Argument Essay The Art of Persuasion Through the Use of Logical Argumentation (Ethos/Logos/Pathos) In an argument essay, the writer takes a stand on a particular issue and develops a logical presentation of the issue to persuade the reader to his point of view. The writer can take a serious or humorous tone, but always tries to convince the reader that his assertion is valid. The writer may use irony or sarcasm to subtly persuade the reader. The thesis (position, claim, assertion, stand, conclusion) that the argument is built around must be an arguable or debatable statement.

Arguable or Not Arguable? Sports fans go too far. Arguable Costs of attending sporting events has increased significantly in the past ten years. Not Arguable Hillcrest Middle School is the best school in the district. Emissions hurt the ozone. Not arguable Decide whether each of the statements is arguable or nor arguable. Then practice writing a few of your own statements.

Gather Data to Support Your Claim Complete research as necessary Use appropriate web sites Make sure your experts are valid Prepare your Works Cited page and your parenthetical citations (Source Notes) in advance Because there is so much information on the web, it is important to validate your sources. Your teacher will help you in determining which sites are good for your assignment.

Complete Pre-writing Chart Pro Con Topic: Collect data for both sides of the issue. Your answer to the question will become your position statement. Include all arguments for the position on the Pro side and all of the arguments

Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Logos-logical appeal Evidence and the reasoning based on that evidence Ethos-ethical appeal According to Aristotle--the credibility or trustworthiness that the author establishes in his writing Pathos-Emotional appeal Persuades the audience by using emotions For a more detailed explanation of these types of appeals, refer to the Power Point titled Logos, Pathos, and Ethos. You should use a variety of appeals to defend your argument.

Introduction Get the attention of the audience Attention Getter or Hook Provide background information to orient the reader to the issue What does the reader need to know about this issue? Define terms Create a thesis statement or assertion to guide the reader There are a variety of ways to form an argument. As you develop more sophistication and style in your writing, you might experiment with different strategies. A person writing about gun control, for example, might begin with an anecdote to appeal to the sympathy (pathos) of the reader. The more formal introduction may be later in the piece. Some writers get to the thesis at the end of the argument essay OR the thesis may be inferred.

The Antithesis Address the case of the opposition Several paragraphs at the beginning or weaved throughout the paper (argument-concession) Concede points which can not be refuted Use signal words and phrases such as Admittedly, While it is true that etc. Offer refutation for claims which can be countered Use signal words and phrases such as It has been argued, However etc. In order to provide a convincing argument, you should be aware of and ready to address the claims of the opposition. The arguments you make for your assertion are often referred to as pro arguments. The arguments you address that are against your position are referred to as the con. In a formal debate the team that is arguing for the proposition is Pro and the side that is arguing against the proposition is Con. The more you know about the case of the opposition, the better prepared you will be to craft your own argument.

Body Paragraphs Provide a clear topic sentence for each paragraph Use Topic Sentence, Concrete Detail, Commentary (TS, CD, COMM) or Statement, Evidence, Explanation (S-E-E) Build to the strongest argument Use a variety of appeals Demonstrate logic and reasoning Address the opposition In each paragraph you will provide evidence to support your thesis. The terms that we use at UMHS and in the district are as follows: Topic Sentence = TS, Concrete Details = CD, and Commentary = COMM. Other terms that you may hear are Statement, Evidence, Explanation, or Claim, Data, Warrant, etc. As you become more sophisticated in your writing, the commentary (analysis, explanation) will be more developed. Remember, the formula is not absolute. You may provide several pieces of evidence followed by a lengthy commentary or your concrete details and commentary may be interwoven throughout the paragraph.

Conclusion Restate your main premise Provide a brief summary of your argument Show how a group will benefit from following your assertion Explain what might happen if your idea is not accepted End with a rhetorical question Ask for a call to action These are just some of the possibilities for the conclusion to your argument essay. As with the introduction, there is no one right way to complete your essay; however, you should not add any new arguments to the conclusion.

Sample Argument Essay Read the annotated essay on the next slide and review the following: attention getter organization antithesis—con how author refutes the con connective words—transitions development of arguments slippery slope metaphor conclusion

Click to enlarge.