ACADEMIC ENGLISH III Class 13 April 19, 2013

Today Argumentative Essays

The Lioncourt Rocks should be awarded to Japan.

- They are closer to mainland Japan than mainland Korea (211 km vs. 216 km) - Japanese scholars indicate historical claims dating from Japan incorporated the area into the empire in In 1952, in the Rusk Documents, the U.S. stated that the Lioncourt Rocks were Japanese territory under the Shimane Prefecture. - Korea just wants the territory to expand its fishing grounds.

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay

Topics Choose one and research both sides of the issue 1. Government welfare is an excuse for laziness 2. Technology is a major problem in society 3. The death penalty violates human rights 4. Mass media has changed the world for the better 5. South Korea must be more open to immigration

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay After researching your topic, take a position and form your arguments. - Construct an outline first!

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay Organization: - There are two (similar) formats to choose from. - We will discuss these today. Length: - There is no official length requirement. The goal is to support your argument and present a convincing case to your reader.

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay The paper must follow APA style: - Cover page - Page #s - In-text citations - References section

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay Timeline: 1 st Draft: April 26 - Print and bring to class for peer feedback 2 nd Draft: May 1 - to me for feedback Final Draft: May 6 - to me

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay Evaluation: - Format - Mechanics - Content - Organization - English (clarity, grammar, & sentence structure)

Paper 2 – Argumentative Essay Information sheet available on the website (Homework section)

Argumentative Writing Overall Aim: - Convince or persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s claim/argument. Therefore: - An argumentative essay needs to be persuasive and logical.

Argumentative writing - Terms Argumentation _____ Refutation _____ Proponent _____ Opponent _____ Counter Argument (CON) ____ Pro Argument (PRO ) _____ 1. a person who disagrees with something and speaks against it 2. the act or process of forming reasons, drawing conclusions, and applying them to a case in discussion 3. point or statement that supports one’s ideas and/or thesis 4. point or statement in opposition to the argument being made in a written document or speech 5. the process of discrediting the arguments that oppose your thesis statement 6. someone who argues in favor of something; advocate

Argumentative Writing - Goals - Present a position on an arguable topic to the reader. - Explain, clarify, and illustrate that position. - Support the position with evidence: facts, examples, information from authority/experts, statistics. - Present counterarguments to the position and refute them respectfully and critically.

Argumentative Writing - Goals Through this process, the writer: - Convinces the reader the position is correct Or - Persuades the reader that the position is at least worth considering.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 1: Choose an arguable topic and conduct research on both sides of the topic. An arguable topic: - Smoking - Gender discrimination - Immigration.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 2: After researching, choose a position to take on the topic and construct a thesis statement. The thesis statement should: - Define the scope of the argument - Make an assertion that is open to debate. i.e., Topic: Smoking Thesis statement: Smoking is harmful to people’s health. Thesis statement: Smoking should be banned from all public areas.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 2: After researching, choose a position to take on the topic and construct a thesis statement. Sample thesis statements: “Something should be done on media bias” - This is not an effective argumentative thesis statement. - Does not clearly state the writer’s idea - What is the “something” that should be done? - Who should do it?

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 2: After researching, choose a position to take on the topic and construct a thesis statement. Sample thesis statements: “_____ is the best _____” (CNN is the best TV channel) - While this is debatable in a sense… - It is more of a personal preference that is difficult to prove.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 2: After researching, choose a position to take on the topic and construct a thesis statement. Sample thesis statements: “There are three kinds of media censorship” - This is not an argument at all. - This signals a descriptive essay, the goal of which is to explain something. - The “kinds of media censorship” are not debatable. They exist.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 2: After researching, choose a position to take on the topic and construct a thesis statement. Sample thesis statements: “Newspapers should not identify people by color, race, or religion in any way.” This is an effective argumentative thesis statement: - The position is open to debate (some may agree, some may disagree) - The writer takes a clear position on the issue.  It is clear that the author’s aim is to convince the reader, not just inform.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 2: After researching, choose a position to take on the topic and construct a thesis statement. Sample thesis statements: “It is essential for physical education to be taught in schools.” This is an effective argumentative thesis statement: - The position is open to debate (some may agree, some may disagree) - The writer takes a clear position on the issue.  It is clear that the author’s aim is to convince the reader, not just inform.

