1. Strategies for Effective Argument Problem/Solution Part 1

2. Reminders Read the instructions. Choose your problem carefully. It should be important personally but also affect others. Make sure your thesis is narrow enough to explore thoroughly in a short paper. Clichéd, broad topics (when you can offer no personal angle) are not good choices.

3. Reminders (continued) Analyze the situation and get to the REAL problem. If challenged, be able to prove it IS a problem. Remember your audience (give sufficient information and explanations) Anticipate and answer questions. Consider your opponents’ views; try to understand their point of view.

4. Support and Evidence Present yourself as a reasonable person of good will (your persona). Be forceful but do not attack your opponents. Use personal experience but do not generalize too broadly from one example. Don’t make claims you can only assert but cannot support (“Everybody knows,” “It has been proven”).

5. Support and Evidence (continued) Do field research and use credible sources. Be sure to cite sources of any specific information you use and to quote exactly. Do not plagiarize. Review MLA style.