Argumentative Writing

Writing to convince your reader of your claim.

An argument in writing

 IS DIFFERENT THAN ARGUING

WITH A PARENT OR FRIEND
Characteristics of Argument
Writing

 Convinces a reader that a claim is true

 Uses evidence—facts and data
 Acknowledges counterclaims—the other side of the argument
ARGUMENTATION

 The aim of writing argumentative essays is to convince or

persuade the reader.
 One attempts to change the reader’s mind and convince the
reader to agree with the point of view or claim of the writer.
 So an argumentative essay needs to be highly persuasive and
logical.
 Important Vocabulary: Decide with a
partner which definition matches the word
on the left.

Warrant_____ 2.
1. a person who disagrees with something
7. and speaks against it
Proponent _____
2. analysis of the evidence
Opponent ____ 1. 3. analysis or proof that a statement is false
4. evidence that supports one’s ideas and/or
claim
Counter Argument (CON) ____ 6.
5. the position the author proves to the
reader in the essay
Pro Argument (PRO) _____ 4.
6. evidence in opposition to the argument
being made in a written document or
Claim _____ 5. speech
7. someone who argues in favor of
Refuting _____ 3. something; advocate
 Breakdown of Items Included in
Argument Writing

 Introduction with a claim

 Body Paragraph 1: Background information/Present all points - Using facts, data, statistics and
experts’ opinions support your claim
 Body Paragraph 2: Present and refute counter arguments to all points
 Conclusion with a restated claim
Breakdown of Items Included in
Argument Writing x 2

 Introduction with a claim

 Body Paragraph 1: Background information/ Present first point-Using facts, data,
statistics and experts’ opinions support your claim/Present and refute counter argument
to first point
 Body Paragraph 2: Background information/ Present second point-Using facts, data,
statistics and experts’ opinions support your claim/Present and refute counter argument
to second point
 Could do a third body paragraph like body paragraph 1 and 2.
 Conclusion with a restated claim
An Effective Claim

 Takes a clear position

 Has two sides
 Is narrow enough to be supported within essay
 Can be supported by facts or citations from a text
This is the type of claim that we will
focus on

Claims about conflicts or problems—argue

for or against certain situations
 Roosevelt’s Claim after the bombing of Pearl Harbor:
 To protect itself from further attacks, America needs to intern
Japanese American citizens.
Sample Argumentative Claim

 Something should be done on media bias.

This is not an effective argumentative claim because it does not

clearly state the writer’s idea.
The answers to questions like:
“what is that ‘something’ that should be done?”
“who should do it?”
are not clear.
Sample Argumentative Claim

 CNN is the best TV channel.

This is not an effective claim. This sentence is not

debatable as it involves personal choice or preference.
Sample Argumentative Claim

 There are 3 ways of media censorship.

This is not an argumentative claim as the writer aims at

listing the types of media censorship.
Therefore, the writer’s purpose is not to persuade the reader
but to give information.
Also, the ways of media censorship are not open to debate,
thus, not suitable for argumentation.
Sample Argumentative Claim

 Newspapers should not identify people by color, race, or

religious faith in any way.

This is an effective argumentative claim.

First, the topic is open to discussion. There may be
people who would oppose this argument claiming that
this kind of restriction would damage the objectivity of
the news. Therefore, the writer holds a clear stance.
Also, it is obvious that the writer’s aim is not simply to
inform the readers but to convince them to take his / her
side in the debate.
More Examples to Show the
Difference

 There are three main reasons why the media

manipulates the news.

This claim is not argumentative. Although the writer has

the assumption that the media manipulate the news, the
aim of this essay is not to convince the reader on this
issue, but to simply list the three reasons for media
manipulation. The reader, too, expects to learn the three
reasons.
More Examples to Show the
Difference

 The media should not manipulate the news in any way.

This statement is acceptable as an

argumentative claim because:
The writer clearly takes a stand in the debate.
The writer intends to influence the mind of readers
rather than to merely inform them.
More Examples to Show the
Difference

 It is essential to be media literate for three reasons.

