Writing the Argument Essay Work from 1/8/2013 Writing the Argument Essay

Read and annotate the following prompt, then brainstorm how you would create your argument for this essay. PROMPT: In his 1985 essay "Being a Man," Paul Theroux argues that "The whole idea of manhood in America is pitiful...Even the expression "Be a man!" ...[is] insulting and abusive. It means: Be stupid, be unfeeling, obedient, soldierly and stop thinking...It is a hideous and crippling lie; it not only insists on difference and connives at superiority, it is also by its very nature destructive--emotionally damaging and socially harmful." Write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies Theroux’s claims about the harmful nature of “manhood in America.” Support your argument with appropriate evidence from your reading, observation, or experience.

Understanding the Prompt What is the subject of the paragraph and prompt? What are the tasks of the prompt? Where will the evidence for support come from?

Next: read, annotate, brainstorm. Now write a thesis statement in which you take a position you will defend with appropriate evidence. Look at the pre-writing you have done. What is your position on the topic?

Writing the Introduction The introduction to the paper is your opportunity to capture the reader’s attention, to give some general information about the subject, and to provide the “road map” for your essay—your thesis statement. Here are some strategies that you might use to begin your introductory paragraph. You can begin with: a short anecdote that deals with the “big idea” of your argument a concession an interesting or controversial fact or statistic a question or several questions that will be answered in your argument relevant background material an analogy or image that you can sustain (revisit) throughout the argument a definition of a term or idea that is central to your argument

Consider: What kind of introduction strategy (from the previous choices) might you use to begin this essay? Choose one and write a “trial” introduction. You may want to revise or change this once you have written the essay. You should end the introduction with your working thesis statement.

Small Group Work In your groups, share the pre-writing and preliminary thesis statements and introductions you wrote Work together to complete the template for writing the persuasive essay All group members should contribute

Homework Read/annotate “Why Johnny Can’t Read” (575) and “Mind Over Matter” (577) Choose one prompt from the “Entering the Conversation” section to respond to in approximately 1 page – and by approximately 1 page, I mean at least 1 page. Extra Credit: Finish the essay organizer we began working on in groups – due by the end of the week.