Argumentative Argumentative EssaysEssays

Ms. Sanders rocks Ms. Sanders rocks

Persuasive or Persuasive or Argumentative?Argumentative?

While some teachers While some teachers consider persuasive consider persuasive papers and argument papers and argument papers to be basically the papers to be basically the same thing, it’s usually same thing, it’s usually safe to assume that an safe to assume that an argument paper presents argument paper presents a stronger claim—possibly a stronger claim—possibly to a more resistant to a more resistant audienceaudience

Persuasive or Persuasive or Argumentative?Argumentative? For example:  For example: 

while a persuasive paper while a persuasive paper might claim that cities need to might claim that cities need to adopt recycling programs, an adopt recycling programs, an argument paper on the same argument paper on the same topic might be addressed to a topic might be addressed to a particular town.  The particular town.  The argument paper would go argument paper would go further, suggesting specific further, suggesting specific ways that a recycling program ways that a recycling program should be adopted and should be adopted and utilized in that particular area.utilized in that particular area.

How do I write an How do I write an argumentative essay?argumentative essay?

To write an To write an argumentative essay, argumentative essay, you’ll need to gather you’ll need to gather evidence and present evidence and present a well-reasoned a well-reasoned argument on a argument on a debatable issue.debatable issue.

How can I tell if my How can I tell if my topic is debatable?topic is debatable?  

Check your thesis!  You cannot Check your thesis!  You cannot argue a statement of fact, you argue a statement of fact, you must base your paper on a strong must base your paper on a strong position. position.

Ask yourself…Ask yourself… How many people could argue How many people could argue

against my position?  What would against my position?  What would they say?they say?

Can it be addressed with a yes or no? Can it be addressed with a yes or no? (aim for a topic that requires more (aim for a topic that requires more info.)info.)

Can I base my argument on scholarly Can I base my argument on scholarly evidence, or am I relying on religion, evidence, or am I relying on religion, cultural standards, or morality? (you cultural standards, or morality? (you MUST be able to do quality research!)MUST be able to do quality research!)

Have I made my argument specific Have I made my argument specific enough?enough?

Worried about taking a Worried about taking a firm stance on an issue?firm stance on an issue?

Though there are plenty of Though there are plenty of times in your life when it’s times in your life when it’s best to adopt a balanced best to adopt a balanced perspective and try to perspective and try to understand both sides of a understand both sides of a debate, this isn’t one of debate, this isn’t one of them.them.

You MUST choose one You MUST choose one side or the other when side or the other when you write an argument you write an argument paper!paper!

Don’t be scurred…Don’t be scurred…

Don’t be afraid to tell Don’t be afraid to tell others exactly how you others exactly how you think things should go think things should go because that’s what we because that’s what we expect from an expect from an argument paper.  argument paper.  You’re in charge now, You’re in charge now, what do YOU think?what do YOU think?

Dos and Don’tsDos and Don’ts Do…Do…

……use passionate use passionate languagelanguage

……cite experts cite experts who agree with who agree with youyou

……provide facts, provide facts, evidence, and evidence, and statistics to statistics to support your support your positionposition

……provide provide reasons to reasons to support your support your claimclaim

……address the address the opposing side’s opposing side’s argument and argument and refute their refute their claimsclaims

Don’t…Don’t… ……use weak use weak

qualifiers like “I qualifiers like “I believe,” “I feel,” believe,” “I feel,” or “I think”—just or “I think”—just tell us!tell us!

……claim to be an claim to be an expert if you’re expert if you’re not onenot one

……use strictly use strictly moral or religious moral or religious claims as support claims as support for your argumentfor your argument

……assume the assume the audience will audience will agree with you agree with you about any aspect about any aspect of your argumentof your argument

……attempt to make attempt to make others look bad others look bad (i.e. Mr. Smith is (i.e. Mr. Smith is ignorant—don’t ignorant—don’t listen to him!)listen to him!)

Why do I need to address Why do I need to address the opposing side’s the opposing side’s

argument?argument? There is an old kung-fu saying There is an old kung-fu saying

which states, "The hand that which states, "The hand that strikes also blocks", meaning that strikes also blocks", meaning that when you argue it is to your when you argue it is to your advantage to anticipate your advantage to anticipate your opposition and strike down their opposition and strike down their arguments within the body of arguments within the body of your own paper. This sentiment is your own paper. This sentiment is echoed in the popular saying, echoed in the popular saying, "The best defense is a good "The best defense is a good offense".offense".