This thesis statement is an expository thesis statement because

the aim here is to inform the reader about the three reasons.
The reader, here, expects to read a list of the reasons without
being forced to take a side.
The writer does not hold a stance in an ongoing discussion.
More Examples to Show the
Difference

 It is essential that media literacy be taught in schools.

This is clearly an argumentative claim.

First, the topic is debatable.
Second, the writer is clear about where in the
discussion he stands.
Finally, the purpose of the writer is to affect the
readers’ ideas on this issue.
Time to Practice!

ARG.
1. ________ Censorship is the best way of controlling the
minds of the citizens.
ARG.
2. ________ Newspapers should not identify victims of
assault without their consent.
INF.
3. ________ Parents control their children’s TV viewing habits
in three ways.
ARG.
4. ________ In war journalism, it is never appropriate to show
on the news how a country’s soldiers suffer in combat.
INF.

5. ________ Politicians use various strategies to influence the

media during their election campaigns.
Time to Practice!

INF.
6. ________ There are common practices that advertisers use to
sell products.

ARG.
7. ________ The only way to receive high ratings for a TV series is
to cast attractive actors or actresses.

INF.

8. ________ There are two main ways of manipulation in print

media; false balancing, which means focusing on only one
side of an argument; and slighting of the content, which aims
at giving so much emphasis to style and so little to the actual
substance.
Time to Practice!

Choose two of the topics, and write an argumentative claim for

both.

1. School
2. Facebook
3. School Sports
4. Driving
5. Hunting
6. Homework
When Supporting your Argument

One important concern in writing an argumentative essay is to

strengthen your argument.
To do this, you need to base your argument on sound evidence.
The evidence that you include can be
• facts
• examples
• experts’ opinions (testimony)
• statistics.

 Facts: data that have been objectively proven and are generally accepted (such
as historical facts, scientific data, statistics etc.)
 Examples: should be sufficient number of examples to prove the case.
 Opinions from people who are considered experts
STAGE 2: GENERATING IDEAS

After formulating your argumentative claim, you

need to brainstorm a variety of supporting ideas.
Pro-Con Chart: On the table in your
notes add details to the left side of the chart
below for one of your claims.

Pro Con Refute

Counter Arguments

One way to strengthen your argument is to show that

you have a deep understanding of the issue and also to
show that you can anticipate and address the
counterarguments or objections that your audience
may have. In this way you show that you have thought
through the issue in detail.
PREPARING YOUR COUNTER
ARGUMENTS

 Look at your claim.

 What objections would others

have to
your claim?
 Counter Arguments

Sometimes it may be difficult to anticipate the counterarguments. Here are

some strategies that you can make use of if you are having difficulty at this
stage:

 Do some research. It may seem to you that no one could possibly disagree
with your position, but you will be astonished to find that someone most
probably already has.

 Talk with a friend or your instructor. Someone else may point out certain
counterarguments that may never have occurred to you.

 Consider the claim and your supporting arguments and think of how people
may object to each of them.
Pro-Con Chart: On the same table as
your pros, add details to the middle column
of the chart below for one of your claims.

Pro Con Refute

ANSWERING COUNTER-
ARGUMENTS

Write the weaknesses or

falsehoods that are in those
counter-arguments. Why is
your claim still right?
These are called your refutes.
Now you have the raw material
for each paragraph of the
argumentative essay.
Use the Counter Arguments in your
Favor

Refuting Counter Arguments by Claiming that they are:

1. Incorrect: demonstrating that your opponent’s reasoning is wrong because it

is based on incorrect or misleading information

2. Irrelevant: showing that your opponent’s viewpoint is inappropriate and

unrelated because it is not relevant to the key point

3. Insufficient: showing that your opponent’s reasoning is weak because it is

based on insufficient information or ignores significant information. Partially
agree with the opponent’s point of view but on the whole prove that it is weak
What is not effective

Saying the opposing viewpoint is “stupid.”

Good essays are clear, calm and factual. Prove it instead.

Saying negative things about groups or individuals that

have different view points.
This does not support your position but makes you seem
petty instead.
Pro-Con Chart: On the same table as
your pros and cons, add details to the right
side of the chart below for one of your
claims.

Pro Con Refute