Week 9: March 25
Today’s Goals:
•Argumentative Theses
•Motive
•DePalma homework
•Anticipation discussion for next reading
Warm-Up
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html
1. What is a blue-collar job, white collar job and pink-collar job?
Give examples. What skills/qualifications are necessary for
each job?
2. What is the difference between theses types of jobs?
3. Which type of work is valued more in society? Why?
4. Which type of work is not valued in society? Why?
5. What type of job do you want? Why?
6. Which type of job adheres to our definition of the American
Dream?
Mike Rowe Dirty Jobs
• Of what is Mike Rowe trying to convince us?
• What are his tactics? (facts, statistics,
examples, anecdotes)
Argumentative Writing
Thesis is crucial!
• Controls paper
• Helps audience
• Start with a thesis, but allow yourself to revise it
as you write
• Let’s look at how to write an argumentative
thesis and common problems people make
when they begin argumentative writing.
Topics vs. Thesis Statements
• Topics:
• Vaccinations
• The pros and cons of gay marriage
• Standardized testing
• The effects of illegal immigration on the economy
• What makes a topic different from a thesis statement?
• A thesis takes a stance or position on the topic.
• A thesis features a “how” and “why” component.
Strong vs. Weak Thesis
Statements
Weak thesis: We must save the whales.
• Reasoning: This statement is weak because it fails to
pass the “how” and why” test, which indicates that
this thesis is vague, general, and will not properly
frame the body of your essay. This type of thesis
statement will make your job as a writer more difficult.
As you can see, the statement below passes the above
test by answering how and why saving the whales is
important:
• Revised thesis: Because our planet's health may depend
upon biological diversity, we implement environmental
policies that will help protect the whales.
Strong vs. Weak Thesis
Statements
Weak: In this paper, I will discuss the relationship between
fairy tales and early childhood.
• Reasoning: This thesis statement is not argumentative. It is
too general and, for the most part, self-evident. The audience
for fairy tales is comprised mainly of children. There’s nothing
here for readers to agree or disagree with.
• Revised thesis: Not just empty stories for kids*, fairy tales
shed light on the psychology of young children.
• *This thesis statement is argumentative partly because it has a
clear motive—convincing the majority of people who think that
fairy tales are “empty stories for kids.”
Testing Your Thesis Statement
• Is my thesis statement specific enough?
Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong
argument. If your thesis contains words like "good" or
"successful," see if you could be more specific: why is something
"good"; what specifically makes something "successful"?
• Does my thesis pass the "how and why" test? If a reader's
first response is "how?" or "why?" your thesis may be too
open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you
can add to give the reader a better take on your position right
from the beginning.
• Does my thesis have a clear motive? Have I taken a position that
others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts
that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that
you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an
argument.
Strong vs. Weak Thesis
Statements
• There are advantages and disadvantages to using
statistics.
• Revised theses:
• Careful manipulation of data allows a researcher to use statistics
to support any claim she desires.
• In order to ensure accurate reporting, journalists must
understand the real significance of the statistics they report.
• Because advertisers consciously and unconsciously manipulate
data, every consumer should learn how to evaluate statistical
claims.
Strong vs. Weak Thesis
Statements
• Original thesis:
• There are serious objections to today's horror movies.
• Revised theses:
• Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers
to get more graphic, horror flicks have desensitized young
American viewers to violence.
• The pornographic violence in "bloodbath" slasher movies
degrades both men and women.
• Today's slasher movies fail to deliver the emotional catharsis that
1930s horror films did.
Argumentative Thesis
Statements: Application
• Topic: The portrayal of men in fast-food advertisements.
• Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLHlvb8skQ
• How are men portrayed in these advertisements?
• Why does this portrayal matter?
• What are possible counterarguments to this claim?
Pre-Writing Questions:
Establishing a Motive
• The main reason for establishing a motive in argumentative
writing is to emphasize the significance and relevance of your
topic. It ensures that you are making an argument that is
worth making—that is, one that others might disagree with or
easily overlook. Establishing a motive is the work of your
introductory paragraphs, and so your answer to one or both of
the following questions may be revised to include in your final
paper:
• What contemporary, related event or issue might be fresh in
your reader’s mind?
• What is the main reason that others might disagree with
your point of view? What evidence might they have
overlooked that you can bring to light?
Establishing a Motive
• Contemporary, relevant event (often)
• What others say (“I see your point…”)
• BUT
• Argumentative thesis ( “What they’re forgetting
is…”)
DePalma: Argumentative
Thesis
• If we were to re-write DePalma’s piece, what argument would
you make?
• __________________________________________________
• __________________________________________________
• __________________________________________________
• __________________________________________________
Next Reading
• Hard work = success:
True
False
• Your current economic situation affects
your economic future: True False
Homework
• For Sunday, April 1
• Read excerpt from Ehrenreich’s Nickel
and Dimed
• use our reading strategies to increase
comprehension
• Type a response: _What are her main
points? Who are “the maids”? Can they
move upward financially? Why or why
not? (type a couple paragraphs)