Module 4 - Week 10Persuasive/Argumentative Writing

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The Persuasive/Argumentative Essay

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires you to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature or previously published material. Argumentative assignments may also require empirical research where you collects data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows you to learn about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that you may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected during research. Regardless of the amount or type of research involved, argumentative essays must establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.

Adapted from Purdue University's OWL (Online Writing Lab) web page about argumentative essays

Structure of the Persuasive/Argument Essay

A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

In the first paragraph of an argument essay, you should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next you should explain why the topic is important (exigence) or why readers should care about the issue. Lastly, you should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If you do not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.

Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.

Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for your audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected during research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis (warrant).

However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic. You should dedicate one paragraph of your argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, just note how opinions that do not align with your thesis might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.

Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. You already did this research for Essay 2. Use factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence to support your thesis, but also include the author's ethos (background and credentials), as well as well-placed pathos if it can support your academic argument.

A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

It is at this point of the essay that you may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.

Since you have analyzed argument essays throughout the Rhetorical and Argument Modules, you have an understanding of the structure of an effective argument - and what argumentative moves to avoid.

The Argument/Persuasive Essay Directions

You will be writing a 5-8 page argument about the topic you used for your informative Essay. In this essay, you will need to include a minimum of three sources. One or more of these sources need to come from a database. Your argument must include MLA style citations (both in-text citations and a Works Cited page). Essays submitted without MLA citations will be returned ungraded.

PREWRITING: Brainstorm, then choose your issue: This step was completed during the writing of Essay 2.

Planning your Toulmin Argument, your research, and your audience. Complete the “Argument Pre-Writing Plan Worksheet” assignment to help you discover what outside research you need to explore and how you plan to proceed. This assignment will also help you choose your audience. You will need to specify a specific audience for your essay. They can be defined by gender, age group, occupation, ethnic group, interests, beliefs, etc. If you’d like, you can write for a specific person(s) - (your boss, city council, your father, etc.) Your audience can be neutral or hostile - don’t “preach to the choir” (argue to someone who already agrees with you.) Completing the “Audience Focus” portion of your “Argument Pre-writing” will help you understand your audience and provide insights so you can align yourself with them in order to establish credibility. Knowledge of your audience will help you decide what types of appeals (ethical, logical, emotional) or combinations of appeals will be most effective for your chosen audience.

Develop the scope of your Toulmin Argument (Review: Outline of a Toulmin Argument textbook page 143.) Decide what your main claim will be, the reasons to support your main claim, the warrants (bridge statements), the types and amount of evidence needed to support your reasons, the qualifiers (limitations of your argument). Then focus on counter-arguing by anticipating objections to your claim, your reasons and/or your evidence. Find ways to either rebut these objections or incorporate them into your argument by defining your claim further or by acknowledging the concern is legitimate and deserves further exploration.

Research your issue: to help you understand important aspects and to find evidence to support your claim. Complete the Research Strategies Quiz to gain tips on how to research effectively. You will need to cite at least three outside sources for this assignment. At least one source MUST come from a database. If you choose to, you may include an interview(s) as one or more of your sources. If you search the internet for information, make sure you evaluate potential sources using the CRAAP Test. Keep track of all of your sources so you can cite them correctly both in-text and in your Works Cited page.

DRAFTING: (See Outline of a Toulmin Argument, textbook page 143.)

Here’s where you really need to think of your audience. How do you want to get their attention? How much background information do they need before they fully understand your claim? What do you want them to know/feel first? Next? Last? Where will your outside sources (info/facts, expert opinion, personal testimony, etc.) be most effective? Write your draft and read it out loud to yourself or to a friend. Cite your sources using MLA style both in your draft and in a Works Cited Page. Post your draft to the Peer Workshop Discussion Board.

REVISING and EDITING: Use the tips from the readings, your Peer Workshop and your Little Seagull grammar and punctuation sections to help you polish. Use Purdue OWL website to help you quote and paraphrase using MLA style and to help ensure your Works Cited Page is correct. Please include the URL when you cite internet sources in the Works Cited page. Email me with any specific questions you have. This paper should be 5-8 pages long, double-spaced, 12pt font.

(Carscallen: adapted by Bodie)

Essay Example

Review MIT student Joanna MacKay's essay on Organ Sales (Links to an external site.) (referenced above in the section about writing a Thesis) to use as a guiding example:

Learning Outcomes

essay styles: argument;
rhetoric and reasoning: identifying and applying claims, supporting reasons, evidence, assumptions, and counterarguments; applying ethos, logos, and pathos; avoiding logical fallacies; synthesizing of information from sources, and evaluating texts.
the writing process: prewriting; identifying audience and purpose; thesis and support; drafting; organization; essay development: introduction techniques; paragraph development; conclusion techniques; revision: peer review; revising for: purpose and audience; thesis and support; coherence and organization; language; editing: grammar; sentence structure and variety; word choice; punctuation; mechanics; format; proofreading: spelling; incorrect words; missing words; minor errors; minor details.
research: selecting topics; locating credible database and internet sources; evaluating sources; avoiding plagiarism; quoting, summarizing, paraphrasing; and documenting sources in a specific citation style.