Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Ch. 1 What Makes an Academic Argument “Academic”?
What “Argument” Means in an Academic Setting
Context Is Everything: Understanding the Rhetorical Situation of Academic Arguments
Elements of the Rhetorical Situation
How the Elements of the Rhetorical Situation Are Interconnected
Reading: “Generation Q,” by Thomas L. Friedman
Qualities of Effective Academic Arguments
Effective Academic Arguments Are Clear and Precise
Effective Academic Arguments Are Well Supported
Effective Academic Arguments Are Properly Qualified
Effective Academic Arguments Are Placed in Context
Effective Academic Arguments Employ an Appropriate Voice and Tone
Effective Academic Arguments Follow Established Conventions
Effective Academic Arguments Are Sensitive to Audience Needs
Ch. 2 The Elements of Persuasive Academic Arguments
What Makes Academic Arguments Persuasive?
Logos: The Role of Logic and Reason in Academic Arguments
Claims
Grounds
Explanations
Qualifications
Rebuttals
Logos in Action: A Sample Argument
Sample Reading: Letter to the Editor
Common Logos-related Fallacies
Pathos: The Role of Emotion in Academic Arguments
Pathos in Action: A Sample Essay
Reading: “Perils and Promise: Destroy an Embryo, Waste a Life,” by Christopher H. Smith
How Pathos Can Help You Develop Content and Choose Language
How Pathos Can Help You Create a Bond with Your Audience
How Pathos Can Help You Communicate Your Own Emotional Investment in Your Argument
Common Pathos-related Fallacies
Ethos: The Role of the Writer’s Authority and Credibility in Academic Arguments
Establishing Ethos through Your Knowledge of the Topic
Establishing Ethos through Accurate Writing
Establishing Ethos by Being Open Minded, Honest, and Fair
Establishing Ethos by Following Conventions
Ethos in Action: A Sample Reading
Reading: “Embryo Ethics: The Moral Logic of Stem-cell Research,” by Michael J. Sandel
Common Ethos-related Fallacies
The Interrelatedness of Logos, Pathos, and Ethos
Ch. 3 Reading Academic Arguments Critically
A Process Approach to Critical Reading
Pre-reading Strategies
Reading: “Rank Colleges, but Rank Them Right,” by David Leonhardt
Comprehending Arguments
Sample Annotated Text
Analyzing Arguments
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument’s Author
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument’s Topic
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument’s Audience
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument’s Purpose
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument’s Occasion
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument's Claims
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument’s Structure
Analytical Questions Regarding an Argument's Language
Evaluating Arguments
Evaluating the Quality of an Argument’s Claims
Evaluating the Quality of an Argument’s Grounds
Evaluating the Quality of an Argument’s Explanations
Evaluating the Quality of an Argument’s Rebuttals
Ch. 4 The Role of Claims in Academic Arguments
What Claims Are and What They Aren’t
Claims Are Debatable
Claims Are Substantive
Claims Are Sincere
Stating Claims Effectively
Effective Claims Are Precise
Effective Claims Are Clear
Effective Claims Are Properly Qualified
Effective Claims Are Affirmative
The Structure of Claims in Academic Arguments
The Process of Crafting Claims
Ch. 5 Supporting Claims
The Role of Reasons in Supporting Arguments
The Relationship between Claims and Reasons
Choosing Which Reasons to Include in an Argument
Choosing How Many Reasons to Include in an Argument
Organizing Reasons in Support of a Thesis
Note: Using First-person Point of View When Stating Reasons
The Role of Evidence in Supporting Arguments
Types of Evidence Commonly Employed in Academic Writing
What Makes Evidence Persuasive
The Role of Beliefs and Values in Supporting Arguments
Stating Beliefs and Values in Support of an Argument
Leaving Beliefs and Values Unstated in an Argument
Ch. 6 Explaining Your Argument
Connecting Claims, Reasons, and Evidence
Case in Point: The TV Courtroom Drama
Explaining Your Argument: An Exercise
What to Explain and How to Explain It
What Typically Needs Explanation
Explaining Arguments: An Example
Reading: “Student Cheating,” by Bill Puka
Ch. 7 Qualifying Claims and Rebutting Opposition in Academic Arguments
Why You Need to Qualify Your Claims in Academic Arguments
Qualified Claims Tend to Be More Honest Than Unqualified Claims
Qualified Claims Are Easier to Support Than Are Unqualified Claims
Qualified Claims Are More Difficult to Refute Than Are Unqualified Claims
Qualified Claims Conform to the Conventions of Academic Writing
Language Commonly Used to Qualify Claims
Addressing Opposition in Academic Arguments
Why It Is Important to Research and Address Opposing Views in Academic Arguments
Anticipating Opposition
Rebutting Opposition
Ch. 8 Working with Sources in Academic Arguments
Roles Sources Commonly Play in Academic Arguments
Provide Background Information
Support Claims
Present Opposing Views
Improve Ethos
Techniques Commonly Used to Integrate Source Material into Academic Arguments
Reading: “Regular Exercise and Weight Management: Myths and Reality,” Steven Jonas
Summarizing Material
Qualities of a Good Summary
Writing a Summary
Paraphrasing Material
