Argumentation

ArgumentationNatureofargumentativeessay1.Topresentanopiniontothereader.2.Toexplain,clarify,andillustratethatopinion.3.Topersuadethereaderthatyouropinionisvalid.a.tomovethereadertoaction;b.toconvincethereaderthattheopinioniscorrectorc.topersuadethereaderthatyouropinionisatleastworthconsidering.DifferenttypesofwritingNarrationDescriptionExpositionArgumentationPurposeToneTotellastoryTodescribeToinformToconvinceMoreemotionalMorematter-of-factMoreacademicorexplanatoryMoreargumentativeNarrationDescriptionExpositionArgumentationDevelopmentContentBytimeByspaceBygenerallogicBydeductionorInductionNarrationofteninvolvesdescription.Argumentationofteninvolvesexplanation.Expositionoftenincludesdescriptionandnarration.Expositionvs.Argumentation•Whileanexpositorypapermakesknownsomethingandexplainsittomakethereaderunderstand,anargumentativeessaytriestomakethereaderagreewithitspointofviewandsupportit,topersuadehimtochangehismindorbehavior,andtoapproveapolicyoracourseofactionthatitproposes.Speechesonpolices,editorialsofnewspapers,articlesonpoliticalortheoreticalquestions,andvariousproposalsareoftenargumentative.•Argumentationfrequentlymakesuseoftheotherthreetypesofwriting—description,narration,andaboveallexposition,forargumentationandexpositionareverycloselyrelated—argumentationisactuallyexpositionwiththeadditionalpurposeofconvincingorpersuading.WhatitinvolvesWhatitaimsatExposition1.Presentingapointofview2.Explaining,clarifying,andillustratingthepointofviewGettingreaderstounderstandthepointofviewArgumentation1.Assumingcontroversy2.Presentingapointofview3.Explaining,clarifying,andillustratingthepointofview4.Supplyingproofforthepointofview5.Refutingopposingviewpoints1.Convincingreadersthatthepointofviewissound2.Encouragingreaderstoacceptthepointofview,and/or3.EncouragingreaderstotakeactionWhattypeofwritingshouldwewritejudgingfromthefollowingtitles?•Examination–HarmfulorUseful?•MyViewsonExaminations•WhichWeighsMore–SchoolBrandorMajor?•WhyICametoCollege•ShouldClassAttendanceBeRequired?•Laid-offWorkersHavetoFaceReality•Internet–aCoinofTwoSides•Internet–theIndispensableofOurLife•ShouldEuthanasia安乐死BeLegalized?AEAEAEEEAHowtowriteagoodargumentation？•Argumentation≠Quarrel•Adebatablepoint•Sufficientevidence•Thelogicalappeal•Theemotionalappeal•Essentialelements•Outlineofapropositionargument•Fallaciesinargumentativewriting1.Anhonestandfriendlyattitude•Toargueisnottoquarrel.Theforceofanargumentdoesnotcomefromabuse,sarcasm,exaggeration,orfierceattacks,butfromsolidevidence,logicalreasoning,andcarefulanalysis.Adomineeringorhostiletonecouldonlyraisedoubtsaboutyourgoodfaithandimpairthecredibilityofyourargument,whereasanhonestandfriendlyattitudewillhelpwinthetrustofyourreaders.•Takecarethatyouneitheroverstateorunderstate,andavoidoveruseofsuchwordsandphrasesas“perhaps”,“maybe”,“sometimes”,“mostoften”,“nearlyalways,”“Ithink“,“inmyopinion”,whichinvariablyweakentheforceofyourargument.2.Adebatablepoint•Itisimperativethatthepapershouldhaveadebatablepoint,thatis,somethingwhichcanbeviewedfrommorethanoneangleandisthereforeopentodispute.Generallyspeaking,thefollowingarenotgoodthemes：•Merestatementsoffacts•Statementsofpersonaltaste•ViewpointsthatcanbereadilyverifiedExamples•1)Merestatementoffacts.•“Chinesedoctorsuseacupunctureanesthesia（针刺麻醉）toperformcertainoperations.”•“Acupunctureanesthesiashouldreplaceconventionalanesthesiainalloperations.”Examples•2)Statementsofpersonalpreference•“BaJinismyfavoriteauthor.”•“BaJinisthegreatestChinesewriterofthe20thcentury.”Examples•3)Viewpointsthataregenerallyacceptedorcanbeeasilyverified•“Noisepollutionisharmfultopeople’shealth.”•“Noisepollutionisthemostharmfulofallenvironmentalpollution.”Practices•Certainelectronicequipmenthavebeenusedinroadcontrol.•Electronicequipmentshouldbeappliedinallroadcontrol.•Privatecarsarecausesofroadaccidents.•Privatecarsarethenumberonekilleronroads.Findoutwhetherthefollowingstatementsaredebatableornotandexplainthereason.1.Computersandautomationincreaseunemployment.2.Smokingisharmfultopeople’shealth.3.Plantsproduceoxygenthattheworldneedstosustainlife.4.Shakespearediedin1616.5.Everystudentshouldberequiredtobecomecomputerliterate.6.Computercoursesareboring.•topic+yourposition/stand•topic+opposingarguments+yourposition/standAlthoughmanyyoungpeoplewouldagreethatthosewhoareoldenoughtovote,fight,anddiefortheircountryareoldenoughtodriveresponsibly,thedrinkingageshouldremaintwenty-onebecauseofthedangersofalcohol-relatedaccidentsandthelackofalcoholeducationprograms.HowtowriteadebatablethesisstatementPractice:Topic:owingagun•Opposingarguments(CONs):•Owningagunisanecessarystepforsecurityofpropertyandself-defense.•Yourposition/stand(PROs):•Thepresenceofaguninthehomeincreasesthechancesofaccidentaldeaths,suicides,andhomicides.•Althoughsomearguethatthepresenceofaguninthehomeincreasesthechancesofaccidentaldeaths,suicides,andhomicides,owningagunisanecessarystepforsecurityofpropertyandself-defense.•Althoughsomearguethatowingagunisanecessarysteptothesecurityofpropertyandself-defense,thepresenceofaguninthehome