The Argument EssayThe Argument Essay

An An argumentargument is an attempt to is an attempt to persuade a reader to think or act persuade a reader to think or act

in a certain way. It helps you in a certain way. It helps you take action in problems or take action in problems or situations and defend your situations and defend your

position.position.

Writers choose argumentative Writers choose argumentative essays when they want to essays when they want to

persuade readers to change persuade readers to change their minds about somethingtheir minds about something

In what situations would you find In what situations would you find yourself requiring good yourself requiring good

argument skills?argument skills?

In College?In College?

At Work?At Work?

In your everyday life?In your everyday life?

ExampleExample

Argue for something in your Argue for something in your town that needs to be changed.town that needs to be changed.

Your goal is to get people to see Your goal is to get people to see your point. You must convince your point. You must convince

them of your point of view. Take them of your point of view. Take a stand and support it with a stand and support it with

reasons and details.reasons and details.

Name the subject of your Name the subject of your argument and take a stand. argument and take a stand.

Don’t merely state the problem, Don’t merely state the problem, but make a point about how to but make a point about how to

solve or eliminate it.solve or eliminate it.

An An issueissue

A A problemproblem

It has to be something that It has to be something that people have different opinions people have different opinions

about.about.

Your Your introductoryintroductory paragraph paragraph needs to include:needs to include:

11. a brief description of the . a brief description of the issueissue2.2. a clear statement of both a clear statement of both sides of the issuesides of the issue33. an argumentative thesis . an argumentative thesis statement, which is distinctive in statement, which is distinctive in that it takes a stand on the that it takes a stand on the issue.issue.

Use the reasons in your Use the reasons in your argument to focus your argument to focus your bodybody

paragraphs.paragraphs.If you have three reasons, then If you have three reasons, then

you’ll have three body you’ll have three body paragraphsparagraphs

To signal a reasonTo signal a reason

The first reason is…The first reason is…The second reason is…The second reason is…

Another reason is…Another reason is…An additional reason is…An additional reason is…

The most convincing piece of The most convincing piece of evidence is…evidence is…

The The bodybody paragraphs should paragraphs should give facts, examples, and expert give facts, examples, and expert

opinions that support your opinions that support your reasons.reasons.

The strength of your argument The strength of your argument depends on the quality of the depends on the quality of the

reasons and evidence that you reasons and evidence that you present to support your position.present to support your position.

Use order of importance to Use order of importance to organize reasons for your organize reasons for your

position.position.Save the most convincing Save the most convincing

reason for last.reason for last.

Common Common transitionstransitions in in ArgumentArgument

Another thingAnother thingConsider thatConsider thatFor example,For example, In addition, in fact, in particular, in In addition, in fact, in particular, in

the first place, the first place, More important, most important, More important, most important, The last point to consider, worst of allThe last point to consider, worst of all

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I agree (disagree) that …I agree (disagree) that …I support the idea that…I support the idea that…I do not support the idea that…I do not support the idea that…I am in favor of…I am in favor of…I am not in favor of …I am not in favor of …I propose…I propose…______ must (not) be changed______ must (not) be changed______ should (not) be adopted______ should (not) be adopted

Consider Consider opposingopposing views with views with responses to them.responses to them.

A thesis statement often A thesis statement often mentions the opposing point of mentions the opposing point of

view. view.

Some people feel that the USA Some people feel that the USA should have a national health should have a national health

plan like Canada’s.plan like Canada’s.

Smokers say that they have a Smokers say that they have a right to smoke.right to smoke.

To admit an opponent’s point of To admit an opponent’s point of viewview

Some say…Some say…Some claim…Some claim…

Most people assume…Most people assume…We have been told that…We have been told that…

Topic:Topic:Persuade the college president Persuade the college president to make a change that would to make a change that would

help ESL students.help ESL students.

Use the Use the internetinternet to find more to find more on those controversial issues.on those controversial issues.

