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How To Build An Academic Argument

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5 views4 pages

How To Build An Academic Argument

Uploaded by

Katlego Calvin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOW TO BUILD

AN ACADEMIC ARGUMENT
__________________________________________________

What is an Argument?
An argument involves establishing a claim and proving it with logical reasoning, exam-
ples and research. Your ability to provide an argument will set your work apart from that
of students who treat assignments as merely an accumulation of facts/details.

The Importance of an Argument


The word “argument” may not appear in your assignment, but it is often key to writing
essays and giving presentations. The aim of academic work is to express a point of
view on a subject and support it with evidence. Most material learned in college has
been debated before i.e. the argument exists in the class module and further research, alt-
hough it may not be obvious at first – they might be presented as facts.

TOP TIP
Facts can be
✓ Open to interpretation.
X Don’t equal arguments.

Your Role & the Academic Argument


Differences of opinions can generate debate which furthers our knowledge. This can cen-
tre on what is “true”, “real” or “right”. Your classes encourage you to engage in critical
thinking. Your assignments will require you to examine interpretations; — defending
them, refuting them, or providing your own view. You almost always need to do more
than summarise information or regurgitate what you have learned in class.

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How to Create an Academic Argument
- Organisation is an essential part of building your argument.
- Creating a clear outline for your audience, you will guide them through your
argument and reasoning process. It is often helpful to complete an outline of
your assignment before attempting to construct an argument.
- This layout will help clarify your thinking and writing process to ensure that
your audience will be able to clearly follow your argument.
- Make sure that you offer a clear explanation for each argued point.
- This will demonstrate your credibility, making your argument stronger because it is
understandable.

The Introduction & Thesis Statement


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The thesis statement is the MOST IMPORTANT sentence in your assignment. It will guide
your argument and inform your audience what your argument is about. It should answer
the question: “What am I trying to prove?”. It should have a direct link to the assignment
brief or the question asked.

The thesis statement is a claim that you will need to prove throughout the rest of your
argument. Keep your argument/ thesis statement on a sticky note with you and you
can always refer back to it. It will guide your assignment, which will detail the reasoning and
evidence that have led you to believe that your thesis is correct. Remember you have to
convince your reader!

Body Paragraphs & Your Argument


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Your body paragraphs can: critique the material, apply it to something else and explain
it in a different way

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Your body paragraphs will build upon the claim(s) you made in your introduc-
tion. Each paragraph should focus on one point that supports your argument. Use
a topic sentence for each paragraph that illustrates the main idea of that para-
graph so that it will be clear and easy to follow. You should prove that you under-
stand the material. Demonstrate your ability to apply the material in ways that
go beyond what you have read or heard.

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Avoid the common pitfall of summarising information and creating “information dumps”.
The application of the information to your argument is essential.

Remember, your instructors probably already know the subject matter, and you should
avoid providing them with material that is not related to your point.

How to Develop your Argument


As you edit your argument, remember that you should never stop having a point — keep
your argument on track! Remember that the strength of your evidence can make or
break your argument so use it carefully. Ensure that your argument consists of more
than just summarised information or regurgitated facts. You need to develop your in-
terpretation of the material and provide evidence for your position!

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Structure and evidence are vital to develop your argument and remember to convince
your reader. You cannot convince a confused person, so keep things tidy and ordered:
- Clear
- Specific
- Concise

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Useful links
- UGC ICOSA Project, ‘Using Academic Style and Tone in Writing’, Available at:
http://elss.elc.cityu.edu.hk/ELSS/Resource/Aca-
demic%20Style%20and%20Tone%20ICOSA%20Version/
- University of North Carolina Writing Centre, ‘Argument’, Available at: http://writ-
ingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/argument/
- University of North Carolina Writing Centre, ‘Thesis Statements’, Available at:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
- University of Sussex, ‘Developing an argument’, Available at: www.sus-
sex.ac.uk/skillshub/?id=357
- University of Maryland University College, ‘Writing Arguments’, Available at:
https://coursedev.umuc.edu/WRTG999A/chapter8/ch8-08.html

Other Relevant Online PDFs


- How to Write an Essay
- Paragraph Structure
- Critical Reading
- Critical Thinking
- Evidence & Incorporating Research
- Counter Arguments

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