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Argumentation

Argumentation . The Prompt. The prompt will often be short Will include a variety of topics Quotes that support an idea Social issues that are current and relevant enough that they can be argued without sources Contradicting ideas. The Instructions. Read ALL of the instructions

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Argumentation

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  1. Argumentation

  2. The Prompt • The prompt will often be short • Will include a variety of topics • Quotes that support an idea • Social issues that are current and relevant enough that they can be argued without sources • Contradicting ideas

  3. The Instructions • Read ALL of the instructions • Determine WHAT is being asked of you • Are you being asked to defend, challenge, qualify? • Are you being asked to determine make a distinction between two ideas? • Are you being asked to choose sides? • Make notes on your prompt • Try to define words you don’t know with context clues

  4. The Essay • Introduction • Contains any necessary info readers need to understand your stance • Your claim (thesis) • 2-4 Body paragraphs • Contains arguments • Evidence • Counterarguments • Conclusion • Wraps up your ideas • Provides images to leave reader with lasting impression • This is a POSITION PAPER • Take a stance on the issue • You will use your OWN observations, readings, and experiences to create your evidence • Your thesis should be clear so that the readers know your position

  5. Introduction • PURPOSE: To set up and state one’s claim • OPTIONAL ELEMENTS • Make your introductory paragraph interesting. How can you draw your readers in? • What background information, if any, do we need to know in order to understand your claim? • REQUIRED ELEMENTS • If you’re arguing about an issue or theory – provide brief explanation or your of issue/theory. • If you’re arguing about a literary work—state author + title • STATE your claim/position at the end of your introductory paragraph (this is called your THESIS)

  6. Background • Optional (can omit for some papers). • Also, sometimes this info is incorporated into the introduction paragraph. If you need additional information for readers to fully understand the importance of your argument, include this paragraph. • PURPOSE: Lays the foundation for proving your argument will often include: • SHORT Summary of works/issue being discussed • Definition of key terms • Explanation of key theories

  7. Supporting Evidence #1 • PURPOSE: To prove your argument. • Topic Sentence: What is one item, fact, detail, or example you can tell your readers that will help them better understand your claim/paper topic? Your answer should be the topic sentence for this paragraph. • Explain Topic Sentence: Do you need to explain your topic sentence? If so, do so here.


  8. Introduce Evidence: Introduce your evidence either in a few words (It is evident from the events of 9/11…) or in a full sentence (To understand this issue we first need to look at…).
 • State Evidence: What supporting evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) can you include to prove/support/explain your topic sentence? • Explain Evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing us? How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make in this paragraph? Can be opinion based and is often at least 1-3 sentences. • Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts how the topic sentence of this paragraph helps up better understand and/or prove your paper’s overall claim.

  9. Supporting Evidence #2-#4 • Repeat above • You must have a minimum of 2 body paragraphs

  10. Counterargument • PURPOSE:To anticipate your reader’s objections; make yourself sound more objective and reasonable. • Optional; one to two paragraphs at the most • What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your reasoning? Insert one or more of those arguments here and refute them. • End paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim as a whole.

  11. Paragraph Arrangement Tips • Please note that you can MIX your supporting evidence paragraphs and counterargument paragraphs to create a more compelling argument • This is especially effective if you have more than one counter argument (which many arguments have) • Introduce an argument, then offer counter examples and disprove them, etc.

  12. Conclusion “So What” • PURPOSE: To illustrate to that you have thought critically and analytically about this issue. • Your conclusion should not simply restate your introduction paragraph • Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your paper. • What is the significance of your claim? Why is it • important to you as the writer or to me as the reader • What information should you or I take away from this?

  13. WARNING • Avoid making new CLAIMS in your conclusion • You can reiterate already state claims by using new examples, in order to drive your point home • DO NOT introduce a new argument.

  14. Use of Pronouns • Try to keep arguments as objective as possible • We, Us is acceptable when speaking about large issues that affect the entire society, country, world • Use “I” sparingly, IF AT ALL. • Statements can be rearranged to exclude “I” • If you are using a personal story “I” is acceptable • DO NOT USE YOU • Creates an accusatory tone • Excludes everyone else and focuses on the reader • Assumes you know your reader personally (YOU DO NOT)

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