Transcript Slide 1

Essay 1: Argument Analysis
The language of argument
 When
writing about arguments use verbs
like: Argues that… asserts that, claims,
suggests, proposes, advances that claim
that…establishes…
 When
you want to explain how the writer
introduces support or evidence to support
a claim – what verbs could we use?
 Supports
 Justifies
her claim with
his claim by…
 Introduces
evidence that…
 Substantiates
this claim by presenting
evidence from X…
 Provides
support
Assignment 1: analyzing an
author’s argument
 Your
job is to analyze the argument in one
of the texts we have read this semester.
Analyzing is NOT the same as a summary
(although you will need to do some
summary). Your goal is to show how the
author’s use of specific kinds of evidence
supports the argument, to explain how
the argument is constructed and why it is
effective. Your paper should respond, in
order, to the following specific issues:
Part 1. Introduction (1 paragraph) should:
1.
Introduce the author, his/her text, and the
project in this text
2.
Questions to consider:
Who is the author?
What is his/her project?[1] (What sort of work does he/she set out to
do, how, and why?) Remember that the project statement should
contain a rhetorically accurate verb and an “in order to” component
What issue or problem is he responding to, and why does it matter?
a)
b)
c)
2. Describe the author’s main argument - what is
he/she trying to get us to believe?
3. State the direction of your analysis and the steps
you will take to get us there. This is called
metadiscourse.
For example, “In my analysis of O’Briens’s text,
I will examine _____ in order to show ______.”
The “project” describes what the author sets out to do, how he/she does it,
and by what means (such as research connections between X and Y, drawing
from case studies or statistics, etc.) To articulate a project you need a verb, such
as “researches,” “investigates,” “studies,” “presents,” “connects A with B,” etc.
[1]
 Some Key Suggestions:
1. Remember to focus on the text’s argument
and how it is constructed, not simply
summarizing the text.
2.
Write the paper as if you are addressing an
audience that has not read the text; thus, you
need to “spell things out.”
3.
You are expected to use MLA format. Refer to
your handbook for assistance and/or use the
MLA template (found on the class website).
4.
Proofread your work—you will be marked
down for grammatical/spelling errors!
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Part 2. The Body, in which you present your central analysis
In this section, you will provide 3 or 4 major claims that support the
author’s argument. Each paragraph should focus on a different claim.
New claim = new paragraph. For each claim (and thus, each
paragraph), you will need to:
Identify the claim, in your own words, that you will discuss in this section.
(This is your topic sentence or assertion.)
Use a quotation to illustrate this claim
Identify the evidence the author presents to support this claim. How
does the author support this idea?
Use at least one verb to describe what the author is doing - what moves
does the author make to get his point across and make the claim
persuasive?
Interpret the author’s moves in terms of the main claim. How does the
work he is doing in this particular section support his claim/argument?
Comment upon how the author chooses to organize his text as he
makes his claim and why he may have decided to place the material
where he does.

Part 3: Your conclusion, which tells us “So What?” In
this section, you will discuss the overall significance of
the text. There are several things you can choose to
emphasize in this section.

What is the significance of the author’s argument –
why does it matter (at this moment/in general/to
you)?

Consider the effectiveness of the argument – has
the author impacted your thinking/views on this
topic?

Consider the significance of the assignment – of
the intellectual exercise you have carried out.
Does reading and analyzing a text this way
provide you with any interesting or novel insights?