Argumentative or Informative? ARG = ArgumentativeINF = Informative 1. ________ Censorship is the best way of controlling the minds of the citizens. 2. ________ Newspapers should not identify victims of sexual assault without their consent. 3. ________ Parents control their children’s TV viewing habits in three ways. 4. ________ In war journalism, it is never appropriate to show on the news how a country’s soldiers suffer in combat. 5. ________ The only way to receive high ratings for a TV series is to cast attractive actors or actresses. ARG. INF. ARG.

Argumentative or Informative? 6. ________ There are common practices that advertisers use to sell products. 7. ________ Politicians use various strategies to influence the media during their election campaigns. 8. ________ There are two main ways of manipulation in print media; false balancing, which means focusing on only one side of an argument; and slighting of the content, which aims at giving so much emphasis to style and so little to the actual substance. INF.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 3: Decide how to argue your position - Look at your research - Brainstorm - Discuss the topic with others Look for: - Ideas to support your position - Counter-arguments to your position - Ways to refute the counter arguments.

Supporting an argument To support your position, you will need strong, reliable evidence. - Facts - Examples - Support from authority or experts - Research findings - Statistics

Supporting an argument To support your position, you will need strong, reliable evidence. Facts, Statistics, Research Findings - Data/information that have been objectively proven and are generally accepted.

Supporting an argument To support your position, you will need strong, reliable evidence. Examples - These are used to strengthen your position by illustrating your point to the reader and providing “applied” support.

Supporting an argument To support your position, you will need strong, reliable evidence. Expert Opinions, Information from an Authority - Information that comes from a reliable source (i.e, and expert on your issue).

Supporting an argument 1. It is clear that TV triggers violence. According to a study by the American Psychological Association (2005), the average child living in a developed country will view 8000 murders and other acts of violence before finishing elementary school. The average 27 hours a week kids spend watching TV - much of it violent - makes them more prone to aggressive and violent behavior as adolescents and adults (p. 10). TV executives have known this for a long time. One of the most comprehensive studies of the impact of violent TV was commissioned by CBS back in It found that teenage boys who watched more hours of violent TV than average before adolescence were committing such violent crimes as rape and assault at a rate 49 percent higher than boys who watched fewer than average hours of violent TV (as cited in APA, 2005, p. 3). Supporting technique used: Statistics / Research Findings

Supporting an argument 2. Not letting their children watch television as a punishment is a futile effort of parents since almost every effect of punishment is negative. Dr. Bruno Bettleheim (2003, p. 8), famous psychologist and professor at the University of Chicago, writes, “Punishment is a traumatic experience not only in itself but also because it disappoints the child’s wish to believe in the benevolence of the parent, on which his sense of security rests.”… Supporting technique used: ________________ Authority’s opinion / testimony

Counterarguments One way to strengthen your own argument is to show the reader that you have a deep understanding of the issue and that you can anticipate and address counterarguments.  We will look more closely at counterarguments next class.

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 4: Organize your ideas – Make an outline Organization type A: Introduction (thesis statement) Pro argument 1 Pro argument 2 Pro argument 3 Counterargument(s) and refutation Conclusion

Argumentative Writing – How to Step 4: Organize your ideas – Make an outline Organization type B: Introduction (thesis statement) Counterargument(s) and refutation Pro argument 1 Pro argument 2 Pro argument 3 Conclusion

For now - Continue researching your issue (both sides). - Form a position and a thesis statement. - Consider your arguments. - Consider what the most relevant counterarguments are.