Writing an argumentative essay about a passage in The Compass

Argument draft.

Due Thursday, September 22

Typed. 12-point font. Double-spaced. MLA heading.

At the top of the page quote the passage from The Compass that you have chosen to support, revise, or oppose.

Introductory Paragraph

The introductory paragraph should include your position and a preview of your supporting arguments.

What is your position on the passage? (Will you support it, revise it, or oppose it?)

Why? (Why are you taking that position? How will you support your position?)

You might also need to provide some context for your position.

Strong introduction will often begin with a “hook”: an anecdote, a leading question, a famous quotation. Most writers create this “hook” after establishing a position.

In the next paragraph anticipate the counterargument

Write a paragraph in which you show that you understand the opposing position and the reasons that others might support that position.

End this paragraph by previewing how you will refute the counterarguments.

Body paragraphs

Return to your introduction look at what you wrote in response to the questions “Why have you taken your position?” and “How will you support your position?”

Your answers to those questions become your body paragraphs. In the body paragraphs you flesh out why you have taken the position and how you will support it. In other words in the body paragraphs you fully develop the supporting details to convince the audience to agree with you (by appealing to reason and emotions).

Here are some sources for supporting details: personal experiences and observations, and/or relevant information that you have, and/or hypothetical situations that you invent.

Personal experience and observation is very powerful because those experiences and observations can often be expressed in a manner that appeals to logos (reason), pathos (emotion), and ethos (trustworthiness of the speaker).

Relevant factual information is powerful too because it appears objective and is difficult to dispute.

Hypothetical situations are often less persuasive but if written in they are written in a way that brings the situation to life they can persuade an audience.

Conclusion

Drive home your position by referring back to your supporting ideas and evidence (logos) and by appealing to emotions (pathos).

Reread

Have you appealed effectively to reason (logos) and emotion (pathos)? Have you convinced the reader of your trustworthiness as a writer (speaker’s ethos)?

Have you effectively addressed the occasion and audience?

Have you effectively fulfilled your purpose (relative to the topic)?

Have you used an appropriate tone?