Download Argumentative/Synthesis Essay

Argumentative/Synthesis Essay
Purpose
The purpose of an argumentative/synthesis essay is to convince or to persuade – using the
articles provided for support.
Example: If the essay prompt is to determine whether or not an open campus is a good idea
at the high school level, you will focus your essay on showing how, although there may be
downsides to an open campus, overall, it is a good idea OR how, although there may be
positives to having an open campus, overall, it would not work out for high school students.
Title
All essays should have a title. The title should not reflect the assignment (ie.
argumentative/synthesis essay) but the topic and your position on that topic. In other
words, the title should help your reader focus on what you are about to write. The title
should not be a complete sentence and should be properly capitalized.
Example: Yes to Open Campus!
Introduction
The introduction is meant to introduce the topic. The idea here is to begin in a general
manner and work your way to the thesis. An easy way to do this is to simply define the
topic. This should take one sentence.
Next, concede to the opposition. How can you make a point without giving the other
person the opportunity to listen? Admit that he is right about some things. Be thorough
here. Most of your introduction should be the concession. There will be plenty of time in
your body to refute the other side (point out where and how he is wrong.)
Lastly, end with your thesis.
Example: An open campus allows students to leave the school grounds during lunch,
coming back for the remaining classes. Many teachers and administrators worry about an
open campus not only increasing security risks but also undermining attendance. How can
security know who is a student? The constant going in and out of the buildings during
lunch hours will make this an absolute nightmare. In addition, what is there to stop
students from simply not coming back? There is no need to sneak out of school and skip.
Lunch is the perfect time to legitimately leave!
Thesis Statement
The last sentence of your introduction needs to state (in sentence form) what you will
prove in your essay. Avoid listing reasons. This tends to give away your essay, and your
reader is left with no element of surprise. Notice that the example that follows connects to
the concession to the opposition. It also makes the point without giving the reasons.
Example: Yet, though an open campus may pose some real problems, students should be
allowed to leave during their lunchtime.
Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs should number between 2-3. You really will not have time for
more. This is the proof of your essay.
Make sure that each body paragraph clearly supports the thesis. If it doesn’t do this,
it doesn’t belong in the essay – no matter how wonderful the information or how beautiful
the writing. Thus, be sure to incorporate some form of the thesis into each body paragraph.
In addition, it is in the body that you refute the opposition. It is best to actually model the
body paragraphs in “attack” form. Point out how, in this case, the security issues can be
circumvented and explain the added advantages of leaving campus. In the second
paragraph, explain how again, the school can be made aware of who skips, maybe how this
is nothing new, and then again, explain the added advantages to having the open campus.
In an argumentative/synthesis essay, it is still not a good idea to use the word “you.”
Argumentative/synthesis writing is still formal, so no “you” or “I” is allowed.
The essay should include the readings provided. You will need to quote 2 of the
readings closely. You may even quote a third. It is not recommended that you quote for the
opposition. (This boosts “their” standing.) Each paragraph should contain at least 2
references to the text. Be sure to give proper credit by citing prior to the quote/paraphrase
or after – through parenthetical citation. This can include author or article name and page
or paragraph number.
Example: According to Smith, “Leaving campus allows students a bit of the greater freedom
they will encounter in college” (3).
Example: “Leaving campus allows students a bit of the greater freedom they will encounter
in college” (Smith 3).
In addition, the argumentative/synthesis essay can utilize various rhetorical
techniques. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. So these writing tools are meant to better
convince an audience.
Rhetorical Techniques within the Body Paragraphs
Repetition is used to repeat a key phrase or message throughout the essay. This key
phrase should be the point you want to get across. In your essay this should be done at
least three times.
Example: In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous speech, we hear over and over that he has a
dream. This key phrase is repeated throughout, emphasizing and gathering momentum as
King shares his dream for equality.
Parallelism is repeating a particular sentence structure. This needs to be done three
times, back-to-back. Otherwise, it feels like coincidence. The reason parallelism works is
because subconsciously we enjoy rhythm and rhyme. Parallelism makes prose feel a bit
like poetry. The audience falls into the rhythm and cadence of the writing.
Example of cause and effect: “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I
rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but – as he was ambitious, I slew him.”
Example of effect and cause: “There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his
valor; and death for his ambition.”
Example of question/answer: “Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any,
speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any,
speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any,
speak, for him have I offended.”
Example of mirroring: “Don’t ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do
for your country.”
Rhetorical questioning unites an audience. The speaker asks a question for which
he (and the audience) already know the answer. Hence, the audience answers (in their
collective heads) as one. Note in the parallel structure example of question/answer above
how Brutus assumes that he has not offended any Roman. Rhetorical questioning also
breaks up the monotony of regular writing. The question makes us pay attention to
whatever is being asked. We subconsciously want to answer. We are also scared we may
REALLY be asked a question, so we pay more attention.
Emotional appeal works because we respond to whatever pulls at our heartstrings;
however, in an essay, you should not use because it is all about what is in the articles you
have been given.
Example of Body Paragraph (includes refutation, parallel structure, rhetorical
questioning, support from text)
Example: It is incredible that in the high school career of most students they only venture
outside of their respective campuses when they go home. These same students will soon
be leaving for college, and yet administrators feel they cannot be trusted to make the
simple decision of returning to school once the lunch period is over. Should they go ahead
and actually skip school there is already protocols in place. Teachers take attendance.
What is the difference between skipping out of school and skipping in school? None. When
a teacher notes that a student is absent from her class, she does what she already does now.
She checks the daily attendance. If a discrepancy is noted (the student is only absent in her
class), a call home is made and a referral is created. This procedure is already in place and
does not create any additional headaches for administration or staff. Most students CAN be
trusted. Most students understand the importance of attending class on a regular basis.
Most students are mature enough to make simple decisions. How can most students then
not be allowed to leave for lunch? According to Lewis, students “generally do not act like
adults because they have not been given the chance to be adults.” Administrators need to
do the right thing and not punish students before they have even committed a crime. They
need to be treated like the young adults they are.
Transitions
Transitions are meant to help the reader move from one paragraph to the next. A smooth
transition is achieved by repeating a key word from the last sentence of the previous body
paragraph in the first sentence of the next body paragraph.
Conclusion
This is your teacher’s cheat sheet. Here you sum up and package the entire essay in a
paragraph. If I didn’t have time to look over your essay (which would never happen, of
course), what is your essay about? Your conclusion would tell me. Don’t begin by saying,
“In conclusion,” “to sum up the aforementioned points,” “in a nutshell,” etc. But yes, you
still need to transition from the previous paragraph! Be sure to summarize all your points,
but NOT your concession to the opposition. Finally, end with what you want.
Example: Students are mature and responsible enough to understand that leaving campus
for lunch is a privilege, not a right. With this said, they will make the right decision of not
taking advantage of this opportunity and freedom. Do not punish the students because it is
assumed they cannot handle the responsibility. Allow them the right to prove themselves
mature. Allow them the privilege of an open campus.