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ENGL1A 27 March 2014

ENGL1A 27 March 2014. Agenda. Elements of argument essays Analyzing an argument RWR group 7: Tuesday! Essay 3 D1: Tuesday!. Unique opportunity. Trip to L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA) April 5 Cost: $4 (if you have paid your college service fee)

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ENGL1A 27 March 2014

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  1. ENGL1A27 March 2014

  2. Agenda • Elements of argument essays • Analyzing an argument • RWR group 7: Tuesday! • Essay 3 D1: Tuesday!

  3. Unique opportunity • Trip to L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA) • April 5 • Cost: $4 (if you have paid your college service fee) • Flier is going around; write down the information if you are interested.

  4. Essay #3: Argument • Details are on Blog • Note: 3 sources are required • You may use the same sources for your Essay #4 (Devil’s Advocate), if you wish.

  5. What’s the point? • To influence readers’ thinking on the issue • Change their minds • Confirm their opinions • Supply them with reasons/evidence to support writer’s position • Convince them to look at the issue in a new way • Move them to take action • Establish common ground on which people might be able to agree • Win their respect for a different point of view

  6. The issue you choose to argue • Must be related in some way to your concept. • Should be: • Controversial: an issue that people disagree about • Arguable: a matter of opinion on which there is no absolute proof or authority • One about which you already know something or want to know more. • One that you can research. • One that you care about.

  7. Argument essays • Well-presented issue • Well-supported position • Effective counterargument • Readable plan

  8. 1) Well-presented issue • Frame the issue in a way that promotes your position. • This paper is not meant to be objective. • Use examples/statistics to show how many people are affected by issue/how they are affected. • Use scenarios/anecdotes that resonate with readers’ own experiences and raise their concern • Quote authorities/research studies to show that the issue deserves attention.

  9. 2) Well-supported position • Declare your position in your thesis statement early in the essay • Your argument must be plausible: • Are your “facts” widely accepted as true/complete? • Are your examples/anecdotes representative & illustrative or idiosyncratic & manipulative? • Are your cited authorities credible & trustworthy? • Are your statistics taken from reliable sources and representative population samples?

  10. Examples of a thesis • When overzealous parents and coaches impose adult standards on children’s sports, the result can be activities that are neither satisfying nor beneficial to children. • What is the issue being argued? • What might be controversial about it? • Why is it arguable? • What words show the author’s view?

  11. Examples of a thesis • North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are the greatest threat to U.S. national security since the Cold War. • What is the issue being argued? • What might be controversial about it? • Why is it arguable? • What words show the author’s view?

  12. Examples of a thesis • If a Chaffey College student has an “A” in a given class before finals week, that student should not have to take the final exam for that class. • What is the issue being argued? • What might be controversial about it? • Why is it arguable? • What words show the author’s view?

  13. Strengthen your thesis • Use the word “should.” • Use superlative adjectives (best, worst, most dangerous).

  14. 3) Effective counterargument • Respond to [possible] reader objections by: • Acknowledging readers’ concerns and points of view • Conceding an objection and modifying the argument to accommodate it • Refuting readers’ objections or arguing against opposing positions • P. 197: verbiage for concession & refutation • I understand that it is inconvenient to have to park on the street during construction, but I think that residents will be much happier once the parking garage is completed.

  15. 4) Readable plan • Explain the issue (this may seem like a repetition of your concept paper). • Provide a reasoned argument. • Back everything up with solid support & clear citations. • “How do you know that?” • “Who says?”

  16. Inductive v. Deductive reasoning • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXW5mLE5Y2g

  17. Inductive reasoning • Starts with observations • Ends with a conclusion • Joe carries a gun to work. • Joe wears a uniform. • Joe drives a black and white car. • Therefore: Joe is a police officer

  18. Deductive reasoning • Begins with a hypothesis (thesis) • Support follows hypothesis • Joe is a police officer. • (This is shown by:) • Joe carries a gun to work. • Joe wears a uniform. • Joe drives a black and white car.

  19. Analyzing an argument (+20 points) • Read: Let Kids Run Wild Online • Part 1: Summarize the author’s argument (3-4 sentences) • Part 2: Explain whether you agree or disagree with the author’s argument (5-6 sentences). • Include at least 2 quotes from the article to support your explanation.

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