Writing Arguments (Chapter 3) CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 1 Tips - PDF document

Writing Arguments (Chapter 3) CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 1 Tips for Improving the Writing Process (1) � Where and how do you start to write an argument? � Who can make change, what are obstacles,…? � Exploratory will help � Discuss with others � How do you explore, research, rehearse? � Audience important � Why will your views be threatening to others, not agree, etc.? � Continue to discuss with others, especially those who don’t agree; use them as sounding board CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 2 1

Tips for Improving the Writing Process (2) � Outline is important � I sometimes start with a bunch of things I want to say somewhere but not sure where � I write them all down and then try to organize them � I then try to think of the flow of the argument or paper by writing a sentence that tells what a paragraph or section will contain � I then try to expand this � I try to talk to a colleague about my argument to see if he/she is convinced � Finally, I write a draft CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 3 Tips for Improving the Writing Process (3) � Rough draft (all about the flow of the argument) � Don’t worry about grammar, etc. at first—can polish later � What else? � How should you revise your paper (now think about grammar)? � Read out loud—mistakes show up easier � Spell and grammar � Get someone to proofread (difficult) � Understand that to get a good paper, it takes many iterations to revise, restructure, rewrite CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 4 2

WA: Using Exploratory Writing 1. Free writing or Blind Writing (what is this) 2. Idea Mapping (what is this) 3. Playing the Believing/Doubting Game � Believer: wholly sympathetic to the idea, listen carefully, identify all ways that idea might appeal to different audiences, and all reasons for believing the idea � Doubter: be judgmental and critical, find faults, find counterexamples and inconsistencies that undermine the idea CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 5 Name Class Exercise Claim: Violence on the Web and in computer games is responsible for shootings in schools? 1. Play the believing and doubting game with the above claim by free writing for five minutes trying to believe the claim and then for five minutes to doubt the claim OR 2. Make an idea map by creating a believing spoke and a doubting spoke off the main hub. Instead of free writing, enter ideas onto your idea map, moving back and forth between believing and doubting. CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 6 3

WA: Using Exploratory Writing 4. Brainstrorming for Pro/Con Because Clauses � State reasons for and against claim 5. Brainstrorming a Network of Related Issues � Identify related issues (sub issues, side issues, larger issues) CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 7 Name Group/Class Exercise Claim: ISP providers should be required by law to keep records on the real identify of all users. 1. Working with 2-3 others, generate pro and con because clauses supporting and attaching the claim. 2. Discuss because clauses with rest of class. 3. Now brainstorm about related issues (sub, side, larger) CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 8 4

Shaping Your Argument: Introduction Classical Argument Homelier Terms 1. Exordium (get audience 1. Dramatic story or startling attention) statistic 2. Narratio (provides needed 2. Focus on issue—state as background) question, summarize opposing views 3. Propositio (introduce speakers thesis) Contextualize by providing background, explaining context, 4. Partitio (forecasts the main etc. parts of the speech) 3. Present thesis 4. forecasts argument’s structure CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 9 Shaping Your Argument: Body, Conclusion Classical Argument Homelier Terms 5. Confirmatio (presents writer’s 5. Main body of essay, present position) reasons and evidence supporting claims, tie reasons to 6. Confutatio (refutes opposing audience’s values, beliefs, and views assumptions; usually a 7. Peroratio (sums up argument, paragraph for each calls for actions, leaves strong 6. Also refutes others claims, lasting impression) shows weakness in them, be fair and complete May put refute first, depending on audience 7. Close, sum up, strong lasting impression, call for action CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 10 5

Discovering Ideas and Deepening Thinking Exploration and Rehearsal 1. What issue to you plan to address in this argument? � One sentence question � Reword in several ways � Select best one 2. Now write out your tentative answer to the question. � This is tentative answer � Write more than one; these will be alternative claims that others might consider 3. Why is this issue controversial? � Is there sufficient evidence to resolve the issue CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 11 Assignment 9 � Discuss assignment 9. CS 4001 Mary Jean Harrold 12 6