“Belief Makes Reality”
By Charles P. Clark
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http://depts.washington.edu/egonline/selectedessays/
Evaluate the title/Ironic Twist
A good title should be interesting, informative and
argumentative, giving the reader a hint about the
focus/direction, etc.
Sample Titles:
1. “Eveline’s Dilemma: Trapped or Trashed?”
by Dr. Gao
2. “Handicapped by History” by James Loewen
Personal vs.
Universal/Collective
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Experi’ential
learning is the
process of making
meaning from direct
experience.
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Any broader appeal
to the reader?
What is your larger
point?
The CUSP Learning
Goals (online)
https://sites.google.c
om/a/uw.edu/cuspportfolio-gao/dciii120f-course-reader
Generalization of the claim
Belief Makes Reality
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Bellevue team (as something representative,
a case study, a small sample to infer a large
point)
Critique of the entire corporate culture in
America
A larger backdrop that goes beyond the
American corporate culture;
Generalization/transferrable to other
disciplines/areas/fields across the board;
Double-Column Notebook
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Belief makes reality;
Subjective yearning
employees'
philosophy of
optimism,
motivation, and
individual
empowerment
Identify fallacies
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Belief makes
reality?
Formal features
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1. narrative element/dramatize
2. parallel structure
3. critical analysis/layers of breakdown
4. argumentative mode
5. citations/quotations
Narrative Essay
To Tell a Story; To Chronicle Events
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Midway between the formality of the
argumentative essay and the informality of
the speculative essay are narrative and
expository essays.
Narrative essays include stories, sometimes
a single incident, as in George ‘Orwell’s
“Shooting an Elephant” (1936), or sometimes
multiple events, as in Loren Eiseley’s “The
Judgment of the Birds” (1956).
The stories in narrative essays are almost
always autobiographical: they form a part of
the writer’s experience.
Narrative Essay
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But even in cases where the story in such an essay is
fictional rather than factual, it is used to make a point—
the idea is primary. This distinguishes a narrative essay
from a short story in which an idea may be inherent in the
work, but where the fictional story per se takes
precedence over any idea we may derive from it.
‘Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” for example consists
largely of the story of how Orwell (or a fictional character)
shot an elephant. Although the incident possesses
considerable interest as a story, its primary purpose is to
advance an idea about imperialism, which is presented
explicitly midway through the essay and is referred to
again at the end—repetition for thematic emphasis.
Narrative and Argumentative
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Summary of the
story/plot
Presentation:
chronological or
otherwise
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Claim: a debatable
statement with a
ripple effect ; it is an
inference based on
evidence and
warrant;
A bloody scene
Claim Chart by
hierarchy
Tree image: Central
claim/Root/branche
Best starts with a focal point
of a controversy;
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Because an argumentative essay
attempts to change the way people think,
it must focus on a debatable topic. More
important, something worth debating,
something culturally significant or
philosophically intriguing;
Factual statements—those about which
people do not disagree—are therefore
not suitable for argument: that “There
are 24 hours a day” is not debatable.
The economy is entering a recession.
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Example 1:
The economy is entering a recession.
Evidence should be specific, representative.
According to some polls, and surveys
conducted by Washington Post, CNN, CNBC—
implying something authoritative,
--The stock market is declining.
--The unemployment rate is increasing.
--The consumer confidence is dropping.
Data
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Data—sometimes called grounds or
evidence—are those facts that establish the
validity of the claim, that on which the claim is
based. What counts as a fact may differ from
discipline to discipline.
Data usually answers the question “how do
you know?” Like the claim, data will be
explicit, though the reasons for using particular
evidence may not be explicit. (Evidence
should be accurate, sufficient, representative,
and relevant.)
Warrants
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Warrants are assumptions made on
general rules, and principles.
--Warrant 1: These things are signs
of an impending recession.
--Warrant 2: Overtime these things
usually have preceded a recession.
Warrant is an assumption
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Warrants—an authorization or license to
make the inference from evidence to
claim. It is an assumption based on the
general rules.
Warrants in academic arguments are
often signaled by citations to relevant
literature in a particular field.
Claim vs. Opinion
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Claims
Well supported with
evidence and other
means;
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Opinions
Simply air what you
think
Counter-Argument
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When you counter-argue, you consider a
possible argument against your thesis or
some aspect of your reasoning. This is a
good way to test your ideas when
drafting, while you still have time to
revise them.
Take a step back
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Reservations/Rebuttals/Counter
Arguments are exceptions to the rules.
You need to take those things into
consideration so that your arguments are
more balanced and objective.
Make a Concession
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Unless there are other explanations such as…
--The stock market is declining probably
because stocks have been overpriced on
speculations. Now the bubbles are busted.
--The unemployment rate is increasing
probably because there is a seasonal change
in labor market.
--The consumer confidence is down
because people may have other concerns at
the moment.
Allowing Counter-argumentation
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Not every objection is worth entertaining,
of course, and you shouldn't include one
just to include one. But some imagining
of other views, or of resistance to one's
own, occurs in most good essays.
