Organizing Your

Argument
A presentation brought to you by
the Purdue University
Writing Lab, adapted by Steven
Federle, Solano College

What is an argument?

An argument involves
the process of
establishing a claim
and then proving it
with the use of logical
reasoning, examples,
and research.

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Why is organization important

in building an argument?

Guides an audience
through your
reasoning process
Offers a clear
explanation of each
argued point
Demonstrates the
credibility of the
writer
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Organizing your argument

Title
Introduction

Thesis statement

Body Paragraphs
Constructing Topic
Sentences
Building Main Points
Countering the
Opposition

Conclusion
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Title--why do you need

one?

Introduces the topic of

discussion to the
audience
Generates reader
interest in the argument

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Creating a Title

Try to grab attention by

offering a provocative
image
picking up on words or
examples offered in the
body or conclusion of the
paper
asking a question

Avoid titles that are too

general or lack character
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Considering Titles
Imagine you just wrote a paper offering
solutions to the problem of road rage.
Which do you consider to be the best
title?
Road Rage
Cant Drive 55
Road Rage: Curing Our Highway Epidemic

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What is an introduction?

Acquaints the reader

with the topic and
purpose of the paper
Generates the
audiences interest in
the topic
Offers a plan for the
ensuing argument

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Methods for Constructing an

Introduction

personal anecdote
example-real or
hypothetical
question
quotation
shocking statistics
striking image
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What is a thesis statement?

The MOST IMPORTANT

SENTENCE in your paper
Lets the reader know the main
idea of the paper
Answers the question: What
am I trying to prove?
Not a factual statement, but a
claim that has to be proven
throughout the paper
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Role of the thesis statement

The thesis statement should

guide your reader through
your argument.
The thesis statement is
generally located in the
introduction of the paper.
A thesis statement may also
be located within the body of
the paper or in the
conclusion, depending upon
the purpose or argument of
the paper.
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Which thesis statement is the most

effective for an argument about the
need for V-chips in television sets?

Parents, often too busy to watch television shows with

their families, can monitor their childrens viewing
habits with the aid of the V-chip.

To help parents monitor their childrens viewing habits,

the V-chip should be a required feature for television
sets sold in the U.S.

This paper will describe a V-chip and examine the

uses of the V-chip in American-made television sets.
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Body Paragraphs and

Topic Sentences

Body paragraphs build upon the claims

made in the introductory paragraph(s)
Organize with the use of topic.
sentences that illustrate the main idea
of each paragraph.
Offering a brief explanation of the
history or recent developments in your
topic within the early body paragraphs
can help the audience to become
familiarized with your topic and the
complexity of the issue.
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Body Paragraphs

Paragraphs may be
ordered in several ways,
depending upon the topic
and purpose of your
argument:
General to specific
information
Most important point to least
important point
Weakest claim to strongest
claim

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Offering a Counterargument

Addressing the claims of the

opposition is an important
component in building a
convincing argument.
It demonstrates your
credibility as a writer--you
have researched multiple
sides of the argument and
have come to an informed
decision.
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Offering a Counterargument

Counterarguments may be
located at various
locations within your body
paragraphs.
You may choose to
build each of your main
points as a contrast to
oppositional claims.
offer a counterargument
after you have articulated
your main claims.

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Counterarguing effectively

Consider your audience when

you offer your counterargument.
Conceding to some of your
oppositions concerns can
demonstrate respect for their
opinions.
Remain tactful yet firm.

Using rude or deprecating

language can cause your audience
to reject your position without
carefully considering your claims.

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Incorporating research into the

body paragraphs

Researched material can aid

you in proving the claims of
your argument and disproving
oppositional claims.
Be sure to use your research
to support the claims made in
your topic sentences--make
your research work to prove
your argument!

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Conclusion -- The Big Finale

Your conclusion should

reemphasize the main
points made in your paper.
You may choose to
reiterate a call to action or
speculate on the future of
your topic, when
appropriate.
Avoid raising new claims in
your conclusion.
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Organizing your argument

Title
Introduction
Body Paragraphs
Constructing Topic
Sentences
Building Main Points
Countering the
Opposition

Conclusion
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Rhetorical Forms for Argument

Rogerian Argument
Deductive Argument
Inductive Argument
Syllogism
Toulmin Argument

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Rogerian Argument
Conciliatory style

Begin by summarizing opposing viewpoints

Carefully consider the position of those who disagree
with you. What are their legitimate concerns? If you
were in their place, how would you react?
Present opposing points of view accurately and fairly.
Demonstrate respect for the ideas of those who
disagree with you.
Acknowledge the concerns that you and your
opposition share.
Point out to readers how they will benefit from the
position you are defining.
Present the evidence that supports your point of view.
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Using deductive and inductive

arguments

Deductive reasoning proceeds from a

general premise or assumption to a
specific conclusion.
Inductive reasoning proceeds from
individual observations to a more
general conclusion.

