Crafting Well-Researched Arguments: A Guide

1. English 155 Course Overview

2. Quarter Goal • Engage in the process of research and craft a formal argument.

3. Short-Term Goals • Engage in the research process • Develop a topic and research question • Investigate sources: Primary and Secondary • Evaluate credibility through an annotated bibliography • Craft an argument • Develop a claim • Establish support through evidence • Plan organization through an outline • Craft a draft participate in the peer review process • Submit a final, polished paper • Create and deliver a presentation about your research process and argument

4. Research and Argument • What is research? • Why is it defined as a process? • How is research performed in the 21stcentury? • What are the benefits and limitations of using technology in the research process? • What does it mean to “argue”? • Does argument always have a negative connotation?

5. Research Noun that means • 1: careful or diligent search • 2 : studious inquiry or examination; especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws • 3: the collecting of information about a particular subject

6. Etymology Middle French recerche, from recercher to go about seeking, from Old French recerchier, from re- + cerchier, sercher to search. First Known Use: 1577

7. Research is…. The process of • Investigation • Witness • Evaluation • Interpretation

8. Argument Noun that means • 1obsolete:  an outward sign :indication • 2 a:  a reason given in proof or rebuttal b:  discourse intended to persuade • 3 a:  the act or process of arguing:argumentation • b:  a coherent series of statements leading from a premise to a conclusion • c:quarrel, disagreement • 4:  an abstract or summary especially of a literary work • 5:  the subject matter especially of a literary work • 6 a:  one of the independent variables upon whose value that of a function depends • b:  a substantive (as the direct object of a transitive verb) that is required by a predicate in grammar • c:amplitude

9. Etymology Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin argumentum, from arguere First Known Use: 14th century

10. Argument is… • A developed claim that is supported by thoughtful evidence, engaging discussion, and a global point of view. • Argument does not rest on changing perspective; the goal of argument is to establish a conversation and give thought to perspective.

11. Truth or “Truth” or truth What is truth? How do you define it as a concept? How do you establish the difference between truth and its opposing perspective, deceit?

12. Two Perspectives • “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Arthur Schopenhauer • “Behind every lie is a kernel of truth”