6.1: Introduction to Academic Argument
- Page ID
- 170522
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)What Is Academic Argument?
Most of the writing that you will do in college will be referred to as academic argument or discourse. This type of writing has many specific features, but there
are some general characteristics that you want to know about academic argument:
- It is written for an academic audience, so often they will likely know something about its topic.
- It makes a solid and convincing argument in an somewhat formal and clear style.
- It follows conventions of format, usage and punctuation.
- It has an academic and documented citation style.
Academic Argument covers a vast area of writing; however, its trademarks are appeals to reason and providing evidence that relies on research. This type of work does not come quickly, nor does it happen within a quick and easy process. Academic argument requires time and it happens through a process. As a college student, learning about academic argument will engage you in the process of careful and accurate reading, truth and commitment in your reporting and attentive examination of writing. In other words, when you are doing academic argument writing, it will take time to make sure that you are careful as you search, accurate in what you document, and vigilant in how you produce your written information.
Conventions in Academic Argument Writing is Not Stagnant
For college student writing, “the research paper” has always been the culmination of assignments in the English 1A class through the conventional mode of an essay with library research articles, essays and books. As college students, you have always been assigned written research papers. With the rise of technology and various instructional modalities, blogs, social media, wikis, and other advanced components, you have more access to academic research online available to you in ways that are not conventional at all. In fact, the concept of “the research paper” is a discussion in academic circles as to how it can be created in this day and time because there are other alternatives. With all of these changes in convention, what is important to understand is that the idea of an academic argument remains the same. Whether the research paper becomes a technological product that doesn’t require an essay or whether it is a blog, the idea of the academic argument will remain the same: to present a topic or a subject, and using solid and accurate researched information, the focus of that topic will always need to be proven as an academic argument.
Image taken from grammarly.com
Audience determines how to construct your Academic Argument
Initially, your writing as a beginning college student may not be very technical; however, it is important to understand that you will be introduced or reminded of a bit of formal writing which is necessary in academic argument. Your focus in academic argument writing is on the subject or topic that you choose. Many times, this can result in a paper where your tone is direct; the authors chosen simply prove your point, and the language at times appears plain. Depending on your audience, readers might appreciate that paper. However, based on your audience, the language and tone of your paper can be modified, but the accuracy and research should not change.
Think about the topic of climate change. Authors chosen for your argument will prove the point, but their argument will determine the tone and language of your paper. For example, the website Understanding Global Change at U.C. Berkeley (ugc.berkeley.edu) offers researched information on climate change. In fact, they have a link entitled “Understanding Global Change 101” (ugc.berkeley.edu). This link presents the reasons that the climate and environment have changed and humanity’s contribution to that. Academic argument would present as previously mentioned: direct tone, credible research and plain language.
Image from ugc.berkeley.edu
Searching information about the protests around climate change engages a different audience. The website Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources, presents a lecture entitled “Climate Justice and the Question of Reparations” (nature.berkeley.edu). This lecture would have a different tone and different language because the audience is different and it even introduces the ideas of culture and humanity. This website changes the perspective of Climate Change. The focus is still on the topic and credible research is still necessary, but the audience makes this academic argument different. This argument does not just include the climate and environment; it includes the other side of climate: humanity and justice.
Image from nature.berkeley.edu
"Climate Justice and the Question of Reparations". Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources. www.nature.berkeley.edu. Accessed 11 January 2023.
Lunsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruskiewicz and Keith Walters. Everything's an Argument with Readings 8th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2019.
"Understanding Global Change 101". Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources. www.ugc.berkeley.edu. Accessed 11 January 2023.