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Written Argument

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... while a semester of Ms. Jones' US History only covered one century ... it would have been terrible if Alex had missed the showing of his new movie at ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Written Argument


1
Written Argument
  • How to express critical thought

2
What is the goal of argument?
  • The purpose of written argument is to convince
    the reader to accept your opinion on a topic.
  • If the reader will not change a strongly-held
    opinion, then the goal is to take your opinion
    seriously.
  • If the audience is divided, then the writer must
    seek common ground in order to establish
    compromise.

Is this a real compromise?
3
How do we support written theses?
  • Which two statements best support the thesis?
  • Premise Our transition away from fossil fuels
    may take decades.
  • __1.The president says that we need to get away
    from dirty fossil fuels.
  • __2. A decade ago fuel-cell car promoters said
    they would by now be on the road in large
    numbers.
  • __3. Our current power plants took nearly sixty
    years to construct.

How safe is the argument?
4
We back an argument with reasons
  • The transition from fossil fuels may take time
    because
  • _? 1. The president says that we need to get away
    from fossil fuels.
  • _x 2. A decade ago fuel-cell car promoters said
    they would by now be on the road in large
    numbers.
  • _x 3. Our power plants took sixty years to
    construct.

How clean burning is coal?
5
How do we prove our arguments?
  • Which two statements support the thesis?
  • Premise The US should not send more soldiers to
    the Middle East war.
  • __1. The war is already costing millions of
    dollars per day.
  • __2. One thousand Americans die there each
    year.
  • __3. Our very unpopular president says that the
    nation must stay the course.

How targeted is this?
6
We enforce opinions with facts
  • These two statements support the thesis
  • Premise The US should not send more soldiers to
    the Middle East war.
  • _x_1. The war is already costing millions of
    dollars per day.
  • _x_2. One thousand Americans die there each
    year.
  • _?_3. The nation must stay the course.

How targeted is this?
7
How do we reinforce our theses?
  • Which two statements support the thesis?
  • Premise Struggling Automakers cant afford to
    develop hybrids.
  • __1. GM has delayed its Vue hybrid to save
    money.
  • __2. Hondas Insight hybrid will arrive next
    year.
  • __3. Chrysler will stop making its Durango hybrid
    in December.

How well supported is the argument?
8
We prove the thesis with facts
  • These two statements support the thesis
  • Premise Struggling automakers cant afford to
    develop hybrids.
  • _x 1. GM has delayed its Vue hybrid to economize.
  • _? 2. The Honda Insight hybrid arrives next year.
  • _x 3. Chrysler will stop making its Durango
    hybrid in December.

How well supported is the argument?
9
How do writers connect thoughts?
  • Which connective word best fits each blank?
  • first, second, in addition, moreover, furthermore
  • Premise Marijuana should be legalized.
  • __1. It is less harmful to people's health
    than alcohol.
  • __2. A very large percentage of the population
    uses it.

Are there such medical exceptions?
10
You can use connecting words
  • Use the words that logically connect
  • Premise Marijuana should be legalized.
  • First, it is less harmful to people's health
    than alcohol. In addition, a very large
    percentage of the population uses the substance.
  • First could be left out, and other words can
    replace the second word.

Whos the supply teacher?
11
Can you add transition words?
  • In each blank, fit the correct connector
  • in fact, unlike, while
  • __ high school teachers, college professors
    present far more information.
  • __, each of Dr. Smiths World History I lectures
    covers a century, __ a semester of Ms. Jones US
    History only covered one century per semester.

What students must learn outside of college!
12
Written logic makes connections
  • Here are the correct connectors
  • Unlike high school teachers, college professors
    present far more information.
  • In fact, each of Dr. Smiths World History I
    lectures covers a century, while a semester of
    Ms. Jones US History only covered one century
    per semester.

Which lesson was this one?
13
How do we deal with opposition?
  • Argument must deal with the other side by
  • Showing awareness of the opposition.
  • It could be argued that computers create
    unemployment.
  • 2. Exposing the other sides weakness.
  • However, computers actually create many new forms
    of employment that never existed before.

