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200.hyb_.argumentative_synthesis.pptmThe Argumentative Synthesis
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What Is It?
Argumentative Synthesis Involves Summary and Analysis…
As you write, remember:
Effective summary:
Briefly, accurately restates main point of a text or a part of a text
Successful analysis:
Concisely, clearly explains a text or part of a text (Douglass’s essay, in this case) by breaking it down (analyzing) in light of some overriding analytical principle or principles (in this case, Fromm’s ideas and theories)
Summarizing at least 2 main pts—one from Fromm reading & one from Douglass reading
Analysis--In our case, the overriding principle consists of Fromm’s dialectic
Combining the Douglass reading and the Fromm reading to better understand some of the dynamics of slavery by—in the case of Option A above—applying Fromm’s ideas regarding obedience and authority or—in the case of Option B above—showing how Fromm’s ideas are inadequate to explain some relationships engendered by the institution of slavery.
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The “Synthesis” Part
Successful synthesis:
Draws upon the ideas of outside texts (in this case, the ideas of Douglass’s and Fromm’s essays) to develop and shape your own ideas into a coherent whole…which is...
The Argumentative Synthesis: The “Argument” Part
To be an argument, a paper must:
Attempt to convince readers of something.
Address a problem which has no easily acceptable solution or ask a question which has no absolute answer.
Present a position on which readers might realistically have differing opinions.
An argument paper’s working thesis consists of a claim + a reason for the claim:
Applying Erich Fromm’s ideas concerning obedience and authority to the relationships Douglass narrates in his memoir helps us see more clearly how the institution of slavery debilitates all of us.
The “Argument” Part
And a Successful Argument:
Contains a clear thesis, that clearly links a claim to a reason.
Organizes support for that thesis logically and strategically.
Provides sufficient and persuasive evidence, effectively using summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation and citing source material.
Clearly links evidence to each claim supporting the thesis.
Why Write This Paper?
This Argumentative Synthesis: A Rare Opportunity
To test Fromm’s ideas and theories about obedience and authority
Fromm’s “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” does include somewhat specific examples to support his views on obedience and authority, but his views remain largely abstract and theoretical.
To think more deeply about Douglass’s interpersonal relationships specifically and about relationships formed by the institution of slavery in general
Douglass’s “Learning to Read and Write” gives us a specific account of someone who actually experienced a number of specific relationships based on various kinds of obedience and of authority.
What Are the Directions?
To find detailed directions for nearly any paper assignment, go to Isidore Assignments and to the specific assignment—in this case, “Argumentative Synthesis.”
You will find directions either in the textbook or as an attachment to the assignment.
The Argumentative Synthesis: Directions
Drawing upon specific passages and elements from both Erich Fromm’s “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” and Frederick Douglass’s “Learning to Read and Write,” address the following:
Choose one key relationship or two related key relationships recounted by Frederick Douglass in “Learning to Read and Write” (often read as an essay but actually is Chapter 7 of his memoir Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave).
In order to gain insight into the personal dynamics involved, analyze this relationship or these two related relationships in terms of key ideas expressed in Erich Fromm's "Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem.” Drawing from specific passages in both essays, show how certain key ideas found in Erich Fromm’s essay sufficiently and/or insufficiently explain the relationship or related relationships you’ve chosen from Frederick Douglass’s essay.
Your conclusion might include final broader remarks on what your analysis suggests about the institution of slavery in general.
Be sure to include a works cited page as a separate, last page of your essay.
Places to Begin Thinking about the Assignment
Douglass’s relationship with Mistress Auld changes over time. Using Erich Fromm’s terminology, we could say that:
Mistress Auld and Douglass’s relationship begins by being based on one type of authority and ends by being based on an opposite type of authority.
Mistress Auld begins by listening to one type of conscience and ends by listening to a different type of conscience.
Douglass begins by practicing obedience to one type of authority and ends by practicing obedience to a different type of authority.
Or…
Fromm spends a good portion of his essay writing about why we so often choose to obey authority and why we so seldom choose to disobey authority.
What is at stake if Douglass disobeys Mistress Auld?
What is at stake if Mistress Auld disobeys her husband Hugh Auld?
How to Document Your Sources
Create a works cited page as the last but separate page of your paper—that is, if your paper concludes half way down page 4, begin your Works Cited on page 5.
Use 2016 updated version of MLA style to document Fromm’s essay, Douglass’s essay, and—if you choose to include them—any additional outside sources used in your paper.
View explanation of this style in the MLA tab found in The Everyday Writer, 6th edition, with 2016 MLA Style.
Both the Fromm and the Douglass essays are PDFs found on the Web.
How to Cite Your Sources
We will be reviewing MLA style for citing and documenting sources later this term but, for now, the following examples of citation should help you cite the two texts used for this assignment:
For the Douglass essay:
If your sentence has included Douglass’s name, in parentheses place the page number where that passage is located. Example:
Douglass tells his readers, “I met with one of Sheridan's mighty speeches on behalf of Catholic emancipation” (2).
If you have not included Douglass’s name , in parentheses place Douglass’s last name and page number where passage is located. Example:
When he is just a boy, he becomes enthralled with “one of Sheridan's mighty speeches” (Douglass 2).
For the Fromm essay:
If your sentence has included Fromm’s name, in parentheses place the paragraph number—preceded by “para.”—where quoted passage is located. Example:
Fromm tells us that “Human history was ushered in by an act of disobedience” (para. 1).
If your sentence has not included Fromm’s name or if your paper has not referred to Fromm by name recently, give his last name only and paragraph number—preceded by “para.”—where that passage is located. Example:
But if “human history was ushered in by an act of disobedience” (Fromm para. 1), what role does obedience play?
