ANES 1501 PPT - M3: Creating an Academic Argument

Creating anAcademic Argument

Argumentative Writing

&

Compare and Contrast

Creating an Academic Argument 2

Argumentative Writing

• A reason given in proof or rebuttal

• Discourse intended to persuade

• A coherent series of statements leading from a premise to a conclusion


Argumentative Writing (cont.)

• Not argumentative:

A paper describing to readers what happens physiologically to a person’s brain when that person eats chocolate

• Argumentative

A paper persuading readers that chocolate, in moderation, has health benefits.


Professional Argument

• Should be presented “in a professional, non-combative manner.”

• Arguments are based in facts from research (peer reviewed journals, books, and scholarly websites). Use evidence to persuade your readers


Essential Parts of an Argumentative Paper

• Introduction• Background

• Opposing side(s)

• Thesis statement

• Body of Paper

• Body paragraphs based in evidence from research

• Opposing sides may also be part of the body paragraphs

• Conclusion


The Opposing Side(s)

• In an argumentative paper, you’ll need to acknowledge that there are other viewpoints and research arguing something different than what you’re arguing.

As a scholarly writer, you want to address the opposing side in a manner that is:

-Fair

-Respectful

-Logical


When Writing an Argument

Do Don’t

Ground ideas in evidence from scholarly sources

Ground ideas in belief or opinion (e.g., phrases like “I think…” or “I believe…”)

Support your thesis with facts, statistics, and evidence

Support your thesis with moral or religious claims

Analyze your evidence with logic and reason

Assume your readers will understand your point with analysis

Address the opposing side(s) Ignore the opposing side(s)

Refute the opposing side(s) with fairness and respect

Belittle readers who agree with the opposing side(s)


Introduction

• Begin your introduction with a hook—a sentence or two that catches your readers’ attention and leads in to your topic. – A statistic related to your topic– A statement of a problem or popular misconception

related to your topic– A factual statement or a summary of an interesting

event related to your topic


Thesis Statement

• Encompasses the main point(s) of your paper• Acts as road map• Located in the introduction (usually at or near the end)• Argumentative– Not a question– Not a topic– Not a fact– Not a statement about the paper’s purpose– Not a statement about what the paper discusses


Tips for your Thesis

Ask yourself:

- Can someone easily refute my thesis?

- Can I base my argument on scholarly evidence? Am I relying on opinion, religious belief, or morality?

- Is my argument narrow enough that I can discuss it with detailed, in-depth evidence?


Thesis Analysis 1:Gamification

• Definition of “gamification”:• Using game designs and techniques to non-game situations.


Thesis Analysis 1:Gamification (cont.)

Which of the following is the strongest thesis?

1. Many companies are using gamification techniques. 2. How are companies using gamification to increase benefit employers

and employees?3. This paper will discuss how companies are using gamification

techniques to benefit employers and employees.4. This paper will explore the question of how companies are using

gamification to benefit employers and employees.5. Gamification in the workplace has several benefits to employers and

employees.


Thesis Analysis 2:Childhood Development

Which of the following is the stronger thesis?

1. With my new knowledge of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, I am better prepared to address the needs of my students.

2. In this paper, I will discuss what I learned about child development in this course and how I have grown as an early childhood education teacher.


Paper Organization

IntroductionThesis

Body ParagraphsConclusion

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Standard Organization

• Introduction

• Introduce topic

• Present opposing side

• Thesis

• Body Paragraph 1

• Claim 1 (reason thesis is true) and support





• Conclusion

• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main points Creating an Academic Argument


Compare and Contrast Papers

• Point format

• Block format


Compare and Contrast Papers

• Assignment: Compare and contrast two health issues found in both the United States and another country. Then, identify a public health program addressing one of the health issues in the United States, and compare and contrast it to a public health program for the same issue in the other country.


