Argumentative Paper

Learning Outcomes

• 
  Analyze the nature of critical thinking.
  


• 
  Analyze arguments on the basis of their structure and what counts as evidence for them.
  


• 
  Analyze arguments to address common mistakes in reasoning.
  


• 
  Analyze the reasoning used to support an appeal to the best explanation.
  


• 
  Analyze the reasoning used to support scientific claims.
  


• 
  Evaluate moral arguments according to three major philosophical theories.
  

Purpose

You will prepare a valid and sound argumentative paper. In it, you will argue for a position of your choice, using at least two relevant types of evidence.

Instructions

1. 
   This is an individual assignment that you will complete as homework.
   


2. 
   Your paper will include two arguments for a conclusion of your own selection.
   


3. 
   Your paper will be approximately 3 to 5 pages long.
   


4. 
   Submit the assignment by the due date.
   

Outline of an Argumentative Essay-Classical Pattern
,

1. 
   ·
   
   
   Introduction
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      
      Background Information:
      
      basic information about the
      .
      issue and the position being argued,
      
   
   
   2. 
      
      Thesis Statement:
      
      states the position to be argued in the essay
      
   
   
   
   
   

2. 
   
   Reasons that Support the Thesis Statement
   
   
   
   
   3. 
      
      Reason/Argument 1 (main point#l)
      
      
      
      
      1. 
         Supporting evidence
         
      
      
      2. 
         Supporting evidence
         
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

3. 
   
   
   
   4. 
      
      Reason/Argument 2 (main point #2)
      
      
      
      
      1. 
         Supporting evidence
         
      
      
      2. 
         Supporting evidence
         
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

4. 
   
   
   
   1. 
      
      Reason/Argument 3 (main point #3)
      
      
      
      
      1. 
         Supporting evidence
         
      
      
      2. 
         Supporting evidence
         
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

5. 
   
   Counter Arguments and Responses to Them
   
   
   
   
   5. 
      
      Mention the arguments from the other side of the issue if there could be an opposing interpretation.
      
      
   
   
   6. 
      
      Briefly refute the other side's arguments
      
      
   
   
   
   

6. 
   
   Conclusion
   
   

Thesis Statements

(courtesy of the History Writing Center)

A short essay should contain a thesis statement in its first paragraph. The thesis statement informs the reader, as soon as possible, what argument the paper will make. A thesis statement may require more than one sentence. In deciding where to place the thesis statement and how to introduce it, consider what a typical UW student would need to know to understand your thesis.

A good thesis statement will probably have these characteristics:

• 
  It
  is clearly and forcefully supported by the rest of the paper, and all of the evidence pertains to it.
  


• 
  It
  is precise, and can be understood on its own, before one has read the essay.
  


• 
  It
  is precise, and not so general and vague that it does not express an arguable position.
  
  

Citation Guidelines

Refer to the library’s resource age for APA citation guidelines.