h essay Argumentative Research Essay Introduction
Description
When you write an argumentative essay, you investigate a controversial issue (considering both sides), determine which side you favour, and argue using evidence and examples both to support your claims and to refute counter-arguments.
A controversial (or contentious) issue is one that is debatable and has a logical counter-argument.
An argumentative research essay formalizes the way you gather your supporting evidence.
Purpose
When you write an argumentative essay, you want to make your readers agree with your stance on an issue (i.e., to persuade them). You may also wish to make your readers act on the issue, in which case you will have to specify what they should do.
Audience
To reinforce for your readers your credibility (ethos), you will * employ a formal tone * include much evidence from outside sources to support your arguments * analyse these arguments in depth
You should consider whether or not your audience is familiar with the issue. If not, you will have to provide more background information than you would for a knowing audience.
You should gauge your readers’ stance on the issue. Are they * supportive? (i.e., do they agree with your stance?) * hostile? (i.e., do they disagree with your stance?) * wavering? (i.e., have they yet to take a stance on the issue?)
Your readers’ stance will influence the amount and kinds of evidence you will need to support your arguments.
Topic
In general, when you are going to write an argumentative essay, you should choose a topic that * is not so narrow that you are unable to find sufficient support for your arguments * is not so broad that your essay will merely skim the surface, allowing no depth * is controversial (i.e., contains an argument)
For the purposes of this course, though, you will be selecting a topic from a list of questions about current controversial issues. You should not, therefore, need to narrow your topic, although you may well need to be selective in the aspects of the topic that you focus on in your research. Click here for the list of research questions you may choose from for this assignment. [LINK: “Research Questions for Argumentative Research Essay”]
Support
You require solid factual evidence to support both your arguments and your refutations of counter-arguments.
A Canadian Writer’s World: Essays suggests that you employ as evidence “a combination of facts, statistics, examples, and informed opinions” (222) in your argumentative essays.
You must support each claim with actual evidence; do not rely on your opinions to support your arguments (nor to refute counter-arguments) and be careful to avoid faulty reasoning (fallacies).
Counter-Arguments
Remember that whenever you tackle a controversial issue, people will be able to argue convincingly for a stance that opposes yours. Those people will employ facts, statistics, logic, etc. in support of their argument, just as you will employ different facts, statistics, logic, etc. in support of yours. It serves you well, then, to acknowledge such counter-arguments by including at least a couple of the strongest ones and to respectfully crush these arguments with your refutations.
Ignoring the other side will not make it go away, and a strong argumentative essay must address and refute counter-arguments.
If you find evidence that supports the other side of the issue, you should consider including it; your readers will appreciate that you are not willing to oversimplify the issue.
As you articulate the counter-arguments, it may be helpful to employ such phrasing as the following:
Those who disagree * maintain that
Opponents of this idea * assert that * claim that
Fallacies
These are errors in reasoning that you should try to avoid. For concise explanations and examples of several common logical fallacies, seehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/659/03/. See also the “Hint: Avoiding Common Errors” box on page 229 of A Canadian Writer’s World: Essays.
Thesis
In the thesis for your argumentative essay, you should state your position on the issue (i.e., your claim) and list the main arguments that back up your position (i.e., support for your claim).
Avoid such phrases as “I believe” and “I think that,” which make your claim sound less assertive and therefore weaken your argument.
Transitions
Use transitions as you complete the discussion of one idea and move into the next idea, showing the logical connection between ideas. You may also need to use transitions as you move among arguments, counter-arguments, and refutations of counter-arguments.
See the list of possible transitional words and phrases on page 233 of The Canadian Writer’s World: Essays and check out this list:http://homeworktips.about.com/od/essaywriting/a/transitionwords.htm
Structure
As with most of the essays that you write for English 1110 (with the possible exception of the less formal autobiographical narrative essay and the satire), you will structure your argumentative essay with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, as follows:
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General Outline * Introduction * background information * brief explanation of topic, indicating why the topic is important or why readers should care about it * thesis statement * Body * evidence to support your stance * evidence that contradicts the counter-arguments * topic sentences that unify each paragraph * Conclusion * thesis, recast in light of the evidence provided * answer to the question “so what?” (i.e., addressing the implications of your conclusions) * lasting impression on the reader
Since the body of your essay will have to present your arguments, the counter-arguments, and your refutations of those counter-arguments, you should consider carefully which of the following three methods of development will best suit your essay and help you achieve your purpose:
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1st Pattern of Development * Introduction (with thesis statement) * Body * Argument * Argument * Counter-argument(s) + Refutation(s) * Conclusion (with thesis restated)
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2nd Pattern of Development * Introduction (with thesis statement) * Body * Counter-argument(s) + Refutation(s) * Argument * Argument * Conclusion (with thesis restated)
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3rd Pattern of Development * Introduction (with thesis statement) * Body * Counter-argument + Refutation * Counter-argument + Refutation * Counter-argument + Refutation * Conclusion (with thesis restated)