Argumentative Writing: Purpose  Analyze your own argument for its effectiveness in achieving its purpose and any gaps in reasoning or weaknesses.  Your purpose is to convince your audience of your claim and get them to do something about it.  Always keep in mind your audience and your purpose.

Argumentative Writing: Claim  Make sure your claim is arguable. Consider whether or not a reasonable person could make an opposing claim.

Argumentative Writing: Evidence  Base your argument primarily on logos appeals and logical or empirical evidence and reasoning.  Make a variety of types of appeals (logos, pathos, ethos).  Use a variety of types of evidence (logical, empirical, anecdotal).

Argumentative Writing: Sources  DON’T build your case on evidence primarily from just one source.  Use a variety of valid and credible sources that are respected authorities on the topic. The credibility of your sources can strengthen or weaken your argument.

Evaluating Sources  Please flip to this handy chart in your book on evaluating sources and follow along as we read it together.

Argumentative Writing: Counterclaim  Introduce a logical counterclaim – an opposing view on the topic that a reasonable person might have.  Consider the grounds on which a reasonable person might make an opposing claim – the support that causes them to see things the way they do. Then, be sure to present and address or respond to their concerns with evidence and reasoning to support your claim.

Argumentative Writing: Call to Action  Make sure your call to action is clear and reasonable for your audience.

Argumentative Writing: Structure  Make sure you have included all the elements of argument in a clear and logical progression of ideas that the audience can follow effortlessly.  ALWAYS clearly explain how each piece of evidence supports your claim.  Be sure to fully explain how the evidence presented in response to the counterclaim clearly refutes the other side’s position.

Citing Sources: MLA format  Remember to use both in-text parenthetical citations and a works cited list at the end.  Use parenthetical citations in the text of your argument to indicate where you’re getting your information any time you paraphrase or quote a source. Any time you’re not citing general knowledge, you need a parenthetical citation!

Citing Sources: MLA format  Use the first item in the citation generated for your works cited in your parenthetical citation. Usually, this is the author’s last name. However, it may be the title of the article, or the title of the website.  Include a page number when appropriate.

Citing Websites: MLA format  Author last name, first name. “Title.” Name of the website. Publisher/sponsor of the website, date of publication. Format. Date of access..  Ogunbado, Ahamad Faosiy. "Impacts of Colonialism on Religions: An Experience of Southwestern Nigeria." International Organization of Scientific Research Journals. International Organization of Scientific Research Journals, Nov Web. 13 Mar  The in-text parenthetical citation for the source above would be (Ogunbado). There are no page numbers as it’s a digital publication.

Citing Sources: MLA format  You can use Easybib.com or Bibme.org to help you generate your citation. The website will not do all the work for you – you must search for and fill in the data it does not collect.  example: stories-videos/syria-war-refugee-crisishttp:// stories-videos/syria-war-refugee-crisis  Include the URL of the site in your citation.

Other tips  Refer to the handouts called “Outlining an Argument” and “They Say / I Say” for ideas on how you might structure your argument effectively and ideas on how to incorporate the views of others into your argument.