Argumentative Essays

ADVERTISEMENT

Page 1 of 2
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
Goals of Argumentation
 To present a viewpoint to the reader
 To explain, clarify, and illustrate that viewpoint
 To persuade the reader that the viewpoint is valid
1. To move the reader to action
2. To convince the reader that the opinion is correct
Evidence
 Opinion is almost worthless alone. Anyone can have an opinion; simply
expressing an opinion won’t persuade or convince, especially in academic
writing.
 Your reader may think that a mere statement of opinion is a sign of laziness,
ignorance, or inability to adequately support your statements.
 Opinions, then, must be supported by facts, examples, statistics, personal
experience, or authoritative sources.
 The amount of evidence necessary depends on audience -- will the audience
be people who already agree with you or people who might not agree with
your position? When in doubt, pretend the reader will be a grump who
NEVER agrees with anything. Provide enough proof to force the grump to
admit that your opinion has merit.
Counterarguments
 Intelligent readers will know that there is an opinion other than yours. If you,
as the writer, do not show an awareness of the counterarguments, readers
might think either you have not explored the subject thoroughly or that you
are presenting one-sided propaganda, afraid to admit the counterarguments.
So YOU must look at the other side too. Present the counterarguments and
then refute them, either by disproving them or by conceding their truth but
showing that they are not as strong or valid as your arguments. You can do
so by: correcting your opponent’s facts, denying the relevance of contrary
proof, or denying that what your opponent presents as proof, though relevant,
is sufficient.
The Writing Center: Writing Argumentative Essays

ADVERTISEMENT

00 votes

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories

Parent category: Education
Go
Page of 2