Argument Essay (Research Paper)
Watch Andrea Lunsford video, Everything's an Argument. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/easywriter4e/#518364__592768__
Evaluate topics to determine whether or not they are appropriate for argument essays. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/exercisecentral/QuizHome.aspx?CourseID=55&SectionId=49129
The writer composing an effective argument is like a juggler keeping three balls in the air.
Ball one--establishing the author's credibility (ethos)
Ball two--appealing to the reader's emotions (pathos)
Ball three--appealing to the reader's logic (logos)
Some of us are not coordinated enough to juggle three balls. Fortunately, the writer has the luxury of time. He or she can use the revision process to strengthen weaknesses in any of these areas.
The following link explains the importance of ethos, pathos, and logos.
http://www.public.asu.edu/~macalla/logosethospathos.html
Plagiarism
The eighth edition of The St. Martin's Guide to Writing explains that ". . . plagiarism, which derives from the Latin word for 'kidnapping,' refers to the unacknowledged use of another's words, ideas, or information" (Axelrod and Cooper, 748). This is a serious offense and will result in zero points. A second offense will lead to an "F" for the course.
Andrea Lunsford's views on plagiarism are recorded on a video, Plagiarism in the Remix Culture.
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/easywriter4e/#518364__592769__
In this video, Ms. Lunsford asks:
1. Why do we have these standards of citation and proof in the academy?
2. What do they say about your credibility as a writer?
3. What do they say about your having done your homework?
4. What do they say about you in relationship to the ownership of other people's texts?
Integrating Sources: the Condensed Version
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integrating_sources.docx | |
File Size: | 96 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Argument Essay Structure--You may structure your essay using several formats. Choose a format that makes sense to you and that fits your argument best.
Samples:
I. Introduction
Thesis stating position + forecast of reasons II. Body A. Reason 1 B. Reason 2 C. Reason 3 D. Counterarguments E. Concede/Refute III. Conclusion |
I. Introduction
Thesis stating position + forecast of reasons II. Body A. Explain Reason 1 1. Counterargue 2. Concede/Refute B. Explain Reason 2 1. Counterargue 2. Concede/Refute C. Explain Reason 3 1. Counterargue 2. Concede/Refute III. Conclusion |
I. Introduction
Thesis stating position + forecast of reasons II. Body A. Counterargument 1 B. Concede/Refute C. Counterargument 2 D. Concede/Refute E. Counterargument 3 F. Concede/Refute III. Conclusion |
I. Introduction
Thesis stating position + forecast of reasons I. Body A. Counterarguments B. Concede/Refute C. Reason 1 D. Reason 2 E. Reason 3 III. Conclusion |
Rhetorical Devices
Review the following rhetorical devices and choose one to use as a final statement in your Argument Essay. Both of these devices involve parallel sentence structure. Skillfully used, parallelism can be a powerful tool for emphasis because repetition tends to create an emotional response in the reader. And emotional responses often move readers from interest to action.
Amplification
Robert A. Harris, in his Handbook of Rhetorical Devices, explains this device: "Amplification involves repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize what might otherwise be passed over. In other words, amplification allows you to call attention to, emphasize, and expand a word or idea to make sure the reader realizes its importance or centrality in the discussion" (20).
See how Shakespeare uses this device in his historical play, Henry V: "We . . . shall be remembered-- / We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" (4.3.59-60). Henry invites his soldiers to become family, in a sense, as they prove their loyalty to him through battle. Notice that the strongest, most emotionally charged phrase is saved for last.
Scesis Onomaton
This device is similar to amplification. It, too, uses repetition to build an emotional response. Harris states: "Scesis Onomaton emphasizes an idea by expressing it in a string of generally synonymous phrases or statements"(21).
A favorite example of this device is found in Lincoln's Gettysburg address: "But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate--we cannot consecrate--we cannot hallow--this ground." Notice the way the synonyms are arranged, each having a more sacred connotation than the synonym preceding it. If you choose to imitate this example, you should likewise select increasingly powerful synonyms.
Also notice the use of threes in both King Henry's and President Lincoln's speeches. Two items in the series would seem incomplete, and four would be too many.
Works Cited
Below is a link to a free bibliography site that will help you format your Works-Cited page. It is up to you, however, to make sure that your citations are formatted according to MLA style, according to your text.
http://www.bibme.org/
Parallel Device
Following is a link to a video that uses a parallel device as its concluding statements.