karl Stolley. "Organizing Your Argument." Purdue OWL: Establishing Arguments. Purdue University, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.

  6. Elements of Argument: The Toulmin Method • In real-world arguments, warrants are often left implicit rather than explicit, such as in the following advertisement: • Claim: You should buy our tooth-whitening product. • Data: Studies show that teeth are 50% whiter after using the product for a specified time. • Warrant: People want whiter teeth. • “Including a well-thought-out warrantor bridge is essential to writing a good argumentative essay or paper. If you present data to your audience without explaining how it supports your thesis, your readers may not make a connection between the two or they may draw different conclusions.” Weida, Stacy, and Karl Stolley. "Organizing Your Argument." Purdue OWL: Establishing Arguments. Purdue University, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.

  7. Elements of Argument: The Toulmin Method • “Don't avoid the opposing side of an argument. Instead, include the opposing side as a counterclaim. Find out what the other side is saying and respond to it within your own argument. This is important so that the audience is not swayed by weak, but unrefuted, arguments. Including counterclaims allows you to find common ground with more of your readers. It also makes you look more credible because you appear to be knowledgeable about the entirety of the debate rather than just being biased or uniformed. You may want to include several counterclaims to show that you have thoroughly researched the topic.” Weida, Stacy, and Karl Stolley. "Organizing Your Argument." Purdue OWL: Establishing Arguments. Purdue University, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.

  8. Arranging ArgumentPath #1: Five-Paragraph Theme • Probably most familiar to you • College professors hate it when it becomes too formulaic and/or restricts critical thinking. • Components: • Opening paragraph “hooks” the reader and provides thesis. • Each body paragraph (usually 3) has a topic sentence that grows from the thesis. • The conclusion “restates” and emphasizes the importance of the thesis. Jolliffe, David A., and Hephzibah Roskelly. "Argument." Writing America: Language and Composition in Context. Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2014. 107-26. Print.

  9. Arranging ArgumentPath #1: Five-Paragraph Theme • Essay question: What were the major causes of the Civil War? • Sample introduction: The American Civil War, 1861 to 1865, was tremendously destructive, both in terms of loss of life and devastation of property. Three major causes of this unfortunate event were disagreements about the rights of states versus those of the federal government, the controversy over the enslavement of African Americans, and the differences in ideology related to an agricultural economy in contrast to an industrial economy. • Sample conclusion: Given the complexity of the disagreements over states’ rights, the intensity of ill feelings about slavery, and the conflicts between an industrial and an agrarian way of life, one might perceive that the American Civil War was inevitable. It’s unfortunate that three such strong forces converged at the time and place they did. Jolliffe, David A., and Hephzibah Roskelly. "Argument." Writing America: Language and Composition in Context. Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2014. 107-26. Print.

  10. Arranging ArgumentPath #1: Five-Paragraph Theme • Jolliffe and Roskelly’s commentary on the five-paragraph theme (p. 116): • DOES create a “frame” or “box” with helpful “signposts” for the reader • DOES NOT invite readers to think deeply about your topic and join in your conclusion • DOES NOT allow the reader to “talk back,” or engage with the writer • “Five-paragraph themes generally don’t make for interesting reading or persuasive writing.” Jolliffe, David A., and Hephzibah Roskelly. "Argument." Writing America: Language and Composition in Context. Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2014. 107-26. Print.

  11. Arranging ArgumentPath #2: Six-Part Oration Model • “The Classical Oration” • Devised by Greek and Roman rhetoricians two thousand years ago for presenting cases in courts or making speeches to the senate • Elements of classical oration still influence our attitudes toward persuasion, especially political speeches and debates, because the oration taught speakers and writers to think of arguments as debates that have winners and losers. • Cicero: Considered the greatest of ancient Roman Orators

  12. Arranging ArgumentPath #2: Six-Part Oration Model • Exordium (introduction): the web that draws audience in; introduces topic and makes audience receptive • Narration (background): establishes background/context for the topic • Partition (forecast and thesis): divides the topic into parts and commits to a thesis, provides a “blueprint” for the essay • Confirmation (development of points): offers supporting arguments that substantiate the thesis; includes reasons, details, illustrations, examples • Refutation (consideration of opposing positions): considers possible objections to the thesis or its supporting points and tries to counter those objections • Peroration (conclusion): draws argument together, makes final persuasive case for audience Jolliffe, David A., and Hephzibah Roskelly. "Argument." Writing America: Language and Composition in Context. Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2014. 107-26. Print.

  13. Arranging ArgumentPath #3: Rogerian Argument • Developed by 20th-century psychologist Carl Rogers • Rather than focusing on “winners” and “losers” in a controversial situation, Rogerian argument focuses on establishing common ground.

  14. Arranging ArgumentPath #3: Rogerian Argument • Introduction: present topic and admit people have different views • Benefit of discussing the topic: explain why people with different views should explore the topic together • Thesis and objections: present your thesis (position statement) briefly and examine opposing viewpoints in detail • Development of your argument: explain your thesis more fully and compare/contrast with opposing viewpoints • Common ground: show where there is common ground between your views and other views • Conclusion: reaffirm your position, call for continued discussion to produce more common ground Jolliffe, David A., and Hephzibah Roskelly. "Argument." Writing America: Language and Composition in Context. Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston, 2014. 107-26. Print.

  15. So…what next? • Ask yourself: What type of arrangement will best suit my topic, my audience, and my intended outcome? Perhaps give Rogerian argument a try!

More Related