Essay Essentials, Chapter 16

Copyright © 2015 by Nelson Education Ltd.

NETA PowerPoint® Slides

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prepared by

Rhonda Dynes

Mohawk College

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Argumentation

Chapter 16

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What Is an Argument?Argumentation can be divided into two kinds: argument and

persuasion. In the context of writing, these terms have specific meanings, slightly different from their meanings in

general conversation. An argument is a piece of writing that is intended to convince readers that the writer’s opinion

about an issue is reasonable and valid. An issue is an opinion or belief, something that not all people agree on; it is

controversial, a word that literally means “having two sides.”

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Planning an Argumentation Paper

Drafting, rewriting, and editing argument and persuasion are much the same as for other kinds of writing. Planning, however, requires a slightly different approach.

1.Choose Your Issue Carefully

2.Consider Your Audience

3.Identify Your Purpose

4.Organize Your Ideas

5.Identify Your Thesis, Reasons, and Evidence

6.Decide on an Approach: Direct or Indirect?

7.Arrange Your Reasons and Evidence

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Choose Your Issue Carefully

An appropriate subject for your paper is one that can be disputed. You cannot really argue matters of taste. Therefore, choose your subject carefully. Stay away from large, controversial issues: abortion, for example, unless you have been given the topic. There are two reasons for this.

1.They are complex issues.

2.Virtually everyone already has an entrenched opinion.

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Consider Your AudienceWhen you are trying to get readers to agree with you, you must know (or be able to make an educated guess about) what opinions they hold and how likely they are to disagree with you. What do they think about the issue? Do they care about it? What beliefs do they hold that would make them inclined to agree or disagree with you? If you know the answers to these questions, you’ll know how to approach your subject: what points to argue, which to emphasize, and which to downplay.

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Identify Your PurposeDo you want your readers simply to understand and respect your opinion on an issue? Or do you want to change their thinking or their behaviour in some way? If your purpose is to get them to agree with you, your argument will rely on solid evidence and sound, logical reasoning. If your purpose is to get your readers to change, your argument will need to appeal not only to their sense of what is reasonable but also to their feelings, loyalties, ambitions, or desires.

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Organize Your IdeasBefore you begin, write out your opinion in the form of a proposition (opinion statement). You need it in front of you as you (1) identify your reasons for holding the opinion you do, (2) list the evidence you intend to use, and (3) decide on the order of presentation. The test of a satisfactory proposition is that it is debatable—that is, someone could defend the contrary point of view. (A statement that includes the word should or must is likely to be a proposition.)

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Identify Your Thesis, Reasons, and Evidence

By thinking about the concepts of grounds (data), claims, and warrants, you become better able to craft a workable thesis. You will not convince your readers of anything unless they understand your proposition. Your reasons, which are your main points, must be significant, distinct, and relevant. To support each reason, you need to provide accurate evidence: facts, concrete details, statistics, events, or experiences that your readers can relate to, or authorities you can refer to or quote.

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Decide on an Approach: Direct or Indirect?

If you think your readers are likely to argue with your view or are even slightly inclined to oppose it, it is best to build your case with examples, definitions, and other evidence before stating your own opinion. A potentially hostile audience would respond best to an indirect, or inductive, approach. On the other hand, if your readers are sympathetic to your point of view, you can state your opinion up front and then identify your reasons and the evidence that supports those reasons. This is the direct, or deductive, approach.

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Arrange Your Reasons and EvidenceTwo patterns are common in argumentation.

1. The classic “their side–my side” strategy, useful when arguing a controversial position. This pattern involves your presenting the con (or “against”) points of an argument, then refuting them with the pro (or “for”) side. It can be presented either in block form or in point-by-point form, depending on how many points there are. Be sure to arrange your points in the order in which they will be the most effective.

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Arrange Your Reasons and Evidence cont’d

If you are a skilled debater, you can often dismiss the opposing side’s argument by identifying and exposing flaws using one of the following techniques:

● Identify any irrelevant or trivial points.

● Show that a point covers only part of the issue.

● Show that a point is valid only some of the time.

● Show that a point may have immediate advantages but that its long-term results will be negative.

● Acknowledge the validity of the opposition’s point(s), but but provide a better alternative. 16-12


Arrange Your Reasons and Evidence cont’d

2. The second structural pattern specific to argument makes special use of the familiar thesis statement. Add carefully worded reasons to your proposition, and you have a thesis statement that can appear in the introduction of your paper in a direct approach or near the end if you are treating your subject indirectly. Be sure you have arranged your reasons in the most effective order, whether the most persuasive comes at the beginning or is saved for the end.

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Tips for Writing Argumentation1. Choose an issue that you know and care

about and can present with enthusiasm.

2. Select your reasons and evidence with your audience in mind.

3. Decide whether your audience can be approached directly or should be approached indirectly, with care.

4. Arrange your argument in the pattern that is most appropriate.

5. Remember there is another side to the issue. Present the opposing viewpoint and refute it.

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Summary• Argumentation is different from persuasion, which

can take many forms.• Argumentation has a different planning strategy that

includes a consideration of • whether it should be direct or indirect• the appropriate reasons or evidence to the audience• the structural pattern that best fits the type of

argument

• One important thing to remember is to present the opposing side to improve your own argument.

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Essay Essentials, Chapter 16

Education

Transcript of Essay Essentials, Chapter 16