Download writing Paper #3

Write an argument of 500-800 words in which you attempt to
persuade me to accept or reject one of the following
propositions. If you argue in favor of the proposition, assume
that I slightly oppose it; it you argue against it, assume that I
slightly favor it.
1. Large high schools are better for students than small high schools.
2. Deficit spending (at the national level) is harmful.
3. SC building codes are too strict.
4. The US should provide military support to the forces trying to oust the
Syrian President.
5. The US government should regulate the banking industry more closely.
6. The Citadel's fourth class system should be shortened to one semester.
Aristotle’s Five Offices of Rhetoric:
Invention – finding something to say
Arrangement – selecting the best elements &
sequencing them logically
Style – expressing your ideas well
Memory – learning the speech
Delivery – performing the speech
Invention: Finding content for your paper
Common knowledge
Personal knowledge and experience
Other people’s knowledge and experience
•Scholarly sources (peer-reviewed)
•Government documents
•Websites
•Interviews
Arrangement: Choosing the best available
material & putting it in an effective order
Part 1
Introduction: provide a context, identify
the issue, find common ground
Part 2
Argue one side of the issue
(Hint: the other side)
Part 3
Argue the other side of the issue
(Hint: your side)
Part 4
Draw a conclusion based on the
evidence, then provide closure
Arguing from claims and evidence
Start with a claim (i.e., not a “true” or “factual” statement
Explain or clarify if necessary
Illustrate with an example if necessary
Once the claim is clear, support it with evidence
•Factual statement
•Expert testimony
•Statistic
•Anecdote (story)
•Analogy
•Definition
•Example
Explain, clarify, or illustrate evidence as necessary
Include additional evidence as necessary
Tips for Using Statistics
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Use statistics to quantify ideas
Use statistics sparingly
Identify the sources of statistics
Explain statistics in terms that are meaningful
to the audience
• Round off complicated statistics
• Use visual aids to clarify statistics
Do statistics “speak for themselves”?
•The Citadel had 64 female knobs report for fall 2012.
•Wando High School had roughly 3000 students in 2005,
but has roughly 3600 students in 2012.
•In 2011, the average salary for an NFL player was $1.9M
and the average career for an NFL player was 3.5 years.
These statements might be factual, but they don’t “mean”
anything until you put them into a context – that is, until you
interpret them. You MUST explain what your statistics mean.
Style: Expressing your ideas well
Write complete, grammatically correct sentences
Use subordination and coordination effectively
Incorporate sources – especially quotes – gracefully
Follow conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation,
citation style, etc)
Use punctuation as a rhetorical tool
Use a variety of kinds of sentence structure
Use precise diction
Use examples that will resonate with your reader
“Connect the dots” of your argument
Avoid fallacies in your argument
The Process
Invent >>> Choose >>> Sequence >>> Express >>> Edit
Invent
Express
Sequence
Choose
Edit
1. Large high schools are better for students than small high schools.
2. Deficit spending (at the national level) is harmful.
3. SC building codes are too strict.
4. The US should provide military support to the forces trying to oust the
Syrian President.
5. The US government should regulate the banking industry more closely.
6. The Citadel's fourth class system should be shortened to one semester.
Your task for the rest of the period:
Engage in some invention exercises to find as much
information as possible about your topic.
Save your work on your USB drive and mail it to yourself.