cs 4001mary jean harrold1 writing arguments (chapter 3)

Mary Jean Harrold 1 CS 4001

Writing Arguments (Chapter 3)


Tips for Improving the Writing Process (1)

Where and how do you start to write an argument? Who can make change, what are obstacles,…? Exploratory will help Discuss with others

How do you explore, research, rehearse? Audience important Why will your views be threatening to others, not agree, etc.? Continue to discuss with others, especially those who don’t

agree; use them as sounding board



Outline is important I sometimes start with a bunch of things I want to say

somewhere but not sure where I write them all down and then try to organize them I then try to think of the flow of the argument or paper by

writing a sentence that tells what a paragraph or section will contain

I then try to expand this I try to talk to a colleague about my argument to see if he/she is

convinced Finally, I write a draft



Rough draft (all about the flow of the argument) Don’t worry about grammar, etc. at first—can polish later What else?

How should you revise your paper (now think about grammar)? Read out loud—mistakes show up easier Spell and grammar Get someone to proofread (difficult)

Understand that to get a good paper, it takes many iterations to revise, restructure, rewrite


WA: Using Exploratory Writing

1. Free writing or Blind Writing2. Idea Mapping3. Playing the Believing/Doubting Game

Believer: wholly sympathetic to the idea, listen carefully, identify all ways that idea might appeal to different audiences, and all reasons for believing the idea

Doubter: be judgmental and critical, find faults, find counterexamples and inconsistencies that undermine the idea


Class Exercise

Claim: Violence on the Web and in computer games is responsible for shootings in schools?

1. Play the believing and doubting game with the above claim by free writing for five minutes trying to believe the claim and then for five minutes to doubt the claim

OR

2. Make an idea map by creating a believing spoke and a doubting spoke off the main hub. Instead of free writing, enter ideas onto your idea map, moving back and forth between believing and doubting.

Name


WA: Using Exploratory Writing

4. Brainstrorming for Pro/Con Because Clauses State reasons for and against claim

5. Brainstrorming a Network of Related Issues Identify related issues (sub issues, side issues,

larger issues)


Group/Class Exercise

Claim: ISP providers should be required by law to keep records on the real identify of all users.

1. Working with 2-3 others, generate pro and con because clauses supporting and attaching the claim.

2. Discuss because clauses with rest of class.

3. Now brainstorm about related issues (sub, side, larger)

Name


Shaping Your Argument: Introduction

Classical Argument

1. Exordium (get audience attention)

2. Narratio (provides needed background)

3. Propositio (introduce speakers thesis)

4. Partitio (forecasts the main parts of the speech)

Homelier Terms

1. Dramatic story or startling statistic

2. Focus on issue—state as question, summarize opposing views

Contextualize by providing background, explaining context, etc.

3. Present thesis

4. Forecasts argument’s structure


Shaping Your Argument: Body, Conclusion

Classical Argument5. Confirmatio (presents writer’s

position)6. Confutatio (refutes opposing

views7. Peroratio (sums up argument,

calls for actions, leaves strong lasting impression)

Homelier Terms5. Main body of essay, present

reasons and evidence supporting claims, tie reasons to audience’s values, beliefs, and assumptions; usually a paragraph for each

6. Also refutes others claims, shows weakness in them, be fair and completeMay put refute first, depending on audience

7. Close, sum up, strong lasting impression, call for action


Discovering Ideas and Deepening Thinking

Exploration and Rehearsal1. What issue do you plan to address in this argument?

One sentence question Reword in several ways Select best one

2. Now write out your tentative answer to the question. This is tentative answer Write more than one; these will be alternative claims that

others might consider

3. Why is this issue controversial? Is there sufficient evidence to resolve the issue


Assignment 9

Discuss assignment 9.

cs 4001mary jean harrold1 writing arguments (chapter 3)

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