Argument

Arguing a Position

Administrative Concerns

▪ Final Draft Comparative Analysis due on MyCourses TONIGHT by 11:59 pm.

▪ Journal #6 and Assignment for this Power Point due on Sunday, as opposed to Wednesday (You’re welcome!).

▪ Final Draft for Literacy Narrative pushed back to December 4.

▪ We will resume class back on Tuesday, October 28.

Argumentative Essay (Position Paper)

▪ For this position paper, you'll describe a problem, state your own position, and support your position with facts, reasons, and examples. Most importantly, you'll try to persuade your readers to adopt your position or, at least, to consider your argument seriously.

▪ Your essay should be 3-4 pages in length, employ standard grammatical conventions, and conform to MLA formatting (1''margins, correct in-text citations, and a Works Cited page, if necessary, etc.)

▪ When writing this paper, remember to create a central claim (a thesis) and to then use your body paragraphs to support that claim. You will need at least 2-3 main supporting points and 1-2 points of concession / refutation. A mere five paragraph essay will not suffice for this assignment; you must move beyond that at this point.

Prompts

▪ Choose one of the following prompts:– Option 1 – Write an essay the poses an argument either for or against a specific

classroom policy. This can be anything from attendance policies to technology policies to grading polices in any single class or combination of classes.

– Option 2 – Write an essay that poses an argument either for or against a certain type of rights. This can range from rights belonging to animals, gender, race, nationality, etc. If you choose this option, consider more than simply pay grade or mistreatment; consider things like, if a crime is committed – such as rape – who is at fault? If we want to make new drugs, on whom do they get tested? Should convicted felons have the same rights as non-felons? Do animals have rights? Be sure that you make clear what group you are arguing for or against and what rights they either should or should not have.

– Option 3 – Write an essay that redefines or calls for a re-imagining of a concept or word. For example, as a society, we generally have an idea of what basic pornography is, but there has recently been a call to draw the line between simple sex and violent depictions of sex. As we push forward as a country, there is a call to revisit and redefine many of the things we once thought would never change. Some examples of changing concepts include the ideas of: family, love, hate, crisis, emergency, victim, survivor, and religion.

Due Dates

▪ First Draft due November 6 in class.

▪ Second Draft due on MyCourses on November 11, 2014

▪ Final Draft due on My Courses on November 18, 2014

What’s the point of an argumentative essay?

▪ In argumentative writing, a writer takes a position for or against an issue and write to convince the reader to believe or do something.

▪ Argumentative essays are written to get the reader to accept a point of view. In order to convince the reader, you need more than an opinion; you need facts or examples to back up your opinion.

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

Argument Essay

▪ Argument essays seek to state a position on an issue and give several reasons, supported by evidence, for agreeing with that position.

▪ Since argument essays are often about controversial topics, you may not be able to convince your intended reader to change their point of view, but you can attempt to give them a clear understanding of your position.

Aims of Argument

▪ Argument attempts to persuade by finding points of compromise and agreement. It is an appropriate technique to use in highly polarized debates, but you must be sincere about willingness to compromise and change your point of view for the reader to take you seriously.

Considerations of Rogerian Argument

▪ Present your character as a person who understands and empathizes with the opposition. Often, this means you state opposing position fairly and sympathetically (EXAMPLE: “It is not fair that animals are subjected to painful experimentation to help humans find new cures”.)

▪ Establish common ground in beliefs and values you share (EXAMPLE: “As the dominant species, we do have responsibilities).

Considerations of Rogerian Argument

▪ Be willing to change views and show where your position could be modified (EXAMPLE: “It is a good idea to invest in trying to find ways to get information without using live animals in experiments”).

▪ Direct your argument toward a compromise or workable solution. (EXAMPLE: “Let’s look for other ways to get information without using animals, but until we do, we probably need to continue experimentation”).

How Can I Tell if My Argument is Debatable?

▪ You cannot argue a statement of fact, you must base your paper on a strong position. Ask yourself…– How many people could argue against my position?  What would

they say?– Can it be addressed with a yes or no? (aim for a topic that

requires more info.)– Can I base my argument on scholarly evidence, or am I relying on

religion, cultural standards, or morality? (you MUST be able to do quality research!)

– Have I made my argument specific enough?

