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! 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?