When and Why to Paraphrase Material
Qualities of a Good Paraphrase
How to Paraphrase Material
Quoting Material
When and Why to Quote Material
How to Quote Material
Avoiding Plagiarism
Common Forms of Plagiarism in Academic Writing
Avoiding Problems with Plagiarism
Ch. 9 Working with the Visual Elements of Academic Arguments
Why It’s Important to Understand the Visual Elements of Arguments
How Visuals Function in Academic Arguments
Using Visuals to Make an Argument
Using Visuals to Support an Argument
Using Visuals to Make an Argument Easier to Understand
Reading Visual Texts Critically
Reading Pictures and Drawings
Reading Diagrams, Tables, and Graphs
Working with Pictures, Drawings, and Diagrams
Qualities of Effective Pictures, Drawings, and Diagrams
Working with Tables
Qualities of Effective Tables
Working with Graphs
Common Types of Graphs
Qualities of Effective Graphs
Working with Typographical Features of a Text
Effective Use of Typographical Features
Ch. 10 Writing Arguments: An Overview
Understanding the Rhetorical Situation of an Assignment
Working with Assigned Topics
Working with Open Topics
Choosing a Topic for an Argumentative Essay: A General Heuristic
Choosing a Topic for an Argumentative Essay: A Stasis-based Heuristic
Narrowing and Focusing a Topic
Investigating the Topic
Investigating a Topic through Reflection
Investigating a Topic through Research
Understanding the Role of Thesis Statements in Academic Writing
Choosing Among Possible Positions
Common Types of Thesis Statements in Academic Writing
Crafting a Thesis Statement: A Process Approach
Thesis Placement
Organizing an Argument
Opening and Closing Sections in Academic Arguments
Organizing the Body of Academic Arguments
Organizing Academic Arguments around Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences
Drafting an Argument
Composing Strategies: Three Common Models
BOX: Writing Habit Inventory
Overcoming Problems that Commonly Arise When Drafting Academic Arguments
Revising an Argument
Revising Content
Revising Structure
Revising Mechanics and Style
Revising Quoted and Paraphrased Material
Revising Documentation
Ch. 11 Writing Definition Arguments
What Are Definition Arguments?
Types of Definition Arguments
Stipulative Definitions
Categorical Definitions
Writing a Stipulative Definition Argument
A Model Process for Writing Stipulative Definition Arguments
Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Stipulative Definition Argument
Sample Student Essay: Stipulative Definition Argument
“What Is Global Warming,” by Cassandra Leigh Stemsky
Writing a Categorical Definition Argument
A Model Process for Writing Categorical Definition Arguments
Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Categorical Definition Argument
Sample Student Essay: Categorical Definition Argument
“Is Cheerleading a Sport? It Depends,” by Mike Allen
Additional Readings
“What Is Spirituality?” by Bruce W. Speck
“Why Spirituality Deserves a Central Place in Liberal Education,” by Alexander W. Astin
Ch. 12 Writing Causal Arguments
What Are Causal Arguments?
Forms of Arguments Focusing on Causes
Forms of Arguments Focusing on Effects
Types of Causes
Immediate and Remote Causes
Necessary and Sufficient Causes
Writing a Causal Argument
Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Causal Argument
Sample Student Essay: Causal Argument
“What Killed Off the Dinosaurs?” by Carlos Mendez
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
“The Causes and Nature of Bullying and Social Exclusion in Schools,” by Maria el Mar Badia Martín
“Sugar and Spice and Puppy Dogs’ Tails: The Psychodynamics of Bullying,” by Ann Ruth Turkel
Ch. 13 Writing Proposal Arguments
What Are Proposal Arguments?
Key Elements of a Proposal Argument
Establishing the Problem
Identifying Possible Solutions
Evaluating Solutions
Establishing the Best Solution
Writing a Proposal Argument
A Model Process for Writing Proposal Arguments
Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Proposal Argument
Sample Student Essay: Proposal Argument
“Improving Student Retention at Mountain University,” by Janelle Jackson
Additional Readings
“How Should We Talk about Student Drinking—and What Should We Do about It?” by Alan David Berkowitz
“Alcohol Prohibition versus Moderation,” by Franklin B. Drohn and Brandon M. Pyc
Ch. 14 Writing Evaluation Arguments
What Are Evaluation Arguments?
Types of Evaluation Arguments
Aesthetic Evaluations
Functional Evaluations
Moral Evaluations
Mixed Evaluations
Elements of an Evaluation Argument
Topic or Subject
Criteria
Standards
Consistent Use of Criteria and Standards
Writing an Evaluation Argument
A Model Process for Writing Evaluation Arguments
Common Errors to Avoid When Writing an Evaluation Argument
Sample Student Essay: Evaluation Argument
“Keys to an Effective Shoe Ad,” by Lilly Boone
Additional Readings
“The Price of Free Speech: Campus Hate Speech Codes,” by Gerald Uelmen
“Liberalism, Speech Codes, and Related Problems,” by Cass R. Sunstein
Appendix 1: Revision Checklists
Stipulative Definition Argument
Categorical Definition Argument
Causal Argument
Proposal Argument
Evaluation Argument
Appendix 2: Annotated Bibliographies
Annotated Bibliographies
Definition and Purpose
Qualities of a Good Annotated Bibliography
Writing an Annotated Bibliography
Sample Annotated Bibliography
Index.