Developing argument structure: the argument of fact - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 14
About This Presentation
Title:

Developing argument structure: the argument of fact

Description:

How much information do you have about the topic? Have you formed a critical opinion on the subject that can be compared with the ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:175
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 15
Provided by: usersA
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Developing argument structure: the argument of fact


1
Developing argument structure the argument of
fact
  • PGM0120 Session 7
  • John Morgan
  • Language and Learning Centre
  • University of Wales Aberystwyth

2
Establishing a focus topic interests
  • What topic are you interested in? Is it related
    to a specific question?
  • Is it a new topic?
  • What do you have to say about it that could be
    considered new?

3
Establishing a focus information and opinion
  • How much information do you have about the topic?
  • Have you formed a critical opinion on the subject
    that can be compared with the resources you are
    reading?
  • Have you discussed this with a tutor or
    supervisor? Have you discussed it with your
    peers?

4
Establishing a focus controversy
  • What controversies (if any) surround this topic?
    Should they be avoided and if so, why? If not,
    why not?
  • If you are working from a new, specific, or
    controversial angle, have you considered other
    approaches to the issue?

5
Establishing a focus from resources to focus
  • Do you have enough sources?
  • Are they readily available?
  • n.b. Do not create too much work for yourself at
    this stage.
  • Have you narrowed the focus adequately?

6
  • What issues are of current interest or concern in
    your own writing?
  • This could be related to the previous questions
    or it could be from any other area of your
    current work.

7
Argument of fact
  • One of the most important features of academic
    writing is making it readable. Good academic
    writing should be easy to read without the need
    for too much re-reading. To establish a logical,
    informative structure for increasing readability,
    we rely, consciously or unconsciously, on the
    argument of fact.

8
  • The argument of fact develops paragraph by
    paragraph as we work through the text. It is a
    simple information structure through which we
    create clear reasoning in each paragraph we
    write. As each paragraph contains one main idea,
    the argument structure is recycled through each
    paragraph that we write.

9
Three stage structure of the argument of fact
  • Existence ? a description of a situation that
    you want to discuss
  • Definition ? the necessary focus on that
    situation in terms of the purpose of your
    idea
  • Quality ? the elaboration on that focus in
    terms of the overall value of the topic in
    your argument

10
Example of Existence
  • Microcomputers have proliferated rapidly in the
    business world during the past few years.

11
Example of Definition
  • Almost every functional area within the modern
    organization is dependent on microcomputers for
    an increasingly significant amount of information
    processing tasks.

12
Example of Quality
  • However, given the availability of
    microcomputers, it does not automatically follow
    that they will be used.

13
Full text example
  • Microcomputers have proliferated rapidly in the
    business world during the past few years. Almost
    every functional area within the modern
    organization is dependent on microcomputers for
    an increasingly significant amount of information
    processing tasks. However, given the availability
    of microcomputers, it does not automatically
    follow that they will be used.
  • Lakhanpal, B. (1994). Assessing the Factors
    Related to Microcomputer Usage by Middle
    Managers. International Journal of Information
    Management, 14/1, Pp. 39-50.

14
References
  • Huckin, T.N. Olsen, L.A. (1991). Technical
    Writing and Professional Communication for
    Nonnative Speakers of English. New York Mc Graw
    Hill.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com