How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Effective writing… is not just about stating our own opinions, but listening closely to others around us, summarizing their views in a way that they will recognize, and respond with our own ideas. It is what others are saying and thinking that motivates our writing and gives it a reason for being.

How do you start??!! Introduce a precise claim—Look at the question you are answering!!! distinguish the claim from alternate or opposing claims- show the different sides create an organization that establishes clear relationships among the claim, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. – organization is the key word!!!

Model Graphic Organizer for the Argumentative Essay Handout- look at outline and example

Introduction is the first step Answer the question express your viewpoint Explain what's at stake Why does this issue matter?

Develop and state your own position as a thesis in the introduction A writer needs to indicate clearly not only what her/his thesis is, but also larger conversation that thesis is responding to..

You state your position and the one it’s responding to together, and then what you think of the two as a unit. Summarize the ideas you’re responding to briefly at the start of your text, and detailed elaboration later.

Some ways to do this…

After summarizing the ideas you are responding to at the outset (intro) it is very important to continue to keep those ideas in view—you need to keep reminding the reader what claims you are responding to! Use a return sentence…

Return sentences In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of ______ can’t have it both ways. Their assertion that _____ is contradicted by their claim that ______.

Remember…. Summary- readers should not be able to tell whether you agree or disagree with the ideas you are summarizing. But, doing so in a way that fits your own composition’s larger agenda. Also, when summarizing use vivid and precise signal verbs as often as possible.

Examples for introducing summaries and quotations She advocates a ______ They celebrate the fact that ______ _____, he admits.

Words to help you develop…

Quoting—GIVES PROOF OF EVIDENCE!!!! 1.Choose quotes wisely, with an eye to how well they support a particular part of your text 2.Surround every major quotation with a frame explaining whose words they are, what the quote means, and how the quotation relates to your own text.

Quotation Sandwich Top slice- statement introducing-should explain who is speaking and set up what the quotation says Meat- the quote!! Bottom slice- follow-up statement should explain why you consider the quotation to be important and what you take it to say

Templates for introducing quotes  X states, “not all…..”  As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “___”  According to X, “___”  X himself write, “___”  In her book, ____, X maintains that “___”  Writing in the journal ______, X complains that “___”  In X’s view, “___”  X Agrees when she writes, “___”  X disagrees when he writes, “___”  X complicates matters further when she write, “___”

Templates for explaining quotes  Basically, X is warning that the proposed solution…  In other words, X believes ____  In making this comment, X urges us to….  X’s point is that____  The essence of X’s argument is that _____

Templates for disagreeing, with reasons  X is mistaken because she overlooks ___  X’s claim that ____ rests upon the questionable assumption that ____  I disagree with X’s view that ___ because recent research has shown ____  X contradicts herself. On the one hand, she argues ___. On the other hand, she also says ___  By focusing on ___, X overlooks the deeper problem of _____

Agreeing  X is surely right about ____ because, as she may not be aware, recent studies have shown that __  X’s theory of __ is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of___  Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to ____  I agree that ____, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people still believe.  If group X is right that ____, As I think they are, then we nees to reassess the popular assumption that ____

Okay, but (agreeing and disagreeing) you can be tipped slightly to one side!!  Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overarching assumption that ____  Although I disagree with much that X says, I fully endorse his final conclusion that __  Though I concede that __, I still insist that ___  X is right that ___, but she seems on more dubious ground when she claims that _____  While X is probably wrong when she claims that ___, she is right that ____.  Whereas X provides ample research ____ and ____ convinces me that ___ instead.  I’m of two minds about X’s claim that ____. On the one hand, I agree that ___. On the other I’m not sure if ___  My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do Support X’s position that ____, but I find that Y’s argument about ___ and z’s research on ___ to e equally persuasive.

Who’s talkin’??? Make sure you signal who is saying what in your writing!! Distinguish what you say from what they say. These are called voice markers. Getting in the habit of using voice markers will keep you from confusing your readers.

Although X makes the best possible case for ____, I am not persuaded My view, however, contrary to what X has argues is that____ Adding to X’s argument, I would point out that ____ According to both X and Y, ___ Politicians, X argues, should ____ Most athletes will tell you ____ X is right that___ The evidence shows that___ X’s assertion that __ does not fit the facts. Anyone familiar with___ should agree that ____ X overlooks what I consider and important point about ____ My own view is that what X insists is a ___ is in fact a ___ These conclusions, which X discusses in ___, adds weight to the argument that ____

Tying things together….Connect your sentences by 1. Using transition terms. (See handout, there are a lot of them!!!) 2. Adding pointing words. 3. developing a set of key terms and phrases for each text you write. 4. repeating yourself, but with a difference.

So far the argument….. a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among the claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying data and evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both claim(s) and counterclaims in a discipline-appropriate form and in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns. c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. And finally…….

This is the conclusion!!! Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented.

Now look back at your outline Introduce you claim Support your claim- evidence Refute the objections, give explanations and summaries of counterclaims while showing your argument. Make conclusion

Your assignment…. Should voting be mandatory in the United States??