Transcript OWL Purdue "Argument"

Organizing Your
Argument
A presentation brought to you by
the Purdue University
Writing Lab, adapted by Steven
Federle, Solano College
What is an argument?

An argument involves
the process of
establishing a claim
and then proving it
with the use of logical
reasoning, examples,
and research.
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Why is organization important
in building an argument?
Guides an audience
through your
reasoning process
 Offers a clear
explanation of each
argued point
 Demonstrates the
credibility of the
writer

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Organizing your argument
Title
 Introduction



Thesis statement
Body Paragraphs
Constructing Topic
Sentences
 Building Main Points
 Countering the
Opposition


Conclusion
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Title--why do you need
one?
Introduces the topic of
discussion to the
audience
 Generates reader
interest in the argument

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Creating a Title

Try to grab attention by
offering a provocative
image
 picking up on words or
examples offered in the
body or conclusion of the
paper
 asking a question


Avoid titles that are too
general or lack character
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Considering Titles
Imagine you just wrote a paper offering
solutions to the problem of road rage.
Which do you consider to be the best
title?
Road Rage
Can’t Drive 55
Road Rage: Curing Our Highway Epidemic
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What is an introduction?
Acquaints the reader
with the topic and
purpose of the paper
 Generates the
audience’s interest in
the topic
 Offers a plan for the
ensuing argument

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Methods for Constructing an
Introduction
personal anecdote
 example-real or
hypothetical
 question
 quotation
 shocking statistics
 striking image

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What is a thesis statement?
The MOST IMPORTANT
SENTENCE in your paper
 Lets the reader know the main
idea of the paper
 Answers the question: “What
am I trying to prove?”
 Not a factual statement, but a
claim that has to be proven
throughout the paper

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Role of the thesis statement



The thesis statement should
guide your reader through
your argument.
The thesis statement is
generally located in the
introduction of the paper.
A thesis statement may also
be located within the body of
the paper or in the
conclusion, depending upon
the purpose or argument of
the paper.
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Which thesis statement is the most
effective for an argument about the
need for V-chips in television sets?

Parents, often too busy to watch television shows with
their families, can monitor their children’s viewing
habits with the aid of the V-chip.

To help parents monitor their children’s viewing habits,
the V-chip should be a required feature for television
sets sold in the U.S.

This paper will describe a V-chip and examine the
uses of the V-chip in American-made television sets.
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Body Paragraphs and
Topic Sentences



Body paragraphs build upon the claims
made in the introductory paragraph(s)
Organize with the use of topic.
sentences that illustrate the main idea
of each paragraph.
Offering a brief explanation of the
history or recent developments in your
topic within the early body paragraphs
can help the audience to become
familiarized with your topic and the
complexity of the issue.
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Body Paragraphs

Paragraphs may be
ordered in several ways,
depending upon the topic
and purpose of your
argument:
General to specific
information
 Most important point to least
important point
 Weakest claim to strongest
claim
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
Offering a Counterargument


Addressing the claims of the
opposition is an important
component in building a
convincing argument.
It demonstrates your
credibility as a writer--you
have researched multiple
sides of the argument and
have come to an informed
decision.
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Offering a Counterargument
Counterarguments may be
located at various
locations within your body
paragraphs.
 You may choose to

build each of your main
points as a contrast to
oppositional claims.
 offer a counterargument
after you have articulated
your main claims.

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Counterarguing effectively



Consider your audience when
you offer your counterargument.
Conceding to some of your
opposition’s concerns can
demonstrate respect for their
opinions.
Remain tactful yet firm.

Using rude or deprecating
language can cause your audience
to reject your position without
carefully considering your claims.
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Incorporating research into the
body paragraphs


Researched material can aid
you in proving the claims of
your argument and disproving
oppositional claims.
Be sure to use your research
to support the claims made in
your topic sentences--make
your research work to prove
your argument!
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Conclusion -- The Big Finale
Your conclusion should
reemphasize the main
points made in your paper.
 You may choose to
reiterate a call to action or
speculate on the future of
your topic, when
appropriate.
 Avoid raising new claims in
your conclusion.

