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Writing Arguments
Steps to Writing an Argument
Determine Your Organization
Let’s review the two main argument structures you will likely use for a research paper: The Aristotelian (or classic) argument and the Rogerian argument.
Aristotelian argument is made to confirm a position or hypothesis or to refute an existing argument.
Rogerian argument aims to find a common ground among readers rather than establish an adversarial relationship.
Next, let’s go over how to get each one of these argument styles started for your assignment.
Suggested Organization for an Aristotelian Argument
- Introduction
- State Your Case
- Proposition
- Refutation
- Substantiation and Proof
- Conclusion
Clarify your issue here. Provide any necessary background for understanding the issue. Define any important terms or conditions here.
State your central proposition. Be sure your hook presents an issue that is open to debate. Present the subtopics or supportive points to forecast your argument for your readers.
Analyze the opposition’s argument and summarize it; refute or address the points; identify faulty reasoning and inappropriate appeals.
Present and develop your own case. Rely primarily on reasoning for your appeal; use examples, facts, experts, and statistics. Develop your argument using the appropriate prose strategy (e.g., causal analysis, comparison, analogies, definitions).
Conclude with conviction. Review your main points and state your claims strongly. Make a compelling plea for action, or invite your readers to refute your argument.
Clarify your issue here. Provide any necessary background for understanding the issue. Define any important terms or conditions here.
State your central proposition. Be sure your hook presents an issue that is open to debate. Present the subtopics or supportive points to forecast your argument for your readers.
Analyze the opposition’s argument and summarize it; refute or address the points; identify faulty reasoning and inappropriate appeals.
Present and develop your own case. Rely primarily on reasoning for your appeal; use examples, facts, experts, and statistics. Develop your argument using the appropriate prose strategy (e.g., causal analysis, comparison, analogies, definitions).
Conclude with conviction. Review your main points and state your claims strongly. Make a compelling plea for action, or invite your readers to refute your argument.
Suggested Organization for a Rogerian Argument
- Write a brief objective statement
- Analyze and state the opposition’s position
- Analyze and state your own position
- Analyze what the two positions have in common
- Propose a resolution
This statement should define the issue at hand.
State this in a neutral, objective way. Demonstrate that you understand the opposition’s opinion and their reasons for holding it. Avoid moralizing or judging the opposition’s position or reasons.
State this in a neutral, objective way. Avoid moralizing about your position or reasons.
Find commonly shared goals and values.
Resolve the issue in a way that recognizes and incorporates the interests of both positions.
This statement should define the issue at hand.
State this in a neutral, objective way. Demonstrate that you understand the opposition’s opinion and their reasons for holding it. Avoid moralizing or judging the opposition’s position or reasons.
State this in a neutral, objective way. Avoid moralizing about your position or reasons.
Find commonly shared goals and values.
Resolve the issue in a way that recognizes and incorporates the interests of both positions.
When you are writing the paper, think of the points you are using to support your argument. Some of those points may be strong and some might be a bit weaker (but they still support your argument). The order of your strongest and weakest points is called the order of disclosure. But which point should you write about first? How do we know which order will work?
One effective way to order your points is to start with the second most important point, go to the next points of lesser importance, and then conclude with your strongest point. Here is why this is an effective method:
When you place your two strongest points first and last, the reader is more likely to remember those points based on their placement. If you put the strongest points in the middle of the assignment, they might get lost among the other information. Start off strong and end strong. This leaves a lasting impact.
Some writers like to save their strongest argument just for the end of the assignment. This is effective as well. When you finish your discussion with the strongest point coming last, you emphasize the strength of your argument.
This pattern is considered a powerful way to overcome the initial resistance of the readers/audience, although many arguments instead move from the weakest to the strongest points.
Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing
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How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing? -
What Is College Writing? -
Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?
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Doing Exploratory Research -
Getting from Notes to Your Draft -
Introduction -
Prewriting -
Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition -
Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience -
Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started -
Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment -
Rewriting -
Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic -
Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy -
Rewriting: Getting Feedback -
Rewriting: The Final Draft -
Techniques to Get Started - Outlining -
Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques -
Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea -
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting -
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas -
Writing: Outlining What You Will Write
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A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone -
A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction -
Critical Strategies and Writing -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis -
Developing a Paper Using Strategies -
Introduction -
Kinds of Assignments You Will Write -
Patterns for Presenting Information -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data -
Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts -
Supporting with Research and Examples -
Writing Essay Examinations -
Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete -
Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing -
Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question
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Introduction -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources -
Research Resources: What Are Research Resources? -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources -
Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure -
Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure -
The Nature of Research -
The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated? -
The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed? -
The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?
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Academic Integrity -
Giving Credit to Sources -
Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws -
Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation -
Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides -
Integrating Sources -
Practicing Academic Integrity -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources -
Types of Documentation -
Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists -
Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style -
Types of Documentation: Note Citations
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Introduction -
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews -
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers -
Writing Arguments -
Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure -
Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument -
Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion -
Writing Arguments: Types of Argument
Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing
Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing
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Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project -
Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report -
Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve -
Collaborative Writing: Methodology -
Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation -
Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members -
Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan -
Conclusion -
General Introduction -
Peer Reviewing