▪ Check your thesis: http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/Thesis-Statements.html

Considerations

▪ Worried about taking a firm stance on an issue?– Though there are plenty of times in your life when it’s best to

adopt a balanced perspective and try to understand both sides of a debate, this isn’t one of them.

▪ You MUST choose one side or the other when you write an argument paper!– Don’t be afraid to tell others exactly how you think things should

go because that’s what we expect from an argument paper.  You’re in charge now, what do YOU think?

Dos and Don’ts

▪ Dos– Use passionate language– Cite experts who agree with you, if necessary.– Provide facts, evidence, and statistics to support your position.– Provide reasons to support your claim– Address the opposing side’s argument and refute their claims.

Dos and Don’ts

▪ Don’t – use weak qualifiers like “I believe,” “I feel” or “I think”– Claim to be an expert if you’re not one– Use strictly moral or religious claims as support for your

argument– Assume the audience will agree with you about any aspect of

your argument.– Attempt to make others look bad.

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

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

By addressing the opposition you achieve the following goals:

▪ Illustrate a well-rounded understanding of the topic

▪ Demonstrate a lack of bias

▪ Enhance the level of trust that the reader has for both you and your opinion

▪ Give yourself the opportunity to refute any arguments the opposition may have

▪ Strengthen your argument by diminishing your opposition's argument

Think of it this way:

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

How do I accomplish this?

▪ To address the other side of the argument you plan to make, you'll need to "put yourself in their shoes."  In other words, you need to try to understand where they're coming from.  If you're having trouble accomplishing this task, try following these steps:  – Jot down several good reasons why you support that particular

side of the argument. – Look at the reasons you provided and try to argue with yourself. 

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

How do I accomplish this, Cont’d

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

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

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

Structure

▪ Introduction:– Focused Presentation of the Issue (Describe the Argument

Subject)▪ use the title to present your point of view▪ intro ideas: use questions, a brief history of the subject,

concrete examples, anecdotes or scenarios to help the reader see the subject from your point of view

▪ think about your audience—what aspects of this issue would most interest or convince them?

– Clear Position stated in your Thesis▪ you need a clear thesis statement which tells your position.▪ this should be in the first paragraph or two, usually right after

the description of the issue

Structure, Cont’d

▪ Body– Reasons and support▪ usually you will have three or more reasons why the reader

should accept your position. These will be your topic sentences.▪ Support each of these reasons with argument, examples,

statistics, authorities or anecdotes▪ to make your reasons seem plausible, connect them back to your

position by using “if…then” reasoning– Anticipate opposing positions and objections▪ what objections will your readers have? Answer them with

argument or evidence.▪ What other positions do people take on this subject? What is your

reason for rejecting these positions? (this can be your introduction also)

Structure, Cont’d

▪ Conclusion

– Make a final point that tells the reader what to think or do.▪ Why should the reader adopt your point of view?▪ you might use the anticipating objections in the conclusion or use

some of the techniques of the propose a solution essay in conclusion

Assignment (Due Sunday by 11:59 p.m.)

▪ Cara May wants to write an essay about physician-assisted suicide. Her aunt, Gloria, has breast cancer, and her aunt’s illness has caused a great deal of hardship both emotionally and financially for her husband and children. Gloria has just been told that she has less than six months to live, and because the family lives in Mississippi, they do not have access to a Death With Dignity Law. Since her aunt has already gone through several painful bouts of chemotherapy with limited success, Gloria has no option to end her suffering on her own terms. Write an introductory paragraph and an outline for an essay in which Cara May will argue that Mississippi should adopt a DWD law.

Assignment, Cont’d

▪ The points she wants to make are:– It allows people to have control over an uncontrollable situation.– It’s emotionally and financially better for the patient’s family.– There are rigorous tests that a patient must go through in order

to be approved for the process.– Whatever concerns family may have about assisted suicide, it is

ultimately the patient’s choice.– Concession: Although some may consider assisted suicide to be

murder, a physician is not a murderer; it is his responsibility to provide care in the best interests of his patients.

Sample Introductory Paragraph

▪ For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today’s society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. The problem lies in the difference of children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents? Does a young boy need a father figure around? Does the government provide help for single parents? What role do step-parents and step-siblings play? With much speculation, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process or values that are taught to these children as they learn to mature. Children of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those with two parents.