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Deductive Reasoning

Syllogism: a syllogism consists of

a

major premise, which is a general

statement;
A minor premise which is a related but
more specific statement
And a conclusion, which has to be drawn
from those premises.

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Syllogism

Major premise: All Olympic runners are

fast
Minor premise: Jesse Owens was an
Olympic runner.
Conclusion: Therefore, Jesse Owens
was fast.

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The Declaration of Independence

Major premise: Tyrannical rulers

deserve no loyalty;
Minor premise: King George III is a
tyrannical ruler
Conclusion: Therefore, King George III
deserves no loyalty.

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Syllogisms

When the conclusion follows logically

from the major and minor premises,
then the argument is said to be valid.
Example of an invalid premise
Major

premise: All dogs are animals

Minor premise: All cats are animals
Conclusion: All dogs are cats

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Using Inductive Arguments

Move from specific examples or facts to

a general conclusion.
The process involves:
A question

to be answered
Evidence gathered
Conclusion (reached by inference (or
inductive leap) that answers the question
and takes the evidence into account).
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Inductive Reasoning

Question: How did that living room window

get broken?
Evidence: baseball on floor; baseball not
there this morning; children were playing
baseball in the front yard earlier; they stopped
playing abruptly a little while ago; the children
have gone home.
Conclusion: one of the children hit or threw
the baseball through the window, and then
they all ran away.
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Toulmin Logic

This is an effort to describe argument as it

actually occurs in everyday life.
The CLAIM is the main point of the essay; it is
usually stated as the thesis.
The GROUNDS is the material a writer uses
to support the claim (evidence)
The WARRANT is the inference that connects
the grounds to the claim; it can be a belief
that is taken for granted, or an assumptions
that underlies the argument.
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Toulmin Logic

Claim: King George III deserves no

loyalty.
Grounds: King George III is a tyrannical
ruler (supported by facts and examples)
Warrant: Tyrannical rulers deserve no
loyalty.
The clearer your warrant, the more
likely readers will be to agree with it.
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Logical Fallacies: Begging the

Question

Assumes in the premise what the arguer

should be trying to prove in the conclusion.

The unfair and shortsighted legislation that limits

free trade is clearly a threat to the American
economy.

Restrictions may or may not be unfair and shortsighted,

but emotionally loaded language does not constitute
proof. The statement begs the question because it
assumes what it should be proving that restrictive
legislation is dangerous.

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Argument from Analogy

An analogy explains something

unfamiliar by comparing it to something
more familiar.
An argument based on an analogy
frequently ignores important
dissimilarities between the two things;
when this happens, the argument is
fallacious.
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Personal Attack (Ad Hominem)

This fallacy tries to divert attention from

the facts by attacking the motives or
character of the person making the
argument.
The

public should not take seriously Dr.

Masons plan for upgrading county health
services. He is a recovering alcoholic
whose second wife recently divorced him.
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Other fallacies

See list and descriptions on pages 542-43

False Dilemma,
Equivocation,
Red Herring,
You also (Tu Quoque)
Appeal to Doubtful Authority,
Misleading Statistics,
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (After This,
Therefore Because of That)
Non Sequitur (It Does Not Follow)
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Transitions and Checklist

See transitions checklist on page 544

See revisions checklist on page 546

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IN-CLASS
WRITING
ASSIGNMENT
Look at the
newspaper ad
from the ACLU
on page 555,
arguing against
the death
penalty.
What points does
the ads headline
make? Does the
rest of the ad
support the
headline?

 How would you

describe the
picture that
accompanies the
ad? In what way
does the picture
reinforce the
message of the
text?
Does this ad
appeal primarily
to logic, to
emotions, or to
both? Explain.

 List the specific

points the ad
makes. Which
points are
supported by
evidence? Which
points should be
supported by
evidence but are
not? In what way
does this lack of
support affect
your response to
the ad?

 Write a short
letter to the
ACLU in which
you present
your position.
Be sure to
refer to
specific points
of the ad to
support your
argument.