argument essay

- What central issues, problems, or controversies do your sources address? Who and what is involved? Why is it an issue? Etc.

- What else do your sources have in common? Are there any ideas found in more than one source? Facts, examples, or statistics? Are any people or works cited in more than one

source? What common problem or problems do all your sources discuss and agree upon, and what different solutions are offered?

- What significant differences do you find among your sources? Different stances? Positions? Purposes? Kinds of evidence? Conclusions? Address each source individually—do they have differing opinions, or do they examine different aspects of the issue? If they address different issues under the same topic umbrella, what are those different issues?

- Do any of your sources refer to one another? Build on something said in another? Does one source provide details, examples, or explanations that illuminate the broader overview provided by another? Does any source respond specifically to something said in another?

- If you were to put these authors in a room together in conversation, where would they disagree?

- Which sources are not part of the conversation you’ve identified?

Moving from What Your Sources Say to What You Say

- How do the ideas and information in your sources address your research question? What answers do they give? What information do you find the most relevant, useful, and

persuasive?

- What viewpoints in your sources do you most agree with? Disagree with? Why?

- What conclusions can you draw from the ideas and information you’ve learned from your

sources? What discoveries have you made in studying these sources, and what new ideas have they led you to?

- Has your research changed your own views on your topic? Do any of your sources raise questions that you can pursue further?

- Have you encountered any ideas that you would like to build on—or challenge?

- From everything you’ve read, what is the significance of the topic you’re researching?

Who cares, and why does it matter?

Moving Toward a Thesis Statement

- What is the most compelling common debate among your sources? (This question helps narrow your focus if your sources are still too broad in reach.)

- Based on what these authors have written and your own values and experience, if you were in conversation with them, what would your position be?

- Which solution offered (or what solution of your own) do you think is most viable?

- Reword this solution as a claim (this is your working thesis).

- What pieces of evidence in any of the sources would best support your position?

- From the sources, what is the most credible counterargument to your position?

- How would you respond to that counterargument?

- Use your sources as a jumping off point for a new argument. Suggested argument prompts:

- Create an argument about our culture and what your sources say about it.

- Use one or more of the examples from your sources as a basis for a new argument.

- Use examples from your sources to argue about the way people think, act, or

something that needs to change.

- Demonstrate that some of your sources’ claims are flawed because they are different from yours and other peoples’ experiences.

- Combine ideas from 1, 2, 3, or more of your sources to come with a new, unique argument.

Three Thesis Models:

1. Misinterpretation model: Although many scholars have argued about X and Y, a careful examination suggests Z.

2. Gap model: Although scholars have noted X and Y, they have missed the importance of Z.

3. Modification model: Although I agree with the X and Y ideas of other writers, it is important to extend/refine/limit their ideas with Z.

Z = the findings from your research

- What insight have you gained from your analysis of the sources? What conclusions have you come to through your analysis? Discuss some evidence from your sources that supports your point(s).

- Now that you have a focus for your essay and a working thesis statement, what other information do you need to find in your research?