Due: November 18th

Full typed draft due on Tuesday. Bring your hard copy of the draft to class with you for editing. 

Due: Monday, November 17th

Full draft (sans conclusion) of argument analysis typed up and ready for Monday. 

Good message for mid-November... let it sink in..

What students need to hear

Class today: November 10th

1. Argument analysis...
       A. Read the following argumentative essay. Take notes on the argument components and your analysis of the usage of these techniques.
Life After Wartime Essay
(Always keep in mind.. articles are chosen for writing purposes not "side" purposes. I am not expecting you to agree/disagree with the stance of the argument.. provoke thought)

        B.  You will be writing an analysis paper where you are being asked to SYNTHESIZE and EVALUATE the argument written by OWENS. You are not writing about how you feel about what he is arguing, but HOW he is arguing his point.
        C.   You will go through steps 1-4 of writing... The thesis/claim should be relatively straight forward, however.
        D.  Once you have your thesis/claim developed... develop Steps 5-6 of writing. This will become the structure of your paper.

Things to consider:
1. What is Owens' ULTIMATE claim? Is his introduction effective in setting up the claim?
2. Does Owens provide broad general support structures that are clearly recognized and announced? (Toulmin's smaller supportive claims/topic sentences)
3. Does Owens provide evidence/data that is relevant, effective, supportive, qualified?
4. Are his sources respectable?
5. How clear and strong are his warrants? Are they illuminating? Do they move you forward in his argument? Do they provide thinking?
6. Does he transition well?
7. Does he provide counter arguments? Where are they located? Does he introduce and argue against them effectively?
8. Is this paper an argument or persuasive article?
9. Is the conclusion effective?

1. Pick two subjects of your own choosing... go through steps 1-7 of writing with each of these topics. Bring all of the steps with completed writing sample to class with you on Monday. This will be our last practice before we move on..

2. Here are three examples of op-ed pieces from The Washington Post and The Guardian. 
They are not traditional argumentative essays... but they have the components that are necessary that you need to recognize and apply.
Please read through the two articles and take notes of the argumentative techniques and the effectiveness to the purpose of proving the point of the thesis.

1. Identify the major argument/thesis.
2. What evidence is used to support?
3. What is the effectiveness of the evidence?
4. Is the information and argument inductive or deductive? Why?
5. Is there a counter argument presented? Implicit? Explicit?
6. Are the warrants implicit or explicit?
7. How would you describe the writing style?

Rehearsing for death article-

The first steps article

Against Intervention in Iraq

Due: Friday, November 7th

1. Pick 4 of your 5 thesis and supporting points that you have prepared for class on Wednesday/Thursday. If you need to make adjustments, rework, redo the thesis, feel free. From class notes and learning on Wednesday, you will be doing an extended "paragraph/section" structure for EACH of the 4 thesis statements.  Do the FULL structure with specific examples and warrants.

2. Once you have an outline for each, you will move on to step 7 of writing with writing a rough draft with including of transitions.  Start at the top of each outline and start writing following your outline.. use ample, ample transitions. This will be a lot of writing. Remember... we are writing for covering the argument completely.. for the audience.. not the writer.

Class today: November 2nd

1. Take out your ten thesis/claim statements.
2. For EACH statement, you need to write the counter claim.. This is the opposition side to this argument.. do not go to the polar opposite side for this exercise... Your argument, if you have developed it well, should not be extreme and obvious (therefore having an direct opposite side). Look to reasons why someone(people) would disagree with your claim.  Write this statement as well as you were supposed to write your initial thesis.

So now.. you should have your initial thesis/claim... and its counterclaim.

3. Switch your papers with a classmate. Give them both your initial thesis and your counterclaim.
They need to assess each thesis (just the thesis) for the following standards:
   A. Has the topic been broken down and/or processed (not transferred right into subject of formula)
   B. Is the stance arguable? Look at the thesis first and then look at the counter.. Is the counter a logical opposition stance?
   C. Does the thesis continue on and answer HOW or WHY? (and is it narrowed down from the presented topic?)
   D. Is the writing concise? Is the argument easy to figure out? (not garbled up in the writing)

Provide as much feedback as possible.

4. Once you have been given back your thesis statements, you need to pick your 5 BEST. If you need to edit and make adjustments, do so..   For each of the 5.. you need to come up with 3 major supporting points for your argument...   Ask yourself the question, "why is this true?"  Make these reasons as broad as you can at this point.  (DUE WED/THURS).

Bring these 5 thesis statements and support with your counterclaims on Wednesday/Thursday.