Argumentative Writing

Review

What is an Argument?

a discussion in which people express different opinions about a subject and back up their positions with evidence

Not an angry disagreement or a fight

Argument Clinic – YouTube

Parts of an Argument

Qualification

Evidence Claim

Warrant

Counter-Argument

Question

Should always start looking at an argument with a question

Examples:

Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?Is torture ever acceptable?Do Americans eat too much food?Should the government provide health care?

Thesis

Your overall opinion of a topic

Always be decisive

Take a side and stick with it even if you agree with parts of both sides.

Examples:

Curfews are ineffective and lead to more problems.

Torture is never acceptable, no matter the situation.

Americans eat entirely way too much food.

Health care should be the responsibility of the individual.

Claim/Reasons

Statements of what side you are taking on a position

Can be over entire issue or one part of it.

Should begin each paragraph of the body with a claim

Examples:

More kids will sneak out with curfews

Lots of kids will ignore curfew and more kids will get tickets for being out.

Qualifications

Almost nothing is absolute

Use words to qualify or show the probability

Examples:

A lot of crimes happen at night.

Most suspects tortured will lie to stop the torture.

Fast food is mostly unhealthy.

Almost all people will have to go to the doctor in their life.

ABSOLUTE QUALIFIED

Will May, might, could

Forms of “be” (am, is, are, was, were) May be, might have been, may have been

AllMany, most, some, numerous, countless, a majority

Every (Same as “all”)

None/noFew, not many, a small number, hardly any, a minority

AlwaysOften, frequently, commonly, for a long time, usually, sometimes, repeatedly

Never Rarely, infrequently, sporadically, seldom

Certainly Probably, possibly

Impossible Unlikely, improbable, doubtful

Evidence

Facts, Data, Statistics, and Testimonials

Helps to back up claims

Helps to inform you and make a decision about an argument

If there is no evidence to your claim you may need to change it

If none of your claims have evidence you need to change your opinion

Warrant

Common sense rules that people accept as generally true, laws, scientific principles or studies, and thoughtfully argued definitions.

Used to explain why your evidence backs up your claim.

Examples:

A lot of crimes happen at night.

Every person is born with certain rights.

Fast food is mostly unhealthy.

Everyone will be sick at one time or another in their life.

Counter-Argument

Shows the other side of your argument

Allows other side to feel validated or cared about

Not only talk about other sides opinions, but show why they are misguided or wrong

Have to use evidence, warrants, etc.

Conclusion

You need to restate your thesis (do not just copy and paste from the beginning).

Go briefly over your claims/reasons.

Address the counter-claims

Should end with a call to action or something to think about