By addressing the opposition By addressing the opposition you achieve the following goals:you achieve the following goals:

illustrate a well-rounded illustrate a well-rounded understanding of the topicunderstanding of the topic

demonstrate a lack of biasdemonstrate a lack of bias enhance the level of trust that the enhance the level of trust that the

reader has for both you and your reader has for both you and your opinionopinion

give yourself the opportunity to give yourself the opportunity to refute any arguments the refute any arguments the opposition may haveopposition may have

strengthen your argument by strengthen your argument by diminishing your opposition's diminishing your opposition's argumentargument

Relate this to your Relate this to your life…life… Think about yourself as a child, Think about yourself as a child,

asking your parents for permission asking your parents for permission to do something that they would to do something that they would normally say no to. You were far normally say no to. You were far more likely to get them to say yes more likely to get them to say yes if you anticipated and addressed if you anticipated and addressed all of their concerns before they all of their concerns before they expressed them. You did not want expressed them. You did not want to belittle those concerns, or make to belittle those concerns, or make them feel dumb, because this only them feel dumb, because this only put them on the defensive, and put them on the defensive, and lead to a conclusion that went lead to a conclusion that went against your wishes. against your wishes. 

The same is true in your writing.The same is true in your writing.

How do I accomplish How do I accomplish this?this? To address the other side of To address the other side of

the argument you plan to the argument you plan to make, you'll need to "put make, you'll need to "put yourself in their shoes."  In yourself in their shoes."  In other words, you need to try other words, you need to try to understand where they're to understand where they're coming from.  If you're having coming from.  If you're having trouble accomplishing this trouble accomplishing this task, try following these steps: task, try following these steps:   

Opposing argumentsOpposing arguments Jot down several good reasons why Jot down several good reasons why

you support that particular side of you support that particular side of the argument. the argument. 

Look at the reasons you provided Look at the reasons you provided and try to argue with yourself.  Ask: and try to argue with yourself.  Ask: Why would someone disagree with Why would someone disagree with each of these points?  What would each of these points?  What would his/her response be?  (Sometimes his/her response be?  (Sometimes it's helpful to imagine that you're it's helpful to imagine that you're having a verbal argument with having a verbal argument with someone who disagrees with you.) someone who disagrees with you.) 

Think carefully about your audience; Think carefully about your audience; try to understand their background, try to understand their background, their strongest influences, and the their strongest influences, and the way that their minds work.  Ask:  way that their minds work.  Ask:  What parts of this issue will concern What parts of this issue will concern my opposing audience the most? my opposing audience the most? 

Opposing facts Opposing facts continued…continued… Find the necessary facts, Find the necessary facts,

evidence, quotes from evidence, quotes from experts, etc. to refute the experts, etc. to refute the points that your opposition points that your opposition might make.might make.

Carefully organize your paper Carefully organize your paper so that it moves smoothly so that it moves smoothly from defending your own from defending your own points to sections where you points to sections where you argue against the opposition.argue against the opposition.

PARCC Argumentative PARCC Argumentative essaysessays No longer one question based on No longer one question based on

personal opinion.personal opinion. Research-based questionsResearch-based questions

You will now have to read 2-3 You will now have to read 2-3 informational, factual articles, informational, factual articles, watch an information video, and, watch an information video, and, sometimes, look at a picture to sometimes, look at a picture to form your thesis and write your form your thesis and write your essay.essay.

PARCC is asking you to write a PARCC is asking you to write a research paper in 84 minutesresearch paper in 84 minutes

Textmarking is key!Textmarking is key! Planning is key!Planning is key!

PARCC thesisPARCC thesis Writing a good thesis is EXTREMELY Writing a good thesis is EXTREMELY

IMPORTANT for PARCC essays.IMPORTANT for PARCC essays. Any essay without a thesis will be Any essay without a thesis will be

knocked down one entire holistic point!knocked down one entire holistic point! Your thesis is the LAST sentences in Your thesis is the LAST sentences in

your INTRODUCTION!your INTRODUCTION! You will have to formulate your own You will have to formulate your own

thesis after reading the articles, thesis after reading the articles, textmarking, watching the video textmarking, watching the video and looking for a common theme and looking for a common theme among those works.among those works. If you can not find a common theme If you can not find a common theme

amongst the article, you will not be amongst the article, you will not be able to form a thesis or write your able to form a thesis or write your essay!essay!

Textmarking PARCC Textmarking PARCC articlesarticles The first thing you must do before you The first thing you must do before you

read the articles is READ THE read the articles is READ THE PROMPT.PROMPT. If you do not read the prompt, you will have If you do not read the prompt, you will have

no idea what to textmark for while you are no idea what to textmark for while you are reading.reading.

Textmarking these articles will be Textmarking these articles will be tricky! The information you are tricky! The information you are looking for won’t just jump off the looking for won’t just jump off the page.page. You will have to SEARCH for it.You will have to SEARCH for it. There could be a lot of inferringThere could be a lot of inferring You may have to read the articles more You may have to read the articles more

than once (gasp!)than once (gasp!) As you are reading, imagine your As you are reading, imagine your

essay taking shapeessay taking shape