Constructing a Reasoned Argument

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Constructing a Reasoned Argument
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Heres the Secret

• How do I make a good argument?
• How do I analyze an argument?
• How can I get a good grade?
• LEARN TO ASK (GOOD) QUESTIONS

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Where do you start?

• The Requirements
• Type of Presentation speech or paper?
• What is the purpose of my presentation?
• To present a side (informative)
• To argue a side (persuasive)
• Make sure you know what is being asked of you and
  DO THAT!

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Finding a topic

• Ask Yourself
• What are my Passions?
• What is going on around me?
• Relevance Would a reader care?
• Controversial Would anyone disagree?
• Can I find information about it?

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For me
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Assume NOTHING

• Test your tentative topic
• Is this topic appropriate?
• Does it fit the requirements?
• Is this topic workable?
• Is it too narrow or too broad?
• Will it fit within the time/page contraints?
• Is this topic really interesting?
• Do you really care enough to live with it?
• Will others be interested enough to read it?

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Start to Explore

• Write your topic at the top of the paper
• Draw a vertical line down the paper
• On one side, write down what you already know
  about the topic.
• On the other side, write down what you dont know
  about it
• Turn the second column into research questions to
  pursue.

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Basic Information

• Grasp the CONTEXT of the debate.
• What are the basic facts?
• What is the history of the dialogue?
• Find out ALL sides of the debate
• What are the arguments for AND against?
• Find AUTHORITATIVE sources.
• Who are the experts?
• Where is the best information?

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Thinking is hard work

• The more you think through the ideas to begin
  with, the less work you leave for yourself in the
  long run.
• Avoid the easy route, if possible
• Do more than internet research
• Talk to the professor
• Brainstorm on paper (WRITE IT OUT)

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Now what?

• Figure out what youre going to say BEFORE you
  start to draft.
• More work up front means less work later
• Thesis sentences
• Outlines (full sentence)

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Draft a Tentative Thesis

• Start trying to write out your entire argument in
  a single sentence
• Make a clear CLAIM about your topic.
• State every point youll discuss
• Be sure someone can argue with you
• This is TENTATIVE!
• It CAN and WILL change.

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Writing a Good Thesis

• BE objective.
• Dont make it about yourself.
• Not I believe that abortion is wrong but
  Abortion is wrong.
• BE declarative.
• The thesis is NEVER a question.
• It is the ANSWER to a question.
• It is NOT the introduction. Its your POINT.

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Structure your Argument

• Write an outline based on the thesis.
• What are the reasons for the claim in your
  thesis? (main points)
• What evidence do you have? (subpoints)

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ASK QUESTIONS

• Have I included ALL the ideas from the thesis?
• Did I include any ideas NOT in the thesis?
• Are my points in the same order as theyre listed
  in the thesis?
• Is this a provable, logical argument?

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Provable?

• How does this work?
• Support every idea with research
• Make sure you CITE every outside source.
• Evidence
• Expert, unbiased sources.
• Statistics, Examples, Illustrations

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Logical?

• Evidence alone is not enough!
• Logic is about seeing and making good connections
  between ideas.
• It connects your evidence to your reasons.
• It helps you organize your ideas into a valid
  order.
• It helps you avoid the logical fallacies.

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Test your Argument

• Does your paper match your thesis?
• Is your argument logical?
• Did you avoid the logical fallacies?
• Are your points in an effective order?
• Is everything actually relevant?
• Do your quotes actually match your ideas?
• Do your ideas jump around, or are your paragraphs
  clearly focused?

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Keep Questioning

• Is my tone authoritative, but not rude?
• Did I avoid plagiarizing others work?
• Is my documentation (bibliography citations)
  correctly formatted?
• Can I word my ideas more effectively?

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Final tips

• GET SOME OBJECTIVE HELP
• Try to think about your ideas as if you were
  someone on the other side of the issue.
• Go to the Writing Center.
• Get a friend or classmate to read your paper.
  Read the paper out loud.