1. Building a Researched Argument
Week 8.1
Building a Researched Argument

2. Lesson Objectives Create a working thesis for Draft 2.1
Review ethical, logical, and emotional appeals
Investigate classic vs. modern organizational systems for arguments

3. Opening Arguments What is the greatest car ever produced?
Given the rise of open course websites and YouTube channels, is attending college a viable financial and/or intellectual model for today’s students?

4. The Greatest Car Ever

5. Working Thesis Needs to be an arguable position:
The El Camino is a car produced by Chevrolet.
Chevrolet must consider reissuing the El Camino for today’s generation.
Combination of claim and reason.
Claim: Position (Chevy needs to reproduce El Camino)
Reason: Why? (The car has an iconic style)
Because the car has an iconic style, Chevy needs to reproduce the El Camino.

6. Working Thesis Exercise
Write a working thesis for your draft.
Share your working thesis with a neighbor. As you read his/her statement, consider the following criteria:
Does it have an arguable position?
What is the claim?
What are the reasons? Do the reasons effectively argue the claim?
Are there any troubling assumptions?

7. Ethical Appeals Build Credibility through: Knowledge about the topic
Common ground
Fairness towards counterarguments

8. Logical Appeals Provide a logical thread through: Examples Narratives
Authority
Testimony
Causes and Effects

9. Emotional Appeals Connect the author to the audience through:
Descriptive and concrete language
Figurative language
Shaping appeal to audience

10. Organization Classic: Introduction Background Lines of Argument
Consideration of alternative arguments
Conclusion
Toulmin (Modern):
Make claim
Qualify
Present good reasons
Explain the underlying assumptions
Provide additional evidence
Acknowledge or respond to counterargument
Conclusion

11. Organization Davis (“bulletproof” format)
Introduction (Context/Insight/Exigence)
Past Research
Particular Gap (More Narrowed Thesis)
Lens/Methods of Approach
Lines of Arguments (Multiple Arguments)
Conclusion

12. Homework Wednesday, July 23: First-Year: Review Ch. 5
Bring in two copies of Draft 2.1
One: Attendance and Participation Grade
Two: Peer Workshop