ANES 1501 PPT - M3: Creating an Academic Argument
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Transcript of ANES 1501 PPT - M3: Creating an Academic Argument
Creating anAcademic Argument
Argumentative Writing
&
Compare and Contrast
Creating an Academic Argument 2
Argumentative Writing
• A reason given in proof or rebuttal
• Discourse intended to persuade
• A coherent series of statements leading from a premise to a conclusion
Creating an Academic Argument 3
Argumentative Writing (cont.)
• Not argumentative:
A paper describing to readers what happens physiologically to a person’s brain when that person eats chocolate
• Argumentative
A paper persuading readers that chocolate, in moderation, has health benefits.
Creating an Academic Argument 4
Professional Argument
• Should be presented “in a professional, non-combative manner.”
• Arguments are based in facts from research (peer reviewed journals, books, and scholarly websites). Use evidence to persuade your readers
Creating an Academic Argument 5
Essential Parts of an Argumentative Paper
• Introduction• Background
• Opposing side(s)
• Thesis statement
• Body of Paper
• Body paragraphs based in evidence from research
• Opposing sides may also be part of the body paragraphs
• Conclusion
Creating an Academic Argument 6
The Opposing Side(s)
• In an argumentative paper, you’ll need to acknowledge that there are other viewpoints and research arguing something different than what you’re arguing.
As a scholarly writer, you want to address the opposing side in a manner that is:
-Fair
-Respectful
-Logical
Creating an Academic Argument 7
When Writing an Argument
Do Don’t
Ground ideas in evidence from scholarly sources
Ground ideas in belief or opinion (e.g., phrases like “I think…” or “I believe…”)
Support your thesis with facts, statistics, and evidence
Support your thesis with moral or religious claims
Analyze your evidence with logic and reason
Assume your readers will understand your point with analysis
Address the opposing side(s) Ignore the opposing side(s)
Refute the opposing side(s) with fairness and respect
Belittle readers who agree with the opposing side(s)
Creating an Academic Argument 8
Introduction
• Begin your introduction with a hook—a sentence or two that catches your readers’ attention and leads in to your topic. – A statistic related to your topic– A statement of a problem or popular misconception
related to your topic– A factual statement or a summary of an interesting
event related to your topic
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Thesis Statement
• Encompasses the main point(s) of your paper• Acts as road map• Located in the introduction (usually at or near the end)• Argumentative– Not a question– Not a topic– Not a fact– Not a statement about the paper’s purpose– Not a statement about what the paper discusses
Creating an Academic Argument 10
Tips for your Thesis
Ask yourself:
- Can someone easily refute my thesis?
- Can I base my argument on scholarly evidence? Am I relying on opinion, religious belief, or morality?
- Is my argument narrow enough that I can discuss it with detailed, in-depth evidence?
Creating an Academic Argument 11
Thesis Analysis 1:Gamification
• Definition of “gamification”:• Using game designs and techniques to non-game situations.
Creating an Academic Argument 12
Thesis Analysis 1:Gamification (cont.)
Which of the following is the strongest thesis?
1. Many companies are using gamification techniques. 2. How are companies using gamification to increase benefit employers
and employees?3. This paper will discuss how companies are using gamification
techniques to benefit employers and employees.4. This paper will explore the question of how companies are using
gamification to benefit employers and employees.5. Gamification in the workplace has several benefits to employers and
employees.
Creating an Academic Argument 13
Thesis Analysis 2:Childhood Development
Which of the following is the stronger thesis?
1. With my new knowledge of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, I am better prepared to address the needs of my students.
2. In this paper, I will discuss what I learned about child development in this course and how I have grown as an early childhood education teacher.
Creating an Academic Argument 14
Paper Organization
IntroductionThesis
Body ParagraphsConclusion
15
Standard Organization
• Introduction
• Introduce topic
• Present opposing side
• Thesis
• Body Paragraph 1
• Claim 1 (reason thesis is true) and support
• Body Paragraph 2
• Claim 2 (reason thesis is true) and support
• Body Paragraph 3
• Claim 3 (reason thesis is true) and support
• Conclusion
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main points Creating an Academic Argument
Creating an Academic Argument 16
Compare and Contrast Papers
• Point format
• Block format
Creating an Academic Argument 17
Compare and Contrast Papers
• Assignment: Compare and contrast two health issues found in both the United States and another country. Then, identify a public health program addressing one of the health issues in the United States, and compare and contrast it to a public health program for the same issue in the other country.