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Organizing your argument
Title
 Introduction
 Body Paragraphs

Constructing Topic
Sentences
 Building Main Points
 Countering the
Opposition


Conclusion
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Rhetorical Forms for Argument
 Rogerian Argument
 Deductive Argument
 Inductive Argument
 Syllogism
 Toulmin Argument
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Rogerian Argument
Conciliatory style






Begin by summarizing opposing viewpoints
Carefully consider the position of those who disagree
with you. What are their legitimate concerns? If you
were in their place, how would you react?
Present opposing points of view accurately and fairly.
Demonstrate respect for the ideas of those who
disagree with you.
Acknowledge the concerns that you and your
opposition share.
Point out to readers how they will benefit from the
position you are defining.
Present the evidence that supports your point of view.
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Using deductive and inductive
arguments
 Deductive
reasoning proceeds from a
general premise or assumption to a
specific conclusion.
 Inductive reasoning proceeds from
individual observations to a more
general conclusion.
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Deductive Reasoning
 Syllogism:
a syllogism consists of
a
major premise, which is a general
statement;
 A minor premise which is a related but
more specific statement
 And a conclusion, which has to be drawn
from those premises.
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Syllogism
 Major
premise: All Olympic runners are
fast
 Minor premise: Jesse Owens was an
Olympic runner.
 Conclusion: Therefore, Jesse Owens
was fast.
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The Declaration of Independence
 Major
premise: Tyrannical rulers
deserve no loyalty;
 Minor premise: King George III is a
tyrannical ruler
 Conclusion: Therefore, King George III
deserves no loyalty.
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Syllogisms
 When
the conclusion follows logically
from the major and minor premises,
then the argument is said to be valid.
 Example of an invalid premise
 Major
premise: All dogs are animals
 Minor premise: All cats are animals
 Conclusion: All dogs are cats
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Using Inductive Arguments
 Move
from specific examples or facts to
a general conclusion.
 The process involves:
 A question
to be answered
 Evidence gathered
 Conclusion (reached by inference (or
inductive leap) that answers the question
and takes the evidence into account).
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Inductive Reasoning
Question: How did that living room window
get broken?
 Evidence: baseball on floor; baseball not
there this morning; children were playing
baseball in the front yard earlier; they stopped
playing abruptly a little while ago; the children
have gone home.
 Conclusion: one of the children hit or threw
the baseball through the window, and then
they all ran away.

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Toulmin Logic
This is an effort to describe argument as it
actually occurs in everyday life.
 The CLAIM is the main point of the essay; it is
usually stated as the thesis.
 The GROUNDS is the material a writer uses
to support the claim (evidence)
 The WARRANT is the inference that connects
the grounds to the claim; it can be a belief
that is taken for granted, or an assumptions
that underlies the argument.

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Toulmin Logic
 Claim:
King George III deserves no
loyalty.
 Grounds: King George III is a tyrannical
ruler (supported by facts and examples)
 Warrant: Tyrannical rulers deserve no
loyalty.
 The clearer your warrant, the more
likely readers will be to agree with it.
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Logical Fallacies: Begging the
Question

Assumes in the premise what the arguer
should be trying to prove in the conclusion.

“The unfair and shortsighted legislation that limits
free trade is clearly a threat to the American
economy.”

Restrictions may or may not be unfair and shortsighted,
but emotionally loaded language does not constitute
proof. The statement begs the question because it
assumes what it should be proving – that restrictive
legislation is dangerous.
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Argument from Analogy
 An
analogy explains something
unfamiliar by comparing it to something
more familiar.
 An argument based on an analogy
frequently ignores important
dissimilarities between the two things;
when this happens, the argument is
fallacious.
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Personal Attack (Ad Hominem)
 This
fallacy tries to divert attention from
the facts by attacking the motives or
character of the person making the
argument.
 The
public should not take seriously Dr.
Mason’s plan for upgrading county health
services. He is a recovering alcoholic
whose second wife recently divorced him.
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Other fallacies
See list and descriptions on pages 542-43
 False Dilemma,
 Equivocation,
 Red Herring,
 You also (Tu Quoque)
 Appeal to Doubtful Authority,
 Misleading Statistics,
 Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (After This,
Therefore Because of That)
 Non Sequitur (It Does Not Follow)

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Transitions and Checklist
 See
transitions checklist on page 544
 See revisions checklist on page 546
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IN-CLASS
WRITING
ASSIGNMENT
• Look at the
newspaper ad
from the ACLU
on page 555,
arguing against
the death
penalty.
• What points does
the ad’s headline
make? Does the
rest of the ad
support the
headline?
• How would you
describe the
picture that
accompanies the
ad? In what way
does the picture
reinforce the
message of the
text?
• Does this ad
appeal primarily
to logic, to
emotions, or to
both? Explain.
• List the specific
points the ad
makes. Which
points are
supported by
evidence? Which
points should be
supported by
evidence but are
not? In what way
does this lack of
support affect
your response to
the ad?
• Write a short
letter to the
ACLU in which
you present
your position.
• Be sure to
refer to
specific points
of the ad to
support your
argument.