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The Argument From Idea to Essay
What is an argument? How has your concept of an argument changed after our introductory activities? How is your new understanding of an argument the same as your original understanding? What is the purpose of am argument?
Argument Definition a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong.
The Skeleton of the Argument • Take a clear position on the issue. (This will become your thesis) • Create 2-4 specific claims to support your position. (These will eventually become your body paragraphs.) • Each claim needs a minimum of 2 evidences to provide examples or reasoning of its validity. • The evidences need to have a commentary (warrant) that explicitly ties it back to the claim they support. You may warrant your evidences individually or together depending on the organization of your essay. Make sure that you identify valid counterarguments and decide whether you should include a concession of a refutation.
The hard part is finished!…Now add thecraft that makes the essay effective • Create an introductory paragraph that introduces your THESIS. (Your thesis will be the last sentence in your introduction) • Make sure you transition your ideas in your body paragraphs so that you maximize your essay’s readability. • Your CLAIMS will often be your topic sentences for your body paragraphs. You should make sure that your body paragraphs also include a concluding sentence. • The conclusion is always the hardest!!! Think of it as a way to warrant all your claims back to your position or a way to explain to your reader the overall significance or impact of your argument. It will begin with an expanded thesis. Try to end your essay with a “drop the mic” statement.
Check your argument for logical fallacies Use your knowledge of logical fallacies to make sure that your reasoning has a solid foundation
Revise Your Essay • Revise your essay: • Make sure you have made judicious use of your rhetorical appeals • Ethos- Appeal to the author’s credibility • Pathos – Appeal to strong and actionable emotions • Logos- Appeal to reason • Check for purposeful diction • Strong verbs • Appropriately connotative language • Varied sentence structure and sentence beginnings
Use Your Rhetorical Toolbox • Telegraphic sentences • Alliteration • Allusion • Antimetabole • Antithesis • Assonance • Hyperbole • Irony • Oxymoron • Personification • Paradox • Simile • Metaphor • Polysyndeton • Synecdoche What other rhetorical tools can you use to create an effective essay? Syntax Parallelism Anecdotes Personal Narrative Truncated Sentences