HOW TO WRITE A CONVINCING ARGUMENT

THESIS TOPIC SENTENCES INTRODUCTION BODY CONCLUSION CITATIONS

THESIS
What is a thesis?
A thesis statement is what it says A STATEMENT! It states your opinion about a subject and gives your reasons for holding that opinion It is the controlling idea of the essay and it states the purpose and indicates how you will prove or defend it.

A good thesis
A good thesis answers your question or fulfills the assignment set by instructor and presents the argument that is most significant or interesting It should be clear, succinct, precise, and specific. It is a decision or a direction that operates like a navigational device

A good thesis is not

Is not a topic or a subject! It should not be self-evidently true It should not restate your subject It should not state a fact

Example
Essay Topic: Are fairy tales suitable for children? Write a 1000 word essay in which you defend your position. Weak thesis: Fairy tales are suitable for children. Strong thesis: By providing models of hope, courage, and determination, fairy tale heroes help children see the value of developing these virtues in their own lives.

Generating your thesis

A. Gather information related to your topic B. Group the information into 2-3 categories/groups C. Formulate a thesis that focuses on the meaning of these broader categories A well-formulated thesis is like giving your reader a map through your essay, and to show them where they are along the way, you use topic sentences.

Topic Sentences
Appear at the beginning of a new paragraph Guide post that make a point which you develop in that paragraph using specific details and examples Control the content of a paragraph by defining the focus for the paragraph Not thesis statement but at the same time, it should relate in some way back to thesis.

Examples
Recall thesis: By providing models of hope, courage, and determination, fairy tale heroes help children see the value of developing these virtues in their own lives. Topic Sentence 1: From the story of Jack and the Bean Stalk, children learn that even seemingly foolish hopes can lead to success. Topic Sentence 2: Children who have felt abandoned like Hansel and Gretel can learn the value of courage in adversity from Gretels brave rescue of her brother Topic Sentence 3: Cinderella has been criticized recently for waiting passively for prince Charming to rescue her, but a closer reading of this tale shows that she too, uses hope, courage, and determination to solve her own problem

Organizing your Argument Effectively

Introduction Body Section 1 paragraph 1 paragraph 2 Transition Section 2 paragraph 1 paragraph2 Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
Opening sentences define a range of material that you will cover Provides context and gives all the necessary and relevant
background info authors, works, titles, dates, places

Classify, define key terms, sketch development of a situation, give vivid example, anecdote, and description
Be concise and get right to the point. Avoid philosophical tangents such as As history shows us they waste a lot of space and do not impress the reader

Focuses on the big picture not the small details! Avoid making large claims or over generalizations

When do you write the intro?

The introduction does not have to be written first! Often people start with a working introduction that consists mainly of their thesis. Once the paper is written, you will know what information you covered and this will help you write an effective and useful introduction.

THE BODY
The body is where your argument is developed Made up of a series of paragraphs with topic sentences Usually has three components or sections not three paragraphs.* One paragraph should be devoted to explaining a single point/small idea
*if you are writing the traditional five paragraph essay

Paragraph Structure
A new paragraph signals a shift in focus whether in time, place, approach, subject, idea. Each new paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the idea and makes connection to thesis The paragraph is then developed with supporting details, points and quotations.

Paragraph Length
Rule of thumb: paragraphs should not exceed to of a page. If they do, this is usually due to one of two reasons: you are trying to explain or make several points that are separate, or you are including unnecessary information. At the same time, you want to avoid the use of short paragraphs (unless they are transitional paragraphs). Short paragraphs usually do not contain a fully developed and explained idea and they often make the argument less structured and more confusing to the reader.

A Note on Quotes
Dont just state quotes use them! In order to use quotes effectively, ask yourself: What is this quote saying in relation to my argument? How does the quote help or assist me in my argument? Is the quote essential for my argument? Could I leave it out? Could I paraphrase instead?

Transitional Paragraphs
Transitional paragraphs are needed when you are shifting the focus of your paper. Often this occurs when you have completed one section of your essay and need to move to your second or third point.

Transitional Paragraphs
Transitional paragraphs should:

briefly summarize the previous section make connections to new section: add ideas,
emphasize ideas, illustrate, compare, contrast, show cause and effect, place ideas in time, summarize ideas (similarly, in contrast, however, on the other hand, for example, as a result)

CONCLUSION
A convincing conclusion is a necessary part of a convincing argument. Remember that most readers remember best what they read last. A conclusion also serves to unify the entire paper So how do you write a convincing conclusion?
Restate thesis Offer a brief explanation of significant major points State the broader implications of your major points (answering the so what? question)

Conclusion Tips
Your conclusion can be written in one of three ways: 1. Move from specific to general 2. Compare and contrast your subject with another similar one 3. Stress significance of your subject by emphasizing its causes and effects

Example
Children, like adults, learn who they are and what they can be through the examples of others. The hope, courage, and determination modelled by Jack, Gretel, and Cinderella show children that these virtues can help them to create happier lives for themselves. In doing so, these tales add an ethical dimension to childrens education, a dimension that is too often missing in modern life1

CITATIONS - Chicago
Footnotes Kay L. Stewart and Marian E. Allen. A Brief Guide and Handbook: Forms of Writing, Third Edition. (Toronto, ON: Prentice Hall, Canada Inc, 2000), 83. Subsequent note: Stewart, Forms of Writing, 86 Works Cited
Kay L. Stewart and Marian E. Allen. A Brief Guide and Handbook: Forms of Writing, Third Edition. (Toronto, ON: Prentice Hall, Canada Inc, 2000),

See http://www.mylaurier.ca/brantford/s ervices/writingcentre.htm for a full out line of Chicago, APA and MLA