An argument is a form of persuasive writing and speaking. It is a personal opinion or idea about an issue that is both controversial and current. These issues can be political, social, economic, or religious. An argument is written to potentially change the audience's opinion in favor of the writer or speaker. Arguments are supportable with facts and other evidence that can be proven.
Be aware that some claims will contain faulty logic. These are probably not supportable. Many of these claims are someone's strong opinion.
Think of an argument as being a triangle composed of audience, the claim, and the writer. Who is the audience for this argumentative essay or speech? Are they going to like, dislike, or be neutral about the argument? What is the claim? How is it developed? Is the evidence in the right places to be convincing? Is the research limited to the sources that support the claim? What is the writer's position and credibility: an authority or a concerned citizen? Remember that feeling strongly about an issue does not automatically enable a writer to argue about the issue effectively. The writer needs to back up the claim clearly and convincingly with current and accurate information.
What is the purpose of an argument? Typically the writer's purpose for this type of essay or speech is to present an argument on a conflicting or controversial topic. Remember that conflicting topics support a differing perspective from others. Argumentative essays have an arguable topic; however, some topics will not be an valid argumentative essay. For example, everybody agrees on the proposition "tides and the movement of the moon are related." You will probably find no one to disagree with this statement.
Where will you find arguments? Every day you hear arguments from someone trying to persuade others to do something or to think about something. Every newspaper and magazine has an editorial section whether online or in print. Letters to the editors are arguments. These include arguments for or against a position. Be careful when you read these to evaluate whether or not the writer has included supportable and valid evidence that can be proven. Other media that include arguments are speeches and political campaign materials. Think about different types of nonfiction that you have read that stated a position and then supported that position. Then there is the complaint box. But the writer better support that complaint!
When you evaluate an argument you need to consider two steps.
When evaluating an argument it will help if you look for signal words. These words will indicate that the writer has provided reliable and supportable evidence. Words such as fact, evidence, authority, documentation, research, testimony, or expert will indicate that the writer has taken time to look for support. Also look for quotes and references. A writer will sometimes follow the proposition or claim by using transition words such as: since, because, or due to the fact.
Student responses may vary. Acceptable answers include:
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In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense; and have no other Preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession, and suffer his reason and his feelings to determine for themselves; that he will put ON, or rather that he will not put OFF the true character of a man, and generously enlarge his views beyond the present day. Volumes have been written on the subject of the struggle between England and America. Men of all ranks have embarked in the controversy, from different motives, and with various designs; but all have been ineffectual, and the period of debate is closed. Arms, as the last resource, decide this contest; the appeal was the choice of the king, and the continent hath accepted the challenge. The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. 'Tis not the affair of a city, a county, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent—of at least one eighth part of the habitable globe. 'Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected, even to the end of time, by the proceedings now. Now is the seed-time of continental union, faith and honor. The least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound will enlarge with the tree, and posterity read it in full grown characters.
By referring the matter from argument to arms, a new era for politics is struck; a new method of thinking hath arisen. All plans, proposals, prior to the nineteenth of April, i.e. to the commencement of hostilities, are like the almanacs of the last year; which, though proper then are superseded and useless now. Whatever was advanced by the advocates on either side of the question then, terminated in one and the same point; a union with Great-Britain: the only difference between the parties was the method of effecting it; the one proposing force, the other friendship; but it hath so far happened that the first hath failed, and the second hath withdrawn her influence. As much hath been said of the advantages of reconciliation which, like an agreeable dream, hath passed away and left us as we were, it is but right, that we should examine the contrary side of the argument, and inquire into some of the many material injuries which these colonies sustain, and always will sustain, by being connected with, and dependent on Great Britain: To examine that connection and dependence, on the principles of nature and common sense, to see what we have to trust to, if separated, and what we are to expect, if dependent.
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