Argumentative essay about education in prison

Argumentative Essays
ENC 1101

Argumentation
Takes a stand
Uses supporting evidence
Urges people to join your perspective or at least acknowledge its validity

Argument vs Persuasion

Argumentation

Appeals to logic or reason

Does not try to move an audience

Demonstrates that certain ideas are valid and others are not

Persuasion

Appeals to emotion

May use the reputation of the writer as an appeal

Choosing a topic

Something you have a stake in

Something you are willing to consider all sides on

An issue narrow enough to complete in your paper

What do you want your argument to achieve?

“The government should pay for everyone to have their own car.”

Thesis

MUST TAKE A STAND
Something that at least some people will object to
“Parents who are caught speeding should have their children taken from them”
“The main language in Brazil is Portuguese because Portugal colonized the region in the 1500’s.”
Thesis: Education is the best way to address the problem of increased drug use among teenagers.
Antithesis: Education is not the best way to address the problem of increased drug use among teenagers.

Evidence

Relevant

Provide examples, but do not focus too much on a single example

Representative

Represents the full range of opinions about your subject.

Education/Drugs – Should not only use teachers

Sufficient

Includes enough facts, opinions, examples to support your thesis

The Opposition

What is the most obvious objection to your position?

Address this position, then explain why it is unfair, unsound, or not accurate

OR you can concede – admit that it is a strong argument, but maintain that the sum of your agruments outweighs it

Be objective

 Deductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning (Major premise, minor premise, conlcusion)

All professors must have at least a masters degree

Brian is a professor

Brian has at least a masters degree

Follows logical progression

All dogs are animals

All cats are animals

Therefore, all dogs are cats

Inductive Reasoning

Decide on a question to be answered
Gather evidence that is relevant to the question
Move from your evidence to your conclusion based on inference
Question: Why was Mike late to class?
Mike lives on the second ring
Mike drives to school everyday
There was a protest on San Martin today
Mike got stuck on his way to class because of a protest.

Sample Outline

Introduction

What is the issue?

Thesis Statement

Body 1

Topic Sentence

Reasoning

Evidence

Body 2

Topic Sentence

Reasoning

Evidence

Body 3

Topic Sentence

Reasoning

Evidence

Body 4

Identify the most common argument against your side

Refute

Conclusion

Activity

Choose one of the following topics
Should the death penalty be abolished?
Should recreational marijuana be legal?
Should children under 12 have a cell phone?
Create a list of “for” and “against” arguments 
Based on your list, which side would you argue?
What is the other side’s best argument and how would you refute it?