Effective Argumentation in Academic Writing: Understanding Theses & Rhetorical Appeals, Schemes and Mind Maps of Technical English

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Constructing Compelling Arguments

Goals

This workshop underscores the importance of building strong and effective arguments. The first 15 minutes will consist of reviewing the key terms and concepts, and the preparatory activity, from these pre-workshop materials, which student attendees are expected to read and complete in advance (the workshop is not a teacher-centered lesson in rules). Following that brief review, in the remaining thirty minutes students will dynamically interact with each other and the Writing Center consultant while actively engaging their own and others’ work.

Materials Needed

In order to participate fully in the workshop, bring the following:

• A laptop or tablet with wireless internet capability (to access these materials during the workshop)
• Your responses to the discussion questions (see “Preparatory Activity” below)
• An essay you have written or are writing, whose argumentation you would like to explore

Topic Overview

In academic writing, an argument usually consists of a main idea or central claim, in the form of a thesis statement , supported by source-based evidence and authorial insight, and animated by appeals to ethos , pathos , and logos. This approach to argument seeks to arrive at a reasoned understanding of a topic, and in so doing achieve the un-coerced assent of readers. As such, well-crafted arguments that rely on strong theses not weak theses are distinct from essays that are mere accumulations of facts and details (also known as “information dumps”).

Scholarly argumentation arises in a setting of uncertainty, which means that a compelling argument must address an issue that is interesting and important, and offer a position that is not obvious or already known (this is the topic’s “so-what” dimension complemented by the writer’s “value added” requirement). Owing to uncertainty, effective arguments in an academic context call for open-mindedness, because this orientation allows a writer to consider counter-arguments , and take advantage of concessions , qualifications , and refutations.

Key Terms and Concepts

• Thesis Statement: A thesis declares a writer’s stance on the issue under consideration. It is typically a single sentence, though it may be longer, and while it usually appears at the beginning of an essay (often at the close of the introduction), it may be located elsewhere (or even be implicit or not directly stated). The thesis forms the core of an argument, the unifying principle that holds an essay together, but not all theses are equally effective. o Strong Theses : The features of a strong thesis consist of a clearly defined position on a topic; the assertion of a specific and unified idea; an emphasis on something that will attract, challenge, persuade, or enlighten readers; a limited scope; and unambiguous language.

o Weak Theses : The things to avoid in a thesis include vague or disjointed lists; mere statements of fact; unexplained or poorly defined positions; rhetorical questions that do not call for responses; off-topic positions that depart from assignments; and superfluous language.

• Ethos, Pathos, and Logos: A successful argument, whose purpose is to persuade readers, must be founded on a high level of audience awareness, or an ability to find common ground. Furthermore, arguments that succeed in achieving readers’ assent will activate, as appropriate, the “rhetorical triangle” of ethos, pathos, and logos. Some arguments give nearly equal weight to all three of these appeals, whereas others may emphasize one over the rest (moderation is always the key to a balanced rhetorical stance). o Ethos is an argument derived from the character of the writer, pathos is an argument intended to stir the emotions of readers, and logos is an argument that reasons about the substance of the issue under consideration.
• Counter-Argument: Since academic arguments occur in a space of uncertainty, with no evident or agreed answer, and because they seek identification between writer and readers, they are obliged to engage claims that a fair-minded person knows would be raised by an opposing side. If it is well done there are several benefits to counter-argument. First, it can reveal weaknesses in one’s proposals; second, it can express one’s intellectual honesty; and third, it can expose opposing positions that one may address with concessions, qualifications, or refutations. o A concession recognizes points that contradict one’s argument (perhaps as exceptions to a larger rule), while still asserting the primacy of one’s side. By contrast, qualification tempers one’s position by acknowledging that some issues are so complex they admit neither a single cause nor remedy. Concession and qualification do not, however, require an author to abandon refutation , or the dismantling of opposing points that lack validity.

Additional Resources

• For a concise overview of argumentation, review these materials from the USC Writing Center’s website: “Developing Strong Arguments” and “Engaging the Complexity of an Issue.”
• For a more detailed explanation of Ethos, Pathos and Logos, see “Using Rhetorical Strategies for Persuasion” from Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab.
• For additional information on argumentation, visit The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill’s “Argument” page.

Preparatory Activity

Prior to the workshop, please read the following passage and be prepared to share your responses to these four discussion questions at the beginning of the workshop: 1.) Can you identify a thesis statement? 2.) How does the writer attempt to appeal to the reader? 3.) Does the author effectively employ a counter-argument? 4.) How could this passage be made more effective overall?

Single Parent Struggle For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today’s society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. People claim that the only way for children to gain full emotional and behavioral skills is to be raised by both a mother and a father. Children of single parents can be

just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those with two parents. What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process or values that are taught to these children as they learn to mature. In the article, “Single-parent families cause juvenile crime,” author Robert L. Maginnis states, “Children from single-parent families are more likely to have behavior problems because they tend to lack economic security and adequate time with parents.” The simple statement that raw criminals are products of single-parent adolescence is absurd. What this writer must understand is that it can be extremely difficult for one parent to raise a child by themselves for many reasons. A single-parent must often work full time to be able to afford to provide for themselves and their child. Despite their work commitments, it is still possible for single parents to offer an exuberant amount of emotional time for the wellbeing of their child. It is argued that children who are raised with both a mother and a father receive more attention from both parents and therefore, get the emotional time they need to progress in life. This could be true but not in all circumstances. It would not be beneficial at all to grow up in a two parent family who did nothing but argue and put each-other down. Naturally, a child who sees this from a very young age until they are ready to be out on their own would only follow in the footsteps of all that they have ever known. Children who are raised by one parent who devotes their time and emotion into their child would benefit much more than a child who has both parents showing them that fighting and arguing is acceptable. Not all families are lucky enough to have a healthy structure. It is important for society and government aids to notice these structural differences and take action. There should be government funded programs to help assist single-parent families with childcare and finances for parents who must work and still have time for their children. Whether it’s a mother and a father, a single mother, or a single father, children need guidance. They will only become a product of what they are taught from a young age and these children are deeply affected emotionally by the amount of love and compassion that is put into raising them. Whichever family structure is implied it must be one of respect and strong moral values that they can someday pass on to their family.

• Essay adapted from: https://www.mesacc.edu/~paoih30491/ArgumentSampleEssays.html