Review: Essay Components, Appeals, Logical Fallacies Final Exam Prep, Day 2 Review: Essay Components, Appeals, Logical Fallacies

Agenda, 11/25 Attendance Distribute Course Evaluations (I will ask for a volunteer to collect surveys once everyone is finished, seal the envelop, sign his/her name across the seal, come and get me from the hallway, and, at the end of class, deliver the envelop to the English Department Office in Howell Hall) Collect Argument Essay Final Drafts Hand out Grade Sheets Review for Final Exam

Reminder Don’t forget… On Monday, 12/2: Your reflective essay is due (print copy) in class. If you do not remember this assignment or were absent on the day that we talk about this in class, you can find out everything you need to know by clicking on reflective essay under the assignment tab on the course blog

Essay Components… Introductions Thesis Statements Topic Sentences Transitions Concession/Refutation Conclusions

Introductions…. In general, there are three elements that must be in introductory paragraphs, what are they? Hook (something at the very beginning to grab the reader’s attention) Background information on the topic that you are writing about Thesis statement

Thesis Statements…(review from LBH, p. 36) In general, the thesis statement has five functions, what are they? Narrows your subject to a single, central idea that you want readers to gain from your essay It claims something specific and significant about your subject, a claim that requires support It conveys your purpose—usually explanation or argument in college writing It establishes your voice, suggesting your attitude toward your subject and the role you assume with readers It often concisely previews that arrangement of ideas, in which case it can also help you organize your essay What is the purpose of a thesis statement, why is it important? The purpose is to orient readers, to explain the goals and purpose of the larger paper  Your thesis statement is the main idea of your paper

Topic Sentences… Where are topic sentences located? Usually, they are the first or second sentences of body paragraphs What is the purpose of topic sentences? To connect or link the work that the writer does in a body paragraph with the claim that s/he made in the thesis statement Topic sentences are mini summaries that preview what is going to happen in the paragraph they open and to indicate what is important about that paragraph and how it relates to the argument that you are making

Transitions… How are transitions used in essays? To establish flow and rhythm in an essay To connect new paragraphs with the ideas expressed in the paragraphs that prefaced them

Concession/Refutation… What does refutation mean? Refutation is the presentation of a counterargument (an opposite or opposing viewpoint) and rebuttal (demonstration of weaknesses and limitation of counterargument) Why do writers use refutation in arguments? To acknowledge that there are additional points of view To anticipate how and why readers might not agree with their argument and address those readers’ concerns

Conclusions… In general, what needs to be in conclusion paragraphs? Summary of the main points that you made in your paper Restatement of thesis (and not a word-for-word restatement, an illuminating restatement based on the work that you have done in your body paragraphs) In general, what do you want to avoid including in conclusion paragraphs? New information

Appeals… Ethos (ethical appeal): (A) The writer’s credibility (B) Appeal to ethics, tradition, morality Logos (logical appeal): Appeal to reason/common sense Pathos (emotional appeal): Appeal to readers’ emotion (sadness, anger, etc.)

Logical Fallacies… (from LBH, p. 200) Bandwagon: Appealing to readers’ wish to be part of the group Hasty Generalization: Rushing to a conclusion/asserting an opinion based on too little evidence Sweeping Generalization: Asserting an opinion as applying to all instances when it may apply to some, or to none. (Absolute statements or Stereotypes) Ad Hominem: Attaching an opponent (who s/he is, her/her personal life) rather than the opponent’s argument