English composition 1302/ Argumentative Essay
Cateaka
1302SU192.pptxENGL 1302 – SUMMER 2019
Alex Kurian - NLC
Argumentative Writing – An Overview
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What is argument/arguing?
Not a fight!!
Argumentative writing – taking a strong personal position on a significant, social, controversial issue, and by the use of evidence and specific strategies, explaining that position, defending that position, responding to counterarguments for that position, and suggesting a solution for that position.
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Argumentative Writing as a Process
The aim is to produce something that is understandable and persuasive.
Proper paradigm/perspective
Specific evidence
Clear language/definition of terms (recognizing their denotations and connotations)
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Argument – A Process
No unwarranted assumptions
Logos – information
Pathos - emotions
Ethos - ethics
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Requirements of Essay 1
Must write on first topic in your list of topics
Pick a side (for or against)
Have at least 2 different reasons (but not more than 3) to support your position
Explain reasons (with evidence)
Requirements of Essay 1 (cont’d)
You must have at least 2 print sources in the essay (book, magazine, newspaper, journal, catalog, etc)
They must be accessed in the original printed form (e-book, PDF, or anything else accessed electronically does not count as a print source)
Requirements of Essay 1 (cont’d)
Recommended course textbook does not count as a print source
At least 1of your 2 print sources must be used in the body of your essay (the other can also be used in the body or in the introduction or conclusion)
Requirements of Essay 1 (cont’d)
Must attach photocopy or picture of each print source used (no credit for print sources otherwise)
Photocopy/picture must show the cover along with the page/information you actually used
If the source is from a library, the picture must also show the library barcode/sticker
Requirements of Essay 1 (cont’d)
You must also have at least 2 online sources in the essay. These must be DCCCD academic database sources.
Once you have these, you may add additional sources apart from the database, as long as they are reliable sources
Requirements of Essay 1 (cont’d)
At least 1of your 2 online database sources must be used in the body of your essay (the other can also be used in the body or in the introduction or conclusion)
You do not need to submit pictures or printouts of your online sources
Requirements of Essay 1 (cont’d)
Personal experience – can be used in only one reason, up to ¼ page (5 lines)
How much documented evidence – one documented evidence for every 10 lines in your paragraph.
Any numerical data must be from 2014 onwards
Outline of Essay 1
Intro (1 Para)
Reasons with evidence (multiple paras)
Conclusion (1 para)
Length: 3-4 pages (starts with first word of intro, NOT top of first page!)
Prewriting Stage
Know the purpose – to argue/persuade by informing and analyzing.
Know the genre – formal academic essay (MLA format)
Know your audience – varied and general
Know what resources you need
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Writing Stage
Parts of an Essay
Title
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Works Cited
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Guidelines for a Proper Title
Purpose of the title is identification
Should indicate subject and position of essay
Should not be more than 6 words
Cliché/slang/humor allowed in title
Cute/clever/funny title does not necessarily indicate a proper title
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Introduction – First Impression
Must not summarize your entire paper
No dictionary/formal definitions
No clichés or overused phrases
No apologies
Must include your thesis statement
Should be a preview/guide to your essay
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Thesis Statement (The Main Idea of Your Paper)
One thesis per paper
Only one sentence
Combination of fact and opinion
Avoid phrases such as – in my opinion, I think, I believe, it seems to me, I feel
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A Thesis Should Contain…
Your topic
Your position on the topic
At least 2 reasons to support your position (but no more than 3)
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Introductory Techniques
Provide background info
Tell a relevant story
State why your topic is important
Relevant images or description
Present an opposing viewpoint
Relevant quotation(s)
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Techniques(cont’d)
Relevant example(s)
Relevant question(s) [not more than 3]
Finding common ground with the reader/audience
Length of introduction – 1 paragraph, ¼ to ½ page (5-10 lines)
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Body Paragraphs
Where you explain or prove your thesis with evidence.
Every reason must have at least one piece of evidence
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Evidence – Basis of Your Argument
Some types of evidence – observations (real or artificial), statistics, tests/experiments, analogies, expert testimony, examples, analyses, predictions, personal experience, religious views, etc
Note: Statistics must be from 2014 onwards years and contain sample size
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Characteristics of Evidence
Relevant
Specific
Adequate
Accurate
Representative
Verifiable
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Support Your Reasons (cont’d)
Have a variety of evidence
Maintain proper perspective (e.g. movies, stereotypes)
Distinguish between fact, opinion, and false statement
Beware of “the blame game”
Is evidence local or universal?
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Support Your Reasons (cont’d)
Make sure evidence is understandable to audience
Treat all issues as ‘sensitive issues’ (balance between arguing and offending)
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Body Paragraphs
Write paras that are focused, developed and organized
Length of paras: ¼ - ¾ (5-18 lines) of a page. Have balance among reasons!
How many paras per reason – you decide
Ask yourself – would my paper be any different if I took this paragraph out?
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Conclusion – Final Impression
Do not summarize your entire paper
Do not repeat thesis or introduce any new main ideas
Avoid statements like in conclusion, to summarize, in closing, etc.
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Conclusion – Final Impression
Summarize most important reason only (do not even mention other reason/s)
If you want, you can use any introduction technique (other than the one you used in the intro) to help you summarize
Length of conclusion – 1 paragraph, ¼ to ½ page (5-10 lines)
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