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| Subject: The argumentative essay – pág 282 -284 | |
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Author: Marcia |
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Date Posted: 08:05:57 09/03/10 Fri The argumentative essay – pág 282-284 The Argumentative Thesis: Taking A Stand Most writing, of course, is improved by having a persuasive edge to the thesis, but for analysis and exposition, that "edge" need not always be sharp. For example, a thesis such as "My first experiences with Americans were traumatic" has a central idea "traumatic" but it is not really strongly persuasive, and it is certainly not argumentative. However, an argumentative essay is one that attempts to be highly persuasive and logical. What is the difference between a thesis with a strong central idea and an argumentative thesis? To begin with, the argumentative thesis takes a side of an issue; frequently, too, it proposes a course of action (often expressed, by the way, with the modal should). In the argument concerning the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, the thesis for a paper on this topic might be "The United States should ban further construction of nuclear power plants." Of course, someone else might argue "The United States should not require students to take physical education courses.” The opposition: knowing what you are up against When you write an argumentative paper, more so that with expository or analytical essays, you must be acutely aware of your audience - the reader. Remember, the purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince the reader that your position is the better one. To begin with, assume that the reader disagrees with you. After all, if he or she did not , there would be no cause to argue. Next, remember that although the reader disagrees with you, that does not mean he or she is any less intelligent than you. Therefore, avoid attacking the reader with such statements as "Anyone who believes we should ban nuclear power plants must be ignorant or out of touch with reality." Indeed, address your reader by writing objectively, logically, and respectfully. The most important thing to consider about the members of your audience is why they hold their opinion. What reasons do you think you might use to support their opinion? Trying to identify and understand your opponent's point of view is important; if you do not understand your opponent's reasons and just argue your own reasons, you are not likely to convince the reader at all. For example, let us say that you want to argue for a physical education requirement at your college and you give the following reasons: 1. Students enjoy physical educations courses. 2. Students learn valuable social skills and teamwork in physical education courses. 3. Students can study more effectively when they are physically fit. Your reasons might be very good ones, but these points are probably not the point on which your opposition bases its argument; in fact, your opponents will probably agree with you on these points. At the heart of your opponents' argument is the issue of responsibility: is it university’s job attend to the physical fitness of students? If you do not address that issue and convince your opponents that physical education courses are appropriate requirement at the college level, then you cannot expect to convince them that we should build more nuclear power plants. Once you have argued to the point the opposition holds, then you can further support you case by adding the other reasons mentioned earlier. Supporting and explaining the reasons There are a number of ways to support your point in an argumentative paragraph. Since the purpose is to convince or persuade, you can use whatever type of organization and support that is suggested by the reason you give. For instance, if you believe that there should be stricter controls over the dumping of chemical wastes, and one of the reasons you give is the pollution that irresponsible dumping has caused, you could discuss the effects of dumping; in addition, you could give examples of dumping grounds that have polluted the environment. You might even explain the process of pollution – that is, how dumping pollutes. Whatever method of development you use, you will want to use facts to support your point. Facts include data that have been objectively proved and are generally accepted, such as historical facts, scientific data, statistics, and so forth. In order to get facts to support your point, you may need to do some library research. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |