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The Prompt: What to do first • Deconstruct the prompt. Annotate so that you understand exactly what they are asking you to argue. Then decide whether you will defend (support; assert), challenge (refute; go against), or qualify (explain the complexity of the issue; set limitations) the argument.
Introduction • In the argument essay, there is more of a need for an established intro paragraph, unlike the analysis essay. In the intro you need to have a “hook” to draw the reader in to the topic. Introduce the subject at hand and include material that will make the audience attentive and receptive to your argument. Then, it would be beneficial to offer some background material on the topic. After the background, divide the argument and narrow it to which aspect you are going to argue. You don’t have to argue the whole issue; you can narrow it to one aspect and make it your own. Then you should state your thesis or make your claim.
Thesis Statement • Remember a good argument thesis follows these four guidelines: 1. It has one main idea, 2. It is adequately narrowed or broadened to fit the nature of the assignment, 3. It takes on a topic upon which reasonable people could disagree, and 4. It states a claim/asserts a conclusion.
Thesis Templates • Sample Defend Thesis Templates:I agree that __________________because my experience with ______________confirms it.X is surely right about _______________because recent studies have shown that _______________.X’s theory of _________is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of _________. • Sample Challenge Thesis Templates:I think X is mistaken because she overlooks______________________.X’s claim that _____________rests upon the questionable assumption that____________________.By focusing on ________________, X overlooks the deeper problem of _____________________. • Sample Qualify Thesis Templates:Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his/her overall conclusion that _______________.Though I concede that ____________, I still insist that________________.While X is probably wrong when he claims that ________________, she is right that ________________.
Structure • Arguments can be structured in many ways. One often successful structure was developed by Cicero in his Six-Part Oration. These six “moves” do not necessarily equal six paragraphs. Some might take more than one paragraph, some less. They should be placed the following order, however: exordium, narration, partition, confirmation, refutation, and peroration. (NOTE: Refutation is also often seen after the partition as below).
Part 1: The Exordium (intro) • In the exordium, literally the web that draws the listeners into the essay/speech, the speaker would intro the subject at hand and include material that would make the audience attentive and receptive.
Part 2: The Narration (usually the second paragraph, but could be in the intro depending on essay length) • The narration would offer background material on the case at hand. What is the status quo thinking on the subject?
Part 3: The Partition (the thesis goes here, but it may be more than one sentence) • The partition would divide the case and make clear which parts the speaker was going to address, which parts the speaker would not take up, and what order would be followed in the development (narrowing the topic).
Part 4: The Refutation (the opposition’s argument) • The refutation would consider possible objections to the argument or its supporting points and try to counter those objections (could offer a concession here). You cannot leave this part out and hope to do well!
Part 5: The Confirmation (your evidence) • The confirmation would offer points to substantiate the argument and provide reasons, details, illustrations, and examples in support of those points (the proof). Your confirmation should be ordered as such: middle argument first, least strong argument next, strongest argument last. Evidence could come from current events, history, literature, personal (only if you have something really relevant and interesting that you can write passionately about). Kinds of evidence include facts, stats, examples, expert opinions, and appeals.
Part 6: The Peroration (conclusion) • The peroration would draw together the entire argument and include material designed to compel the audience to think or act in a way consonant with the central argument. It needs to sound like a conclusion, and should answer the reader’s question of “So what?”. You could provide a call for action or cite future impact.
