Argument Prompts Tips for Success

Learning Target I can establish a claim and support it thoroughly in an organized, coherent essay. You can show me you have mastered this learning target on Friday!

Thinking back to MLK Jr… What are the most successful persuasive strategies? A balance of ethos, pathos, and logos Refuting the opposition Specific examples Well-explained ideas Defining or explaining ideas/ terms

Tip One: Make sure you understand the prompt! Read it carefully. Read it twice. Find what you are actually supposed to write about. Form that into a question. Don’t get too distracted by the “fluff.”

Consider the distinct perspectives expressed in the following statements. “If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things that other people are certain are impossible.” William Lyon Phelps, American educator, journalist, and professor (1865– 1943) “I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.” Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, and philosopher (1872– 1970) In a well-organized essay, take a position on the relationship between certainty and doubt. Support your argument with appropriate evidence and examples.

Tip Two: Create a thesis statement/ claim. Answer the prompt! Make sure your position is arguable. You might need more than one sentence.

Practice! Come up with TWO possible thesis statements for the prompt. Share them with your group.

Examples From the 8- “Without doubt, our society would be an impenetrable in which creativity and ingenuity would be disregarded. Certainty is a safety blanket that covers possible truths underneath.” My Examples- ◦ Certainty cannot exist with doubt, for doubt is the driving force that leads us to the truth. ◦ Certainty and doubt lead to intolerance and arrogance when taken to extreme, but in moderate amounts both can and should exist simultaneously.

Tip Three: Organize your ideas! Remember some of the creative organization ideas… Yes…but Although…nevertheless…because Definitions Topic sentences and transitions are crucial!

My Sample Outline Most of the great academic discoveries have resulted from someone questioning the status quo. Since academia is constantly reinventing itself, what we consider certain now may be disproved later if we have the courage to doubt.

Tip Four: Specific Examples!!! You might use examples from history, literature, current events, your own experiences, etc. The more specific, the better!

Practice! What specific examples could you use in this paragraph? “Most of the great academic discoveries have resulted from someone questioning the status quo.”

From the 8 (errors included) “In history, countless examples of doubt have changed the world as we know it. One of the most glaring of these being sending men into space, and from space, landing on the moon. This was thought to be absolute nonsense just a mere 20 or so years before it happened. Science fiction seemed to be becoming a reality. Although science fiction to many seemed to have no basis of truth, there are more and more connections being made between rediculous and ludacris concepts then, but undeniable realities now. One of the most important components of doubt is trial and error. One cannot be certain something will make sense or work if one has not tested this concept, whether by experimentation or refutation. For example, if Thomas Jefferson was absolutely certain he had created a means to harness electricity and produce light, but not tested it over 50 times, he certainly would be invalid. However, his influx of doubt, and therefore his willingness to augment and changed based upon that doubt, enabled him produce what could arguably be the most important scientific discovery of our age.”

Make sure your examples are relevant and explained well. This was from a 6… “Certainty can be used to achieve greater things, like the creation of our government and breaking away from England. When colonists were uncertain that they should become independent, they were afraid so they were forced to pay ridiculous taxes. It wasn’t until they were confident that they could do just fine as an independent country that they were able to do so and were free of England’s pointless rules. Certainty can achieve great things when it brings confidence.”

Tip Five: Subtle Refutation Anticipate objections and refute them! “Although certainty does show passion, which is an admirable quality, it also leads to being closed-minded. Too much passion is more detrimental than not enough passion. Apathy will not result in destruction, but certainty is the driving force of terrorism and prejudice.”

Tip Six: Get to your conclusion. You need a chance to tie all of your examples together- you need to “conclude” something from your examples. It can be short!