How to formulate an argument

1. You are to take out your 3-Ring Binder (3rdSection) and take Vocabulary & Notes (not copy everything). How to formulate an argument

2. Formulate a CLAIM • Claim: a statement that asserts a main point of an argument (a side) • A claim is the main argument of an essay. The entire paper depends on the strength of the claim. • A claim must be argumentative. When you make a claim, you are arguing for a certain interpretation or understanding of your subject. You must be able to take a side. Ask yourself, do you agree of disagree. • A good claim is specific. It makes a focused argument (MTV‟s popularity is waning because it no longer plays music videos) rather than a general one (MTV sucks).

3. Example • Hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution.

4. SUPPORT the Claim with… • Evidence:Facts, statistics, reports, or physical proof • Source Credibility: Authorities, experts, celebrity endorsers, etc. • Analysis & Reasoning: reasons may be offered as proof • If you don’t, it’s merely your opinion…

5. EXAMPLE • CLAIM: Hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution. • SUPPORT #1: Driving a privately owned car is a typical citizen's most air polluting activity.

6. Include Warrants (Reasoning) • These are the explicit connections between the evidence and the claim; the explanation for why a particular piece of evidence is important to the claim and to the argument • A warrant is the glue that holds an argument together. It links the evidence to the claim. It says something like “This evidence supports the claim because…”

7. Reasoning Matters • After you introduce evidence into your writing, you must say why and how this evidence supports your argument. The evidence is alwayseither foror against something, and you have to make that link clear with reasoning. • We should not assume that our readers already know what we are talking about. The audience can’t read our minds: although they may be familiar with many of the ideas we are discussing, they don’t know what we are trying to do with those ideas unless we indicate it through reasoning.

8. Questions to Develop Reasoning • Why is this information important? Why does it matter? • How is this idea related to my claim? What connections exist between them? Does it support my claim? If so, how does it do that? • O.k., I’ve just stated this point, but so what? Why is it interesting? Why should anyone care about this evidence? • I’ve just described what something is like or how I see it, but why is it like that? • I’ve just said that something happens-so how does it happen? How does it come to be the way it is? • Can I give an example to illustrate this point? • What are the consequences of thinking this way or looking at a problem this way? (for evidence of a counterclaim)

9. EXAMPLE • CLAIM: Hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution. • SUPPORT #1: Driving a privately owned car is a typical citizen's most air polluting activity. • WARRANT #1: Because cars are the largest source of private transportation, as opposed to industry produced, air pollution switching to hybrid cars should have an impact on fighting pollution.

10. Counterclaim & Rebuttal • Counterclaim:A claim that negates or disagrees with the thesis/claim. • Rebuttal:Evidence that negates or disagrees with the counterclaim.

11. Counterclaim & Rebuttal • Counterclaim: Instead of focusing on cars, which still encourages a culture of driving even if it cuts down on pollution, the nation should focus on building and encouraging use of mass transit systems. • Rebuttal: While mass transit is an environmentally sound idea that should be encouraged, it is not feasible in many rural and suburban areas, or for people who must commute to work; thus hybrid cars are a better solution for much of the nation's population.

12. Reasoning Matters (Example) Weak use of evidence Today, we are too self-centered. Most families no longer sit down to eat together, preferring instead to eat on the go while rushing to the next appointment. Everything is about what we want. Stronger use of reasoned evidence Today, Americans are too self-centered. Even our families don't matter as much anymore as they once did. Other people and activities take precedence. In fact, the evidence shows that most American families no longer eat together, preferring instead to eat on the go while rushing to the next appointment. Sit-down meals are a time to share and connect with others; however, that connection has become less valued, as families begin to prize individual activities over shared time, promoting self-centeredness over group identity. Why is this a weak use of evidence? Discuss with the people next to you.

13. Making a Valid Argument • Over-Arching Argument: The benefits of building the Great Wall of China outweighed the costs. • Claim 1: The Great Wall of China was of extreme benefit to the Chinese people living in the border areas. • Evidence: People living in border areas lived in walled cities “well protected by high walls, deep moats, catapults, and thorns” (Doc. B). • Reasoning: Without walled cities, the Chinese people might have been easily attacked by barbarians like the Xiongnu (SHE-OONG-noo).

14. Why write?This is why…

15. Assignment • TOPIC: High school graduates should take a year off before entering college • In your group, formulate: • A Claim • (at least) one piece of support • A Warrant (Valid Reasoning) • A Counterargument • A Rebuttal