Is it a good call?
14
Can you meet opposing arguments?
  • Which two show the oppositions weakness?
  • They say biofuel can add to our energy. However
  • __1. Biofuel cannot replace diesel, the most-used
    fuel of all.
  • __2. Biofuel raises food prices and even produces
    food shortages!
  • __3. Biofuel can be produced within our nation
    rather than imported.

How brilliant is this move?
15
You can expose weaknesses
  • Points to expose the oppositions weakness
  • It has been argued that ethanol can solve the
    energy crisis. However,
  • _x 1. Biofuel cannot replace diesel, the
    most-used fuel of all.
  • _x 2. Biofuel raises food prices and even
    produces food shortages!
  • __3. Biofuel can be produced within our nation
    rather than imported.

How likely is this scenario?
16
Can you meet opposing arguments?
  • Which two points show the oppositions weakness?
  • Some say a big nation needs big vehicles however
  • __1. Congress must bail Detroit out to save the
    economy.
  • __2. With "Detroit" synonymous with "SUV,"
    automaker woes have now become a proxy referendum
    on a gaudy lifestyle whose time is past.
  • __3. Millions in smaller vehicles resent the
    energy hogging trucks that clog our roads.

Who is hogging the road?
17
You can meet opposing arguments
  • These two points show the oppositions weakness
  • Some say a big nation needs big vehicles however
  • __ 1. Congress must bail Detroit out to save the
    economy.
  • _x 2. With "Detroit" synonymous with "SUV,"
    automaker woes have now become a proxy referendum
    on a gaudy lifestyle whose time is past.
  • _x 3. Millions in smaller vehicles resent the
    energy hogging trucks that clog our roads.

Why spoil everything?
18
How do writers spin arguments?
  • Depending on how they are spun, the same
    arguments can be used in essays that have
    opposite premises.
  • Arguments that support the writer's premise are
    presented as facts or as non-debatable
    statements.
  • Arguments that oppose the writer's premise are
    marked with problematic phrases to appear
    debatable or even untrue.

How strong was the line?
19
Can you find the marked phrases?
  • Which slanted phrases below make the arguments
    against Australia becoming a republic seem
    debatable and possibly untrue?
  • Jacob argues that Australia doesnt need a
    republic to build a sense of national identity as
    we already have one. Its claimed that three
    quarters of our population is still Anglo-Celtic.
    In this argument, immigrants have to accept
    Australia's way of life. Other countries, so the
    argument goes, do not feel that they have to
    change their constitution just because they
    accept immigrants from different cultures.
    However, as Smith explains, Australia must
    develop a new cultural identity to reflect its
    diverse population. It is claimed that if
    Australia was a republic it would give our
    migrants a stronger sense of belonging.

20
Here you see the spin phrases
  • The underlined phrases below make the arguments
    against Australia becoming a republic seem
    debatable and possibly untrue
  • Jacob argues that Australia doesnt need a
    republic to build a sense of national identity as
    we already have one. Its claimed that three
    quarters of our population is still Anglo-Celtic.
    In this argument, immigrants have to accept
    Australia's way of life. Other countries, so the
    argument goes, do not feel that they have to
    change their constitution just because they
    accept immigrants from different cultures.
    However, as Smith explains, Australia must
    develop a new cultural identity to reflect its
    diverse population. It is claimed that if
    Australia was a republic it would give our
    migrants a stronger sense of belonging.

21
Can you find the spin phrases?
  • Which phrases make the arguments seem debatable?
  • Smith asserts that Australia must develop a new
    cultural identity to reflect its diverse and
    multicultural population. In the argument, were
    no longer a nation of British, but of different
    cultural backgrounds. It is claimed that if
    Australia was a republic it would give our
    migrants belonging. This position argues that we
    would not be turning our back on our
    Anglo-centered past if we became a republic we
    could still be in the Commonwealth of Nations.
    However, as Jacob states, Australia doesnt need
    a republic for national identity because we
    already have one. Moreover, our population is
    still mostly Anglo-Celtic. Further, immigrants
    must accept our way of life. Also, other
    countries dont feel that they have to change
    their constitution just as they accept
    immigrants.

