understanding and making an argument in history
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Understanding and making an argument in HistoryTRANSCRIPT
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Understanding and making an argument
Theme: Russian Revolution
Monica Fernandes, Academic Skills Adviser
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Understand an argument
• Critical thinking allows us to… – recognise good arguments even if we don’t agree with them – and poor arguments even if it supports our own points of view.
• Once you’ve thought and read critically, start to understand your position.
• An ‘argument’ in critical thinking means ‘to present reasons to support your position/ view’
• An argument should include – Position/ point of view – Attempt to persuade others to accept this point of view – Reasons why to support this point of view.
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How to identify arguments in texts
• What is the point of creating this source?
• What is the main / general point the author is trying to make
• What sources did the author use?
• Am I convinced?
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Critical thinking is a questioning attitude, rather than a set of skills
• There is a shift in dealing with knowledge in university, especially in History... – Don’t get caught in the trap of solely describing
work...
Remember
Describing information
Analysing and evaluating
information
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Making an Argument
1. Identify your position
2. What are the main elements of this position – What evidence and examples do you have for these claims
– Have relevant information
3. It is necessary to include opposing positions – How will you refute these positions
4. How does each point relate to the next?
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Finding your critical intervention
• Once the research problem is constructed…
• …and the literature has framed the background to the research
• Your intervention into the research needs to be identified through the literature review
• This can either be a question that investigates a gap in the research, or an argumentative position
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What to do with Opposing Views…
• Summarise and respond to these views in your work
• Explain why you are not persuaded
• Acknowledge valuable points to create a synthesis
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Remember to synthesis...
• Your assignments should combine ideas to create your piece of work
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Plan your argument
• No matter how good your argument is, if it’s not said clearly or structured well, it loses its power.
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Overall structure
Introduction/Preview (5-10%)
Body (80-90%)
Conclusion/Review (5-10%)
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Introduction
Context
Preview
Position
Hook the reader
Tell them what you will write about
Tell them what you will be arguing
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Conclusion
Argument
Review
Tell them what you are arguing
Summarise what you have discussed
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Inappropriate ‘I’
• “Although Blackledge (2006) links Trotsky’s Marxism to historical materialism, I think he fails to do so convincingly.”
• “Although Blackledge (2006) links Trotsky’s Marxism to historical materialism, he fails to do so convincingly”
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Objectivity vs Subjectivity
Not
‘In my opinion capitalism prevents action against climate change’
But
‘While Sachs (2008, p.51)suggests that governments have not taken strong action against climate change because of a lack of political will, Zizek (2010) argues that it is it structure of the economy that prevents further action.
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Signposting
• Use ‘signposts’ to direct the reader through your argument
• Signposts can be used to display:
• Changes of direction in the argument
• Comparison, contrast and critique
• Cause and effect
• The use of examples
• Your own views
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Some signposting words...
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Adding on vs. Developing
‘This evidence suggests…’ ‘These examples indicate…’ ‘Similarly…’ ‘Though these studies are…’
‘Also…’ ‘Another study that…’ ‘Another example of…’
as opposed to…
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Summary
• Always question what you know and how it is known
• Know what you are arguing before you commence writing
• Always plan your argument
• Remember to acknowledge, and refute opposing perspectives
• Always link your ideas together
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For more help:
• Contact: [email protected]
• Or attend a consultation time either on Monday 11:00-12:00 or Wednesday 14:00-15:00 at MJ 234