• Introduce topic• Thesis

Introduction

• Childhood obesity in the United StatesBody Paragraph 1

• Childhood obesity in FranceBody Paragraph 2

• Chronic diseases in the United StatesBody Paragraph 3

• Chronic diseases in FranceBody Paragraph 4

• U.S. school-based programs for childhood obesity Body Paragraph 5

• French community-based programs for childhood obesityBody Paragraph 6

• Wrap up; reiterate thesis and main pointsConclusion

Compare and Contrast: Point Format


• Introduce topic• ThesisIntroduction

• Childhood obesity in the United States• Chronic diseases in the United States• School-based program for obesity in the United

States

Body Paragraph 1

• Childhood obesity in France• Chronic diseases in the United States• Community-based program for obesity in France.

Body Paragraph 2


Compare and Contrast: Block Format


Comparison and Contrast Papers:What Format is Best?

• Assignment: Compare and contrast two health issues found in the United States with two health issues found in another country. Explain how these issues may be influenced by economic challenges.



• Childhood obesity in the United States• Chronic diseases in the United States• How these issues are influenced by economic

challenges

Body Paragraph 1

• Bed shortages in France• Financial instability in the French health care

system• How these issues are influenced by economic

challenges

Body Paragraph 2


Compare and Contrast: Block Format (Example 2)



• Childhood obesity in the United StatesBody Paragraph 1

• Chronic diseases in the United StatesBody Paragraph 2

• How these U.S. issues are influenced by economic challenges

Body Paragraph 3

• Bed shortages in FranceBody Paragraph 4

• Financial instability in the French health care system

Body Paragraph 5

• How these issues in France are influenced by economic challenges

Body Paragraph 6


Compare and Contrast: Block Format


Refutation Arguments

• Still follow a block format or a point format

• Opposing side will be part of the body paragraphs rather than just in the introduction



• Present and support your first point

Body Paragraph 1

• Present and support your second point

Body Paragraph 2

• Present and refute opposition’s first point

Body Paragraph 3

• Present and refute opposition’s second point

Body Paragraph 4


Refutation Arguments: Your Points First



• Present and refute opponent’s first point

Body Paragraph 1

• Present and refute opponent’s second point

Body Paragraph 2

• Present and support your first point

Body Paragraph 3

• Present and support your second point

Body Paragraph 4


Refutation Arguments: Opposing Side First



• Present opponent’s first point Body

Paragraph 1• Present and support your first

point (your counter argument)Body

Paragraph 2• Present opponent’s second

pointBody

Paragraph 3• Present and support your

second point (your counter argument)

Body Paragraph 4


Refutation Arguments: Point Format


• Introduce topic• Thesis: Opposition to the wolf hunt in Minnesota is

based on misconceptions about wolves’ threat to livestock and humans.

Introduction

• Opponent’s view: Wolves are a major threat to livestock.

Body Paragraph 1

• Refutation: The number of livestock killed by weather and other natural problems is greater than the number killed by wolves.

Body Paragraph 2

• Opponent’s view: The wolf hunt will increase public safety.

Body Paragraph 3

• Refutation: By interfering with wolf pack ecology, wolf hunting likely increases wolf-human conflicts.

Body Paragraph 4


Refutation Arguments in Action


Transitions

• To compare: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too

• To contrast: on the other hand, however, although, conversely, rather than


Conclusions: Wrapping Up Your Argument

• Reiterate your thesis and the main points of your paper in light of the evidence you presented

• Answer the so what? question

• Keep readers thinking

• Look forward to the future—what needs to happen next?

• Provide a sense of closure


Conclusions: What To Avoid

• State the thesis for first time

• Introduce new topics, ideas, or evidence

• End with a body paragraph

• Conclude something you haven’t proven

• Conclude beyond the scope of your argument


Tips for Argumentative Essays

• Begin by identifying a clear, argumentative thesis

• Base your evidence in research

• Address the other side(s)

• Avoid emotional language

• Analyze the evidence using logic and reason

• Ask yourself, is this objective? Am I writing as a social scientist?


Last Steps

• Check that your evidence still supports your thesis• Check that your conclusion supports your thesis

Education

ANES 1501 PPT - M3: Creating an Academic Argument