Argumentative essay methodology

Argumentative Essay

Argument: It is a statement which is supported by evidences.

Argumentative Essay: A writing peace meant to persuade

Role: persuading, convincing someone

Types of Argumentative Essays:

1. Deductive:  the premises guarantee the truth of the conclusion

• For example: If A=B and B=C, it is sure that A=C.
• The conclusion is based on logical consequence.
• Writing a declarative sentence and proving that this is true by arguments (or proving that this is false).
• In practise: Let’s find an important thought and proove that this is right by argumentative sentences. Important is, to have a logical sequence in the essay. (Don’t write a higgedly-piggedy bullshit! :D You can write a sketch, maybe that could help)

1. Inductive: the premises are thought to provide reasons supporting the conclusion's probable truth

• For example, given that the U.S. military budget is the largest in the world (premise=true), then it is probable that it will remain so for the next 10 years (conclusion=true).
• An inductive argument is said to be strong or weak. If the premises of an inductive argument are assumed true, is it probable the conclusion is also true? If so, the argument is strong. Otherwise, it is weak.
• A strong argument is said to be cogent if it has all true premises. Otherwise, the argument is uncogent. The military budget argument example above is a strong, cogent argument.
• The truth of the conclusion is supported by the premises.
• Analyzing the facts and write the conclusion in the end.
• In practise: Let’s find the final thought –which is the last sentence of the essay- and write your whole essay based on the angle of the final thought.

Elements

(I=if this is true for Inductive, D=if this is true for the Deductive)

Introduction

D: Write the thesis statement that you want to be prooved (or that you want to be prooved as false).

I: Simply posing the problem that you want to talk about.

Posing the problem, defining the topic, including the thesis statement. THIS HAS TO GRAB ATTENTION.

Body

D: You are listing the arguments that are prooving that the thesis statement which was mentioned in the Introduction is true. You also have to write the evidences. You must write paragraphs (argument-evidence, new argument-new evidence etc.)

I: You are collecting arguments, you are writing them, explaining them (in more paragraphs). At the end, you have to write the conclusion. You might write some sentences which are disprooving, obviously.

Shaping your opinion, interpretation of the most important concepts of the thesis statement. Proving your opinion by examples, arguments. Explaining the case.

Conclusion

D: You only have to verify the sentence written in the Introduction –but in another words.

I: You are solving the problem which was posed in the Introduction with your conclusion so the thesis statement is written here.

Conclusion, posing of a new problem, ENDING BY AN EFFECT ON THE READER’S EMOTIONS. Refreshing the memories of the reader about the previous thoughts written in the text. Referring to the introduction. Maybe an efffective quote could be great here.

Central Thesis

• You agree or disagree.
• Collect your arguments.
• You have to priorize them: which is stronger, which is weaker.
• Plan if you want to write the strongest or the weekest argument.
• Beginning of the essay is suggested to be better if it is an impressive declarative sentence, question etc.
• Own examples.
• Your opinion must be clear.
• Use multiple style tools, multiple arguments.
• Posing a problem as a question is good.
• It is worth to summarize the arguments.
• You can finish your essay with a quotation/phrase or you can bring attention to another problem connected to the topic.

Methods of Argumentation

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