Workshop 7: Argumentative Essay Writing

Goals: -to argue logically

-to persuade strongly-to write an effective argumentative essay

ARGUMENT VS. OPINION

ARGUMENT OPINION

Presents a claim that is supported by reasoning and evidence.

Presents an assertion that is NOT supported by logic or facts.

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

• A claim or a thesis statement that can be supported by evidence

– SIMPLE CLAIMS

– COMPLEX CLAIMS

ARGUMENTATION

• The process of reasoning by advancing proof.

• Produced out of careful research and thoughtful consideration of all the facts that one can acquire about the issue.

• Demands a critical examination of a belief by testing the strength of the reasons behind such belief

ARGUMENTATION

• The educated act of choosing sides

• Explores several sides of the issue in an attempt to demonstrating why one perspective is the most enlightened.

• Persuades an audience to accept his position on an issue through an articulation of reasons

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY?

It is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic,

collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on

the topic in a concise manner.

WHY WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY?

An argumentative essay is a means to persuade an audience towards one’s

position and belief.

HOW DO WE WRITE TO PERSUADE?

Know :– The TERMS to be used– The QUESTIONS to be answered– The PURPOSE of persuasion– The FEATURES of an argumentative essay– The STURCTURE and ORGANIZATION of the essay– The writing PROCESS

DEFINITION OF TERMS

• CLAIM• PREMISE• ARGUMENT• PUBLIC OPINION• CONCESSION• REFUTATION• COUNTER ARGUMENT

WHAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED?

• POINT• SUPPORTS• TYPES OF EVIDENCE• PRESENTATION

WHAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED?

• What is my POINT?• What are the SUPPORTS to my claim?• What TYPES OF EVIDENCE will be appropriate

and consistent to my claim?• How will I PRESENT my reasons and points of

evidence?

HOW DO WE PERSUADE?

• Appeal to reason

• Appeal to emotion

• Appeal to good ethics

APPEAL TO REASON

• A measured and logical way of persuasion through a critical examination of facts and figures

• Reasoning processes:– Deductive reasoning • (general principle draws a specific conclusion)

– Inductive reasoning • (specific facts supports a general conclusion)

APPEAL TO EMOTION

• A legitimate use of drawing out strong human emotions from the audience through emotionally charged language and images

– Using painful details of an immediate relative’s chemotherapy through describing the x-ray image of lung cancer in order to point out the negative effects of smoking.

APPEAL TO ETHICS

• An illustration of an ethical and moral position on an issue in order to develop the audience’s well-being.

– Use of ethical and moral points on the ill effects of smoking to society and the youth

FEATURES OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

• Background• Writer’s argument• Arguments against• Rejection of arguments against• Arguments for• Discussion • Conclusion

STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

• Clear, concise and defined THESIS STATEMENT found in the first paragraph.

• Clear and logical TRANSITIONS between the introduction, body and conclusion.

• BODY paragraphs that include evidential support (factual, logical, statistical, anecdotal).

• CONCLUSION that readdresses the thesis statement in the light of the evidence provided.

ORGANIZATION OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

• METHODS OF PRESENTING ARGUMENT– The balanced view• Presents both sides of the argument in the beginning

and in the middle of the essay• Commits to one side in the final paragraph

– The persuasive essay• States the writer’s point of view and tries to convince

the reader towards the same position by reasoned argument• Ends with a striking statement

ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT

• Argues public opinions which consist in social standards/ conventions and categories

• Presents categories which can be a point of debate

• Includes:– The writer’s claim– The reasons or evidence which supports the claim– The order of presentation

EXAMPLES OF ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENTS

• If a global effort is not made to end the unnecessary use of CFCs, then the inhabitants of this planet will face an extremely difficult and frightening future.

EXAMPLES OF ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENTS

• Overzealous use of computers to ease the burden of solid research, in favor of convenience or for the sinister purpose of cutting costs, will reduce learning from a creative process to a point-and-click procedure, effectively diminishing students from social-learners to a cyber-tribe of hunters-and-gatherers relying on the ability of machines and the rote memorization of monitors’ displays.

INDIVIDUAL ESSAY WRITING TASK

• Choose one out of the three marked topics on page 277 of the work text

• Write a claim using the argumentative thesis statement format

• Look for 5-6 reference materials to support your claim

• Prepare to write an argumentative essay next meeting