1: What does this mean?

Arguing a certain side of a position that you believe

in can happen in everyday circumstances. The
steps you take and follow to defend your side is
crucial. With the help of these steps from Chpt. 11,
positions in academic arguments will help your
reasoning.
Be sure its arguable AND important! Find an argument
Find a topic YOU ARE interested in! Examine your worth debating! DO NOT pick ones that are proven to be
preferences on something you'd be willing to argue for also facts. Always be sure to explore first. You need to be
in the light of the surrounding context familiar with your topic, be able to contribute and know
its not an already proven topic!
Personal Topic

Try your best to find and FIT a topic you enjoy into the
assigned material. Can you bring in your interests to
2: MAIN TOPIC help you stay interested in the argument?

Assigned topic
Audience Focus on who you are trying to reach. Are they familiar
or need background info? Are they like you or have
different underlying factors to them? How are they
towards the topic you are going up against?

Overall, why are you arguing this position? Why are you
Purpose
motivated? Not only you, but overall from the audience
3: YOUR RHETORICAL SITUATION what is to come from this?

Why have you picked this topic? What is YOUR attitude

Thinking about these steps will help achieve your from it? (critic, advocate etc...) How are you wanting to
Stance
goals for this argument be seen as an author of your argument? How can you
control the opinion?
Context What are the other sides to this topic? Look at the
Arguing a Position different arguments already made as well as opposing
forces. Larger context positions will help develop yours
too.
Medium What will the form of the argument be in? Is it a print?
Begin by assessing the known and
Editorial? Audio? Find one that goes hand in hand to
unknown. Why are you interested?
your purpose and audience
What are your questions?
BRAINSTORMING GENERATES Design
IDEAS Think about the presentation of the argument. Does your
What have others said about this topic? What medium require such details as audios, videos, pictures,
POSITIONS can be taken with this topic? Be flexible headings or other elements?
4: RESEARCH
Explore from different with this
P.O.Vs, this can help
strengthen your own FIELD RESEARCH FOR IDEAS. Do you start from
present day news or old sources of your topic?
side!
Does your topic have underlying topics? Can the broad
idea be cut down into a more specific argument?

Come up with various ways describing

your thesis. Then choose the one that
5: FORMULATE EXPLICIT fits best
POSITION
then, think if you should Your thesis should be strong and make aCLAIM thats
Once you have the info you need, State your position as a QUALIFY your position. Is it debatable while giving ideas aswell.
following these steps will help state and tentative THESIS too weak or strong? does it
support your argument fully. need better explaining?

BEWARE OF FALLACIES (weak evidence that you feel

Come up with EVIDENCE and needs more support and research)
REASONS state all evidence and
match the reasoning with it. include
things such as (facts, quotes, stats
Start with your THESIS and look back for support etc..)

Give REASONS and EVIDENCE find what speaks Consider COUNTERARGUMENTS think about the
to the audience the best do not forget larger context and other positions as well. If you
6: ORGANIZE COUNTERARGUMENTS be sure to represent disagree why do you?
these for flexibility!
AND START

Draft an OPENING clearly state and explain WHY

this issue is so needed to be learned about

Draft a CONCLUSION what do you want the

readers to remember? answer the "so what?"
question

go through and critically review. Ask yourself

Is the THESIS clear? How can it be improved? Is the
questions regarding. BE TOUGH and ask for
TOPIC understanding and meaningful? What is your
reviews POSITION on it?

7: REVISE Is the OPENING capturing? Do you need more

INFORMATION ?

Are the STANCE and TONE appropriate?

What REASONS do you have and EVIDENCE for such?

Are SOURCES properly and smoothly incorporated?

How did you handle the COUNTERARGUMENTS ?

How is the ORGANIZATION of the draft, STYLE and

DESIGN contribute?

Give your argument a TITLE that is intriguing and think

about the overall feeling of your draft

These steps will help not only every academic

8: CONCLUSION student wanting to start an argument, but also
specifically our English 101 class. The argument
paper coming up will incorporate these steps
developing a powerful position on a topic and our
side.