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Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments. John Williamson Dana Linton. Arguments Make a claim (or assertion) that answers an arguable question or issue Are based on data (or reasons or premises) to support the writer’s claim Contain assumptions ( warrants ) of the author Use evidence to prove the reasons

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Writing Arguments

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  1. Writing Arguments John Williamson Dana Linton

  2. Arguments • Make aclaim(or assertion) that answers an arguable question or issue • Are based on data (or reasons or premises) to support the writer’s claim • Contain assumptions (warrants) of the author • Use evidence to prove the reasons • Appeal(through logic, emotions, and ethics) to the intended audience Strictly speaking

  3. A writer • Has a belief (an opinion) and wants to communicate that to his or her audience • Brings a perspective to his or her argument based on his or her background, life experiences, biases, research, understanding, etc. This perspective may be liberal, American, Eurocentric, non-Western, conservative, political, religious, futuristic, etc. • Interprets an issue through a particular lens (e.g., political, economic, cultural, scientific, etc.) and offers an angle on the issue or question The writer’s assumptions

  4. Virtual text • Photograph • Printed text (article, short story) • Piece of art • A play • Speech • News broadcast • Movies Everything is an argument

  5. The key to strong arguments is they are unified around one central idea or claim. The writer has a point to make about the topic. • Abstract idea (e.g., democracy, growth, economic decline, sustainability, peace, oppression, etc.) • Arguable One unifying idea

  6. The writer expresses his or her argument through a • Thesis – in non-fiction • Theme -- in fiction And then conveys his or her tone (attitude toward the topic or issue) Position and stance

  7. The writer expresses and presents his or her argument in a thesis. Explicit (the literal reveals the figurative) • Topic – the literal issue • Claim – verb • Unifying idea - abstraction May be explicit or implicit • Reasons • Qualification - subordination What’s the point?

  8. The writer presents his or her thesis at the beginning or at the end. He or she makes this decision logically, based on the audience or his or her purpose. • Inductive Logic – thesis or point comes at the end; the reasons build to this logical conclusion • Deductive Logic – thesis or point comes at the beginning; the reasons support this initial claim Lead or follow

  9. Writers strategically appeal to their audiences. • Logic (logos) • Emotion (pathos) • Responsibility (ethos) A writer may begin with one and move to another. Tell me a story, give me the facts, I’ll buy it

  10. An argument is presented in a rhetorical mode. An argument could be presented in different modes to engage different audiences. • Narrative – makes a point through a story • Persuasive – calls the audience to action • Exposition – offers explanation Engages the audience

  11. Writers strategically present their argument in an organized way based on their purpose. This creates coherence. Organizing with purpose

  12. The verb in the thesis indicates the purpose of the argument. Back to the thesis

  13. A writer then arranges the reasons purposefully. • Chronological/Process (historically, stages, order, sequence) • Importance (most to least, least to most, sandwich) • Spatial (in space, inner to outer, furthest to closest) Arranging the ideas

  14. The writer guides the audience from idea to idea or from reason to reason using transitions. These transitions show the relationship between or among these ideas.

  15. Reasons are supported by evidence drawn from primary and secondary sources. Evidence could be: • Textual evidence • Quotations • Facts • Details • Data • Interviews • Statistics • Anecdotes Support

  16. Writers appeal to their audiences. The appeal being attempted will help determine the type of evidence the writer selects. Support relates to appeal

  17. Arguments should consider multiple perspectives and other alternatives. • Refutation - counterargument is incorrect • Concession – agrees with logic of alternative perspective • Rebuttal – yeah, but Point : Counterpoint

  18. An argument is organized in parts or sections based on the reasons. Elements of a successful part or section: • Identify – topic sentence that identifies the reason • Evidence – presentation of evidence (arranged in a logical way) • Commentary – links the evidence to the universal; this would be the most important part of the paragraph Paragraph development

  19. Stating what “they” say • Yes, no, yes, but • And yet • Objections • Embedding quotations Introducing evidence

  20. The conclusion of an argument: • Brings the reasons together • Explains the significance of the universal idea • Offers a new understanding Your conclusion

  21. The introduction of an argument: • Hooks and engages the audience (anecdotes,quotations, interesting facts, etc.) • Situates and contextualizes the issue or topic Introductions

  22. Formal argument structures: • Classical Argument • Rogerian • Toulmin Strictly speaking

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