Writing the Argumentative

Essay
 Writer’s Prompt:
• Issue: Prayer in Public Schools
• Write down your claim considering
the issue of should there be a time
allowed for prayer in public schools.
Support your claim with evidence.
• Be prepared to read your writing in
class.
 Assignments
• Argumentative Essay
• Midterm
• 1984 Part Two
“In Defense of Voluntary
Euthanasia”
 Questions
• 1. What is Hook’s position on
euthanasia? Where does he state
his claim?
• 1. Hook argues that he should be
free to make choices about his life –
Do you agree? Why or why not?
Writing The Argumentative
Essay
 Review - The Basics of
Argument

• Argument is conversation with a goal

– Deciding on a movie – move
discussion along
• Takes a stand on an arguable issue
– Not about facts – the lecture starts at
2 PM
• Argument uses reasons and evidence
– Think critically – analyze the issue
• Argument recognizes the topics
complexity
 How to Write A
Good Argumentative Essay

video
 Clustering versus Alternating


ORGANIZING AN
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
 Clustering Pattern of
Development
1.The issue
2.Your claim
3.The evidence in support
4.The opposing viewpoint
5.Reply to the opposing viewpoint
6.Evidence dismissing the opposing
viewpoint
7.Conclude based on evidence and
rebuttal
8.

 The Alternating Pattern
1.The issue
2.Your claim
3.First evidence
1.Objection to this evidence
2.Reply to this objection
3.Continued objections and replies to
this evidence
4.Second evidence (third, fourth, etc.)
1.Objection to this evidence
2.Reply to this objection
3.Continued objections and replies to
Tests for an Argumentative Topic
 A good subject:
§ Concerns a matter of opinion: a
conclusion drawn from evidence.
§ Can be disputed: others might take a
different position.
§ Will be disputed: it is controversial.
§ Is something you care about and know
about or want to research.
§ Is narrow enough to argue in the space
and time available.
•
Exercise – Good Topics or
Not?
– Granting of athletic scholarships
– Care of automobile tires
– Censoring the Web sites of hate groups
– History of the town park
– Housing for the homeless
– Billboards in urban residential areas or in
rural areas
– Animal testing for cosmetics research
– Cats versus dogs as pets
– Ten steps in recycling wastepaper
– Benefits of being a parent
Checklist for Revising an
Argument
➤Thesis
▲What is your thesis? Where is it stated?
▲In what ways is your thesis statement an arguable
claim?
➤Reasoning
▲If your thesis derives from induction, where have
you related the evidence to your generalization?
▲If your thesis derives from deduction, is your
syllogism both true and valid?
▲Have you avoided fallacies in reasoning?
➤Evidence
▲Where have you provided the evidence readers
need?
▲Where might your evidence not be accurate,
relevant, representative, or adequate?
1 0 .5 a

•
Checklist for Revising an
Argument
➤Appeals
▲Where have you considered readers’ probable
beliefs and values?
▲How are your rational appeals and emotional
appeals appropriate for your readers?
▲What is your ethical appeal? How can you
improve it?
➤Opposing views
▲What opposing views have you answered?
▲How successfully have you refuted opposing
views?
➤Organization
▲How clearly does your argument move from
one point to the next?
▲How appropriate is your organization1 given
0 .5 b your
readers’ likely views?
 Pro and Con Exercise
• In groups, make a Pro and Con Chart for
one of the following issues:
– Abortion
– The Death Penalty
– Gay Marriage
– Prayer in Schools
– Legalizing Marijuana
– Removing mandatory school
attendance
– Drinking Age increased to 25
– Government funded college for all