Useful Phrases
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You introduce this turn against with a phrase
like One might object here that... or It might
seem that... or It's true that... or Admittedly,...or
Of course,... or with an anticipated challenging
question: But how...? or But why...? or But isn't
this just...? or But if this is so, what about...?
Then you state the case against yourself as
briefly but as clearly and forcefully as you can,
pointing to evidence where possible. (An
obviously feeble or perfunctory counterargument does more harm than good.)
The Turn Back
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Your return to your own argument—
which you announce with a but, yet,
however, nevertheless or still—must
likewise involve careful reasoning, not a
flippant (or nervous) dismissal. In
reasoning about the proposed counterargument, you may
Rhetorical Moves
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refute it, showing why it is mistaken—an apparent but not
real problem;
acknowledge its validity or plausibility, but suggest why
on balance it's relatively less important or less likely than
what you propose, and thus doesn't overturn it;
concede its force and complicate your idea accordingly—
restate your thesis in a more exact, qualified, or nuanced
way that takes account of the objection, or start a new
section in which you consider your topic in light of it. This
will work if the counter-argument concerns only an aspect
of your argument; if it undermines your whole case, you
need a new thesis.
Where to Insert
a Counter-Argument
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Counter-argument can appear anywhere in the
essay, but it most commonly appears
as part of your introduction—before you
propose your thesis—where the existence of a
different view is the motive for your essay, the
reason it needs writing;
as a section or paragraph just after your
introduction, in which you lay out the expected
reaction or standard position before turning
away to develop your own;
Consistency in Your Argument
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But watch that you don't overdo it. A turn
into counter-argument here and there
will sharpen and energize your essay,
but too many such turns will have the
reverse effect by obscuring your main
idea or suggesting that you're
ambivalent.
Your conclusion should not
contradict your claim
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Racap your claim to close your
argument: based on the above, I would
argue that the economy is in a very bad
shape.
Ideally, you should offer some solutions
in the form of a proposal,
The aim is to move people to action;
Example 2
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Watch out when you argue with Jack, he’ll be a
good arguer.
(Because) Jack is a philosophy major.
Generally, philosophy majors are good
arguers. (warrant)
Unless Jack is a failing student, philosophy
majors usually study argument and become
adept through writing and thinking critically.
Recap your claims: Don’t mess with Jack.
Exaggeration vs. Understatement
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An exaggeration is
an overstatement
Hyperbole
She's dying for a
drink.
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However an
understatement
could be stronger
than an
overstatement;
Exaggeration vs. Understatement
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An exaggeration is
an overstatement
Hyperbole
She's dying for a
drink.
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However an
understatement
could be stronger
than an
overstatement;
A Claim in an analogy
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Air travel nowadays
is like going through
a root canal.
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a similarity between
like features of two
things, on which a
comparison may be
based: the analogy
between the heart
and a pump.
Root canal procedure: unhealthy or injured
tooth, drilling and cleaning, filing with
endofile, rubber filling and crown
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Air travel nowadays
is like going through
a root canal.
A claim made in a metaphor
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Handicapped by History
Crippled by our History class
Attack vs. Defense (Rebuttal)
Block Method or Alternating Method
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1st Attack
2nd Attack
3rd Attack
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1st Defense
2nd Defense
3rd Defense
Make a concession
Brush away the
counterargument
Recap your claim
Public school vs. homeschool
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Formal
learning/Better
trained teaching
professionals
Social setting for
maturity in dealing
with human
relations;
Diversity in
experience
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Natural learning
Safe from bad
influence/moral
hazards like a lath
house;
Undivided attention
from teachers for
better result;
A Lath House
Homeschool vs. Public School
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To many parents and students, homeschool
or home learning is more desirable.
Homeschool is more desirable for several
reasons.
Considering the potential bad influence and
other moral hazards from a public school,
homeschool offers a more desirable
sanctuary to many students at their tender
age.
Stay Neutral
While A is like this, B is like that
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Whereas homeschool offers natural
learning, physical safety, moral purity or
security, public schools reward students
with formal learning, diverse social
experiences and richer moral tapestry.
Position taking
One is Better than Another
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While these arguments/approaches are
certainly interesting, it is more natural to
consider [Kafka’s fiction as reflecting his life,
especially his relations with his father.
(Karen DiYanni, 165)]
While formal learning, diverse social
experience and richer moral development
are attractive at a public school, it is more
natural…
Claims 614
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Since the beginning of time we
have been polluting the universe.
..we must therefore stop polluting
Albany because pollution is
destroying the air, the water, and
the community. --parallel
structure/open-ended/road map
Claims: Opener
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Example 2: Cultural loneliness, caused
by or derived from language barriers,
cultural deficits and cultural puritanism,
intended or unintended, has still been
haunting us in the context of multicultural
America.
Eveline’s Dilemma:
Trapped or Trashed?
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Claim: Though Eveline, the title
character in James Joyce’ short story
published in 1914, has a job, food,
shelter, and folks whom she knows very
well, the harsh fact remains that she has
been trapped at home in more than one
way.