Constructing a Reasoned
Argument
www.cedarville.edu/departments/writingcenter/resources/student/
argument.ppt
Here’s the Secret…
How do I make a good argument?
 How do I analyze an argument?
 How can I get a good grade?

LEARN TO ASK (GOOD) QUESTIONS
Where do you start?

The Requirements

Type of Presentation: speech or paper?

What is the purpose of my presentation?
 To
present a side (informative)
 To argue a side (persuasive)

Make sure you know what is being
asked of you and DO THAT!
Finding a topic

Ask Yourself

What are my Passions?

What is going on around me?
 Relevance
– Would a reader care?
 Controversial – Would anyone disagree?

Can I find information about it?
For me…
Assume NOTHING

Test your tentative topic

Is this topic appropriate?
 Does

it fit the requirements?
Is this topic workable?
 Is
it too narrow or too broad?
 Will it fit within the time/page contraints?

Is this topic really interesting?
 Do
you really care enough to live with it?
 Will others be interested enough to read it?
Start to Explore

Write your topic at the top of the paper

Draw a vertical line down the paper
On one side, write down what you already
know about the topic.
 On the other side, write down what you
don’t know about it
 Turn the second column into research
questions to pursue.

Basic Information

Grasp the CONTEXT of the debate.
What are the basic facts?
 What is the history of the dialogue?


Find out ALL sides of the debate


What are the arguments for AND against?
Find AUTHORITATIVE sources.
Who are the experts?
 Where is the best information?

Thinking is hard work

The more you think through the ideas
to begin with, the less work you leave
for yourself in the long run.

Avoid the easy route, if possible
Do more than internet research
 Talk to the professor
 Brainstorm on paper (WRITE IT OUT)

Now what?

Figure out what you’re going to say
BEFORE you start to draft.

More work up front means less work
later:
Thesis sentences
 Outlines (full sentence)

Draft a Tentative Thesis

Start trying to write out your entire
argument in a single sentence
Make a clear CLAIM about your topic.
 State every point you’ll discuss
 Be sure someone can argue with you


This is TENTATIVE!

It CAN and WILL change.
Writing a Good Thesis

BE objective.
Don’t make it about yourself.
 Not “I believe that abortion is wrong” but
“Abortion is wrong.”


BE declarative.
The thesis is NEVER a question.
 It is the ANSWER to a question.
 It is NOT the introduction. It’s your POINT.

Structure your Argument

Write an outline based on the thesis.
What are the reasons for the claim in
your thesis? (main points)
 What evidence do you have?
(subpoints)

ASK QUESTIONS
Have I included ALL the ideas from the
thesis?
 Did I include any ideas NOT in the
thesis?
 Are my points in the same order as
they’re listed in the thesis?
 Is this a provable, logical argument?

Provable?

How does this work?
Support every idea with research
 Make sure you CITE every outside source.


Evidence
Expert, unbiased sources.
 Statistics, Examples, Illustrations

Logical?

Evidence alone is not enough!

Logic is about seeing and making good
connections between ideas.
It connects your evidence to your reasons.
 It helps you organize your ideas into a
valid order.
 It helps you avoid the logical fallacies.

Test your Argument
Does your paper match your thesis?
 Is your argument logical?

Did you avoid the logical fallacies?
 Are your points in an effective order?


Is everything actually relevant?
Do your quotes actually match your ideas?
 Do your ideas jump around, or are your
paragraphs clearly focused?

Keep Questioning

Is my tone authoritative, but not rude?

Did I avoid plagiarizing others’ work?

Is my documentation (bibliography &
citations) correctly formatted?

Can I word my ideas more effectively?
Final tips…

GET SOME OBJECTIVE HELP

Try to think about your ideas as if you
were someone on the other side of the
issue.

Go to the Writing Center.

Get a friend or classmate to read your
paper. Read the paper out loud.