Strategies for Strategies for Effective ArgumentEffective Argument

WSAT PreparationWSAT Preparation

Responding to the PromptResponding to the Prompt

Read and follow the instructions.Read and follow the instructions. Choose the prompt carefully. It should be a Choose the prompt carefully. It should be a

topic you can write about using your personal topic you can write about using your personal experience and general knowledge, but you experience and general knowledge, but you should also think of how it affects others.should also think of how it affects others.

Remember that the experience of one person is Remember that the experience of one person is important but may not be typical and should important but may not be typical and should not be used to generalize for everyone at all not be used to generalize for everyone at all times. times.

Thesis StatementsThesis Statements

Use invention techniques to come up with ideas and Use invention techniques to come up with ideas and examples. Jot down notes.examples. Jot down notes.

Formulate a thesis (a claim). Make sure your thesis is Formulate a thesis (a claim). Make sure your thesis is narrow enough to explore thoroughly in a short essay. narrow enough to explore thoroughly in a short essay. Write your thesis at the top of your essay (you can Write your thesis at the top of your essay (you can always change or remove it) to remind yourself of always change or remove it) to remind yourself of what to focus on. Everything in your essay should what to focus on. Everything in your essay should support that thesis. support that thesis.

Presentation of Self Presentation of Self

Remember to present yourself in accordance Remember to present yourself in accordance with Aristotle’s criteria of a “good person with Aristotle’s criteria of a “good person speaking well.” Be strong but do not attack speaking well.” Be strong but do not attack your opponents. Do not use insults or make your opponents. Do not use insults or make derogatory remarks. derogatory remarks.

Audience AwarenessAudience Awareness

Think about your real audience (English teachers). Think about your real audience (English teachers). Pay attention to any suggestion that you also pretend Pay attention to any suggestion that you also pretend that you are writing for another audience, such as that you are writing for another audience, such as your peers in a class or a public figure.your peers in a class or a public figure.

Give sufficient information and explanations; Give sufficient information and explanations;

anticipate and answer readers’ questions. Don’t make anticipate and answer readers’ questions. Don’t make claims you can only assert but cannot support claims you can only assert but cannot support (“Everybody knows,” “It has been proven”).(“Everybody knows,” “It has been proven”).

Focus, Coherence, and Focus, Coherence, and EvidenceEvidence

Go over each paragraph to make sure you go beyond Go over each paragraph to make sure you go beyond general statements and provide support (examples, general statements and provide support (examples, reasons, discussion) for each point you make. reasons, discussion) for each point you make.

Check to make sure your sentences lead logically Check to make sure your sentences lead logically from one to another. Use transitions. Do not go off in from one to another. Use transitions. Do not go off in different directions and then return to the same different directions and then return to the same points. Remember that these essays are read quickly points. Remember that these essays are read quickly and your goal is communicate clearly. and your goal is communicate clearly.

Opposing View(s)Opposing View(s)

Many prompts will present you with at least two Many prompts will present you with at least two views of a topic. You are NOT required to address the views of a topic. You are NOT required to address the opposing point of view in your essay, point out opposing point of view in your essay, point out problems in opponents’ arguments, or offer a problems in opponents’ arguments, or offer a refutation. refutation.

If you do, however, be careful to make your point If you do, however, be careful to make your point clear and not seem to contradict yourself. For clear and not seem to contradict yourself. For example, label the other view with something like example, label the other view with something like “my opponent contends that….” You can label your “my opponent contends that….” You can label your view with “I would argue that…” or “I think….”view with “I would argue that…” or “I think….”

Proofread and EditProofread and Edit Go over sentences to make sure they are clear, Go over sentences to make sure they are clear,

complete, and punctuated correctly. Grammar check complete, and punctuated correctly. Grammar check is helpful but will not do all of the work for you. is helpful but will not do all of the work for you.

Consult a thesaurus along with a dictionary to make Consult a thesaurus along with a dictionary to make sure you are using words correctly. Do not just take sure you are using words correctly. Do not just take MSWord’s suggestions without thinking about them MSWord’s suggestions without thinking about them or looking words up. or looking words up.

Choose language that is appropriate for a college Choose language that is appropriate for a college essay. essay.