Creating an Academic Argument 18
• Introduce topic• Thesis
Introduction
• Childhood obesity in the United StatesBody Paragraph 1
• Childhood obesity in FranceBody Paragraph 2
• Chronic diseases in the United StatesBody Paragraph 3
• Chronic diseases in FranceBody Paragraph 4
• U.S. school-based programs for childhood obesity Body Paragraph 5
• French community-based programs for childhood obesityBody Paragraph 6
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Compare and Contrast: Point Format
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• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction
• Childhood obesity in the United States• Chronic diseases in the United States• School-based program for obesity in the United
States
Body Paragraph 1
• Childhood obesity in France• Chronic diseases in the United States• Community-based program for obesity in France.
Body Paragraph 2
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Compare and Contrast: Block Format
Creating an Academic Argument 20
Comparison and Contrast Papers:What Format is Best?
• Assignment: Compare and contrast two health issues found in the United States with two health issues found in another country. Explain how these issues may be influenced by economic challenges.
Creating an Academic Argument 21
• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction
• Childhood obesity in the United States• Chronic diseases in the United States• How these issues are influenced by economic
challenges
Body Paragraph 1
• Bed shortages in France• Financial instability in the French health care
system• How these issues are influenced by economic
challenges
Body Paragraph 2
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Compare and Contrast: Block Format (Example 2)
Creating an Academic Argument 22
• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction
• Childhood obesity in the United StatesBody Paragraph 1
• Chronic diseases in the United StatesBody Paragraph 2
• How these U.S. issues are influenced by economic challenges
Body Paragraph 3
• Bed shortages in FranceBody Paragraph 4
• Financial instability in the French health care system
Body Paragraph 5
• How these issues in France are influenced by economic challenges
Body Paragraph 6
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Compare and Contrast: Block Format
Creating an Academic Argument 23
Refutation Arguments
• Still follow a block format or a point format
• Opposing side will be part of the body paragraphs rather than just in the introduction
Creating an Academic Argument 24
• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction
• Present and support your first point
Body Paragraph 1
• Present and support your second point
Body Paragraph 2
• Present and refute opposition’s first point
Body Paragraph 3
• Present and refute opposition’s second point
Body Paragraph 4
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Refutation Arguments: Your Points First
Creating an Academic Argument 25
• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction
• Present and refute opponent’s first point
Body Paragraph 1
• Present and refute opponent’s second point
Body Paragraph 2
• Present and support your first point
Body Paragraph 3
• Present and support your second point
Body Paragraph 4
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Refutation Arguments: Opposing Side First
Creating an Academic Argument 26
• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction
• Present opponent’s first point Body
Paragraph 1• Present and support your first
point (your counter argument)Body
Paragraph 2• Present opponent’s second
pointBody
Paragraph 3• Present and support your
second point (your counter argument)
Body Paragraph 4
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Refutation Arguments: Point Format
Creating an Academic Argument 27
• Introduce topic• Thesis: Opposition to the wolf hunt in Minnesota is
based on misconceptions about wolves’ threat to livestock and humans.
Introduction
• Opponent’s view: Wolves are a major threat to livestock.
Body Paragraph 1
• Refutation: The number of livestock killed by weather and other natural problems is greater than the number killed by wolves.
Body Paragraph 2
• Opponent’s view: The wolf hunt will increase public safety.
Body Paragraph 3
• Refutation: By interfering with wolf pack ecology, wolf hunting likely increases wolf-human conflicts.
Body Paragraph 4
• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion
Refutation Arguments in Action
Creating an Academic Argument 28
Transitions
• To compare: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too
• To contrast: on the other hand, however, although, conversely, rather than
Creating an Academic Argument 29
Conclusions: Wrapping Up Your Argument
• Reiterate your thesis and the main points of your paper in light of the evidence you presented
• Answer the so what? question
• Keep readers thinking
• Look forward to the future—what needs to happen next?
• Provide a sense of closure
Creating an Academic Argument 30
Conclusions: What To Avoid
• State the thesis for first time
• Introduce new topics, ideas, or evidence
• End with a body paragraph
• Conclude something you haven’t proven
• Conclude beyond the scope of your argument
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Tips for Argumentative Essays
• Begin by identifying a clear, argumentative thesis
• Base your evidence in research
• Address the other side(s)
• Avoid emotional language
• Analyze the evidence using logic and reason
• Ask yourself, is this objective? Am I writing as a social scientist?
Creating an Academic Argument 32
Last Steps
• Check that your evidence still supports your thesis• Check that your conclusion supports your thesis