Ethical treatment of animalsEthical treatment of animalsRacial profilingRacial profilingEuthanasia (assisted suicide)Euthanasia (assisted suicide)Gay couples adopting childrenGay couples adopting childrenThe war in IraqThe war in IraqAlien felons deportationAlien felons deportationSmokers rights/ abortion rightsSmokers rights/ abortion rightsWearing seatbeltsWearing seatbelts

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Other topicsOther topics1. America should not be the 1. America should not be the policeman for the world.policeman for the world.2. America is ready for a woman 2. America is ready for a woman president, an African Americanpresident, an African American president or a Hispanic president or a Hispanic president president 3. You should have a will.3. You should have a will.4. We should all learn to speak a 4. We should all learn to speak a

foreign language.foreign language.5. We should not pay for illegal 5. We should not pay for illegal aliens’ health care.aliens’ health care.

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More TopicsMore Topics6. Death penalty6. Death penalty7. Improving our health7. Improving our health8. School uniforms8. School uniforms9. Violence on TV9. Violence on TV10. Buying a house10. Buying a house11. Anorexia11. Anorexia12. Drunk driving12. Drunk driving13. Animal experiment13. Animal experiment14. Women in the military14. Women in the military

Jot down some ideas about an Jot down some ideas about an issue that is important to you.issue that is important to you.

Focus on what position is and Focus on what position is and why.why.

How does this issue affect you How does this issue affect you personally?personally?

Choose a problem, describe it, Choose a problem, describe it, mention who/ what causes it, mention who/ what causes it,

how serious is ithow serious is itpropose and describe your propose and describe your

solutionsolutionGive counter arguments against Give counter arguments against

the solutionthe solutionShow the benefits of the solutionShow the benefits of the solution

An An Argumentative EssayArgumentative Essay contains these contains these fivefive key key elements:elements:1. An explanation of the issue1. An explanation of the issue2. A clear thesis statement2. A clear thesis statement3. A summary of the opposing 3. A summary of the opposing argumentsarguments4. Rebuttals to the opposing 4. Rebuttals to the opposing argumentsarguments5. Your own arguments5. Your own arguments

Use either a subject by subject Use either a subject by subject or a point by point pattern of or a point by point pattern of

organization. Be sure to include organization. Be sure to include the opposing point of view as the opposing point of view as

well as your own.well as your own.

IssueIssue + + PositionPosition

==Thesis StatementThesis Statement

It should state clearly which side you are It should state clearly which side you are for.for.

The Introduction paragraph The Introduction paragraph contains an explanation of the contains an explanation of the issue. You may also begin with issue. You may also begin with

surprising statistics or a surprising statistics or a dramatic story.dramatic story.

Your Your conclusionconclusion should refer should refer back to your issue and position. back to your issue and position. It should end on a strong note It should end on a strong note

urging your reader to see things urging your reader to see things your way and act accordingly .your way and act accordingly .

To signal a conclusionTo signal a conclusion

We can conclude that…We can conclude that…This proves that …This proves that …

This suggests that…This suggests that…This shows that…This shows that…

Should illegal Should illegal Aliens receiveAliens receive

special paymentsspecial payments to attend USto attend US

colleges?colleges?

Illegal Aliens do/do not deserve Illegal Aliens do/do not deserve reduced tuition.reduced tuition.

What do you think?What do you think?

Work CitedWork Cited

Book- Peterson, Debra. Book- Peterson, Debra. Writing Writing Across the Curriculum.Across the Curriculum. New New

Jersey: Oakland, 1987.Jersey: Oakland, 1987.

Article- Daniel Robin. “ The Article- Daniel Robin. “ The Innocent Victim” Innocent Victim” Newsweek Newsweek

Dec.19, 2007: 89Dec.19, 2007: 89

Documenting SourcesDocumenting Sources

According to…According to…A psychologist … has noted A psychologist … has noted

(said)(said)As… saidAs… saidIn fact ….In fact ….

Quote your sources “ “Quote your sources “ “

ParaphraseParaphrasesummarize in your own wordssummarize in your own words

and writing styleand writing styleWrite the name of the person Write the name of the person

whose idea you have borrowed.whose idea you have borrowed.

The end!The end!