8: Writing the Classic Argument by Ukaisha Al-Amin
- Page ID
- 231320
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)SLOs-Employ a voice, style, and tone appropriate to the topic selected and the rhetorical situation -Direct an argument or explanation to the designated audience -Establish a clear framework of essay and paragraph organization appropriate to the writing task and the thesis -Employ rhetorical strategies consistent with the purpose of the writing task
Intro: Writing a research essay is a big task to take on. It often requires mixing rhetorical strategies and genres that you have learned in the past. Many research essays require knowledge of writing the basic classic argument. This is typically an argument written for an academic audience with a healthy dose of skepticism. This lesson will review the elements of a classic argument and give examples of those elements, including:
Introduction, Stance, Conversation, Support for Stance, Counter Argument, Conclusion. See how all these elements fit together in the chart below.
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Classic Argument Structure |
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Introduce the research problem or question that is the focus of the paper. Introduce the Debate |
Provide factual background. Dramatize with an anecdote or other attention getter. Establish the significance of the problem by citing experts or other observers. |
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What will be your argument or claim in the paper? This is your thesis. |
What do you think your readers should believe or what do you think they should do? State the thesis clearly. Stance+Reasons=Thesis statement |
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Review the literature. What have others already said about the question or problem? (The Conversation) |
Cite published studies, interviews, commentaries, experiment, and so one that are relevant to question or problem. Which ideas or voices seem most important? Are there identifiable camps in the debate, or certain patterns of argument? Address popular assumptions. What do most people believe to be true? |
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What are your reasons for believing what you believe and for each reason, what specific evidence did you find that you thought was convincing? |
What kinds of evidence will your readers find most persuasive? Are there various kinds of evidence that can be brought to the conversation? How do your reasons square with those who might disagree with you? (Counter argument) |
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What is the significance of your claim? What's at stake for your audience? What might be other avenues for research. |
What should we do? What might happen if we don't act? (Avoid Fallacies!) How does the thesis or claim that you propose resolve some part of the problem? What part remains unresolved? What questions remain? |
- 8.1: The Reading Writing the Classic Argument-Introductions and Conclusions
- Here are suggestions for writing introductions and conclusions to an argumentative essay. You can use this reading to help you if you are stuck with starting or finishing your classic argumentative essay.
- 8.2: Writing the Classic Argument--Classroom Lecture and Activity
- This lesson will help you learn how to write a classic argument.