Argument essay : Is consumerism detrimental to our overall health?”

Instructions on Writing Arguments Note: This handout is adapted from the Texas A&M University Writing Center at http://writingcenter.tamu.edu/Special-Pages/Print.aspx?printpath=/Students/Writing-Speaking-Guides/Alphabetical-List-of-Guides/Academic-Writing/Arguments&classname=CMS.MenuItem I have adapted this handout to omit sections about “premises.” An argument is a claim about a topic that is supported by reasons and evidence. Many academic assignments ask you to make an argument, even though the word “argument” never appears in the directions. For example, if you’re writing or giving a persuasive speech about solar power, you might try to convince your audience that the federal government should invest more money in solar energy technology—you make your argument by stating your reasons and supporting them with evidence. Choose a Topic Avoid “obvious” topics that no one is likely to dispute or subjects that can’t be addressed logically or proven with evidence from unbiased academic sources. Some arguable topics, such as abortion, provoke such strong reactions in an audience that they may be difficult to present in a measured, thoughtful way. An ideal topic is timely, and it can be debated without being overly controversial. Once you have selected a topic, do some research. After preliminary research, you will be ready to develop a strong thesis. Build an Argument Your basic argument, also called a claim or a thesis, should be stated in your thesis statement. Your thesis statement succinctly puts forth the position you intend to prove. Although a thesis statement is usually only one sentence, it can be a bit longer. Question: What are appropriate writing requirements for incoming freshmen Summary about the issue: The academic community is rethinking how freshmen are given writing instruction. Sample Thesis: Incoming freshmen should be required to complete an introductory writing course during their first semester, so they’re adequately prepared for their future courses. In addition to calling for action, an effective thesis might offer an explanation (“The Tories lost the election because …”); give a definition (“The ideal training routine for a weightlifter includes …”); or compare two or more things (“Chemotherapy would be a more effective treatment than surgery in this situation because …”). limitations of a thesis Because almost no thesis is absolute, you may need to qualify your thesis by pointing out its limits. A statement like “All politicians are untrustworthy” can easily be disproven with only one example of a trustworthy politician. Rather, you can acknowledge exceptions by qualifying the statement: “Many politicians are untrustworthy.” Some helpful qualifiers include perhaps, seems, sometimes, often, some, most, occasionally, probably, and might. Qualifying should be strategic: too much qualifying can weaken your position by limiting its force, while not qualifying at all can weaken your argument by making controversial assertions too strong. Analyze Your Audience Write your argument for the members of this class, including instructor. You should also consider other audiences if you were to publish your argument. Who would you send it to? Support the Reasons Now that the argument is in outline format—thesis and supporting reasons—you’ll need to add support for them. You can support them with further arguments or with examples, citations from authority, statistics, or data. For every argument that supports your thesis, develop as much evidence as you can. The quality, depth, and amount of support will depend on the scope of the argument and the expectations of the audience. If you state a fact and cite its source, you probably don’t need elaboration. But if you make a statement involving judgment, you may have to elaborate and explain that statement. The more opposition you anticipate, the more you should explain. Consider Counterarguments Skilled arguers don’t ignore evidence that disagrees with or seems to disprove their thesis; they address and refute it. Anticipate the counterarguments your readers might raise. Doing so will help your understand and anticipate your audiences’ viewpoints. Addressing the other side of the issue can strengthen your position and help readers see that you are a reasonable person who has thought carefully about the topic. If you cannot find a way to address a strong counterargument, adjust your thesis. Employ Rhetorical Devices: Ethos and Pathos Appealing to ethos means asking your audience to believe you because you have established credibility on your topic; you can accomplish this by mentioning relevant personal achievements or experiences that convey your expertise, knowledge, good intentions, or good character. You can also show through your references and citations that you have done adequate background reading on your topic. Appealing to pathos means arousing your audience’s emotions to gain their sympathy and their agreement, for example, playing on their sense of morals or civic duty. Using ethos and pathos is acceptable in an academic argument as long as they support your reasoning and do not overshadow or replace it. Find Common Ground Psychologist Carl Rogers developed a method of argument that begins by finding common ground between the opposing sides. By finding common ground with someone you disagree with, you can reduce hostility, downplay opposition, and focus on cooperation. This strategy is especially helpful for cooperative problem solving, and it can make others more open to your ideas. If you understand the points on which you and others agree, it is easier to understand the points on which you disagree. You might dedicate part of the introduction or an early paragraph to establishing common ground with your audience. Structure Your Essay There are many ways to structure an argument. In the western academic tradition, however, the most common is to begin with an introduction that clarifies your topic and announces your thesis statement. From there, present each reason and the evidence for it in logical order. Another effective option is to begin with your reasons and evidence and lead up to your thesis. You should also consider the arrangement of your reasons and supporting evidence. Do some of your reasons lead naturally into one another? Does your audience need to agree to one point before they will accept the next? Which reason seems to be the strongest? Typically, writers are advised to discuss their second strongest reason first, then put their weakest reason(s) in the middle, and save their strongest point for last. Create an Effective Introduction There are two basic kinds of opening paragraphs for an argumentative essay: formal and rhetorical. A formal introduction clearly states the thesis and briefly explains the steps you will take to defend that thesis; the structure of a formal introduction will likely reflect the structure of the paper as a whole. On the other hand, a rhetorical introduction explains the importance of your topic by providing a context, including appropriate background information. The most effective introduction often combines formal and rhetorical elements in a way best suited to that particular argument. If you’re writing an introduction using formal elements, you may want to write it after the essay is structured so that it accurately reflects that structure. Create a Memorable Conclusion Conclusions can be either formal or rhetorical or a combination of both. A formal conclusion mirrors the introduction by restating the thesis and reviewing the main arguments. A rhetorical conclusion relates your claim to a wider perspective or discusses your topic in terms of future applications. A conclusion may include a call to action, in which you urge your audience to take steps to rectify a problem. A strong conclusion will likely combine both formal and rhetorical elements. For example, after restating your argument, you could explain what it would mean to implement your idea or describe new problems that may arise now that you have solved the one at hand. Using an emotional appeal at this point can have great impact because you have shown that you can approach the topic logically. A strong conclusion will leave your readers feeling informed, prepared to take your ideas away with them, and maybe even moved to make a change.

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