The Argumentative Essay
Definition of Argument- the form of persuasion that relies on reasoning and logical thought to convince people.
Argumentative Essay- an essay that attempts to convince or persuade people through reasoning, logic and evidence to do what the writer wants them to do, or to believe as the writer wishes them to believe. An argumentative essay, thus, is an analytical, expository essay that persuades.
What makes an argument
(1) Facts are not arguable- facts are readily verifiable; they have only one answer; they cannot be disputed; a fact either is or is not something. Facts are to be used as evidence in an essay.
(2) Opinions based on personal taste or preference are not arguable-differing opinions are the basis of all argument. But you must be careful to distinguish between opinions based on personal taste and opinions based on judgment. Opinions of taste are based on subjective, personal preferences and on unverifiable judgments.
Examples:
George looks good in blue.
Pizza is my favorite food.
Video games are a waste of time.
These types of statements are inarguable. There is no objective way to establish the validity of these statements. They can be supported only by personal reasons.
(3) Opinions based on judgments are arguable- an opinion of judgment is one that weights the pros and cons of an issue and determines their relative worth. The issue might be a book, a song, or a public issue, such as abortion, capital punishment, affirmative actions, etc.
Two points to remember:
(1) Personal opinions can be transformed into bona-fide arguments if they are based on judgment.
(2) Controversial issues are the most effective issues for argument.
Formulating Claims
The claim is the statement in your essay that expresses your position, or point-of-view, on a particular issue. The claim states precisely what you believe; it is the viewpoint that you want your readers to accept, or the action that you want them to take.
The claim statement is equivalent to the thesis statement in an analytical, expository essay.
(1) The claim statement is a single, declarative statement, not a question.
(2) It establishes the subject of your argument.
(3) It solidifies your stand or position on the issue.
(4) It must always be the last sentence of the Introduction.
Using Evidence
The argumentative essay, like the analytical, expository essay, uses evidence to support it’s claim.
The types of evidence needed to support a claim are exactly the same as the types of evidence needed to support a thesis in an analytical, expository essay: Facts, examples, expert opinion, and personal experience (these forms of evidence will be discussed in detail in Lecture #2).
(1) Evidence must be credible, i.e. believable. You must convince the reader that you are knowledgeable about your subject. This means making sure that the facts, statistics, etc. that you are using as support are accurate and up-to-date.
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