22
You can find the spin phrases!
  • These phrases make the arguments seem debatable
  • Smith asserts that Australia must develop a new
    cultural identity to reflect its diverse and
    multicultural population. In the argument, were
    no longer a nation of British, but of different
    cultural backgrounds. It is claimed that if
    Australia was a republic it would give our
    migrants belonging. This position argues that we
    would not be turning our back on our
    Anglo-centered past if we became a republic we
    could still be in the Commonwealth of Nations.
    However, as Jacob states, Australia doesnt need
    a republic for national identity because we
    already have one. Moreover, our population is
    still mostly Anglo-Celtic. Further, immigrants
    must accept our way of life. Also, other
    countries dont feel that they have to change
    their constitution just as they accept
    immigrants.

23
Can you use transition words?
  • Which transition logically fits?
  • A. IndeedB. IncidentallyC. Initially
  • Of course, it is good that the plane left on
    time. __, it would have been terrible if Alex
    had missed the showing of his new movie at the
    Canne Film Festival in France.

How logical is the argument?
24
You can use transition words
  • This transition logically fits
  • A. IndeedB. IncidentallyC. Initially
  • Of course, it is good that the plane left on
    time. __, it would have been terrible if Alex
    had missed the showing of his new movie at the
    Canne Film Festival in France.

Is the increase logical?
25
Which transitions are correct?
  • 2. __, when Alex landed at the Nice Côte dAzur
    Airport, he could not find his checked luggage.
  • A. Although, B. However, C. Unfortunately
  • 3. __, Alexs luggage was probably accidentally
    routed to Frankfurt, Germany.
  • A. In fact, B. However, C. For instance
  • 4. __ he filled out the proper forms at the
    airport, his suitcase was not located that
    afternoon.
  • A. Just in case, B. Even though, C. Adjacent to
  • 5. __, he would have brought only a carry-on
    suitcase, but his film equipment was too bulky to
    fit in the overhead.
  • A. Unfortunately, B. Ideally, C. Initially

26
These transitions are correct
  • 2. __, when Alex landed at the Nice Côte dAzur
    Airport, he could not find his checked luggage.
  • A. Although, B. However, C. Unfortunately
  • 3. __, Alexs luggage was probably accidentally
    routed to Frankfurt, Germany.
  • A. In fact, B. However, C. For instance
  • 4. __ he filled out the proper forms at the
    airport, his suitcase was not located that
    afternoon.
  • A. Just in case, B. Even though, C. Adjacent to
  • 5. __, he would have brought only a carry-on
    suitcase, but his film equipment was too bulky to
    fit in the overhead.
  • A. Unfortunately, B. Ideally, C. Initially

27
Which transitions are correct?
  • 6. __, Alex took a taxi into town, checked into
    his hotel, and went to the shopping district to
    buy some new clothes and a toothbrush.
  • A. Subsequently, B. Consequently, C.
    Simultaneously
  • 7. __, Alex won great acclaim at the festival and
    the good movie reviews spread fast.
  • A. However, B. To demonstrate, C. Incidentally

How logical is the argument?
28
These transitions are correct
  • 6. __, Alex took a taxi into town, checked into
    his hotel, and went to the shopping district to
    buy some new clothes and a toothbrush.
  • A. Subsequently, B. Consequently, C.
    Simultaneously
  • 7. __, Alex won great acclaim at the festival and
    the good movie reviews spread fast.
  • A. However, B. To demonstrate, C. Incidentally

How logical is the argument?
29
What is the goal of argument?
  • To strengthen any written opinion
  • Present a logically supported thesis.
  • Show awareness of but also expose the weakness of
    the opposition.
  • Use well-chosen transition words to indicate
    logical turning points.

How credible is this line?
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