Arguments (pg. 43-48)

Generate ideas

A set of processes that help writers develop a topic, examples, REASONS, EVIDENCE,and other parts of a text.

Claim

A statement asserts a belief or position. In an ARGUMENT, a claim needs to be stated in a THESIS or clearly implied, and it requires support by REASONS and EVIDENCE.

A clear arguable position

At the heat of every argument is a CLAIM with which people may reasonable disagree. Some claims are not arguable because they're matters of taste or opinion ('I love kale"), if fact ( "The first Star Wars movie came out in 1977" ), or belief or faith ( "There is life after death"). To be arguable, a position must reflect one of at least two points of view, making reasoned argument necessary: file Wharton should (or should not) be considered fair use; selling human organs should be legal (or legal). The college writing, you will often argue not that a position is correct but that it is plausible- that it is reasonable, supportable, and worthy of being taken seriously.

Good reasons

By itself, a position does not make an argument; the argument comes when a writer offers reasons to support the position. There are many kinds of good REASONS. You might argue that file sharing should be fair use by comparing, showing many examples of so-called piracy in other media. You might base an argument in favor of legalizing the sale of human organs on the fact that transplants save lives and that regulation would protect impoverished people who currently sell their organs on the black market.

Counterarguments

In ARGUMENT, an alternative POSITION or an objection to the writer's position. The writer of an of should not only acknowledge counterargument but also, if at all possible, accept, accommodate, or refute each one.

Evidence

In ARGUMENT, the data you present to support your REASONS. Such data may include statistics, calculations, examples, ANECDOTES, QUOTATIONS, case studies, or anything else that will convince your reader that your reasons are compelling. Evidence should be sufficient (enough to show that the reasons have merit) and relevant (appropriate to the argument you're making).

Convincing evidence

Once you've given reasons for your position, you then need to offer EVIDENCE of your reasons: facts, statistics, testimony, anecdotes, textual examples, and so on.For examples, to support your position that fast food should be taxed, you might cite a nutrition expert who links obesity to fast food, offer facts that demonstrate the health-care costs of widespread obesoty, and provide statistics that show how taxation affects behavior.

Necessary background information

Sometimes, we need to provide some background on a topic so that readers can understand what is being argued. To argue that file sharing should be considered fair use, for exaomple, you might begin by describing the rise in file sharing and explaining die-hard laws.

Reasons

Support for a CLAIM or POSITION. A reason, in turn, requires its own support in the form of EVIDENCE.

Tone

The way a writer's or speaker's STANCE toward the reader's and subject is reflected in the text.