A Student Guide for Academic Writing in University Transfer Courses

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "A Student Guide for Academic Writing in University Transfer Courses"

Asher Morton
5 years ago
Views:

1 A Student Guide fr Academic Writing in University Transfer Curses Alexander Cllege Writing and Learning Centres

2 This Guide was revised in August, It was prduced with help frm: Hw t Write Philsphy by Dr. Peter Hrban, Simn Fraser University The Lngman Academic Writing Series 4 by Alice Oshima and Ann Hgue The Gerge Brwn Cllege Tutring and Learning Centre: Ending the Essay: Cnclusins by Pat Bellanca, fr The Harvard Cllege Writing Center, 1998, And in cnsultatin with Prf. Garrett Peck, Alexander Cllege English Department the WLC team thanks Prf. Peck fr his valuable input.

3 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 1 ARGUMENT OR POSITION ESSAYS ARE DIFFERENT An argumentative essay is nt: A research-nly presentatin f facts An exercise in literary self-expressin. A reprt f what varius schlars have had t say n a particular tpic. A presentatin f the latest findings f tests r experiments A presentatin f yur persnal feelings r impressins. S what is an argumentative essay? A psitin paper r argumentative essay may invlve research fr facts t supprt yur thesis, but it is nt just a reprt f facts A psitin paper r argumentative paper is a reasned defence f a thesis. What des that mean? It means yu have t take a stand n a particular questin r issue It means that there must be a specific pint that yu are trying t cnvince the reader t accept And it means yu must als prvide the grunds, r reasns, r justificatin fr accepting that pint. I.e.: yu must argue in supprt f yur psitin GETTING STARTED There are six steps t writing a successful Argumentative Essay: 1. Break it dwn. What is this assignment asking yu t d? 2. Research yur tpic 3. Take a psitin what yu will be arguing fr/against write a thesis statement. 4. Organize yur thughts int an utline 5. Begin writing 6. Review yur draft fr grammar, spelling and ratinality befre submitting it Nw that we ve listed the Six Basic Steps fr Writing an Argumentative Essay, let s take a lk at each step in depth: Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

4 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 2 STEP 1 THE ASSIGNMENT: BREAKING IT DOWN Read the assignment carefully Separate ut the individual questins in the assignment Write them dwn, leaving sme space in between fr yu t add yur ntes Be sure yu understand each f the questins in the assignment If ANYTHING is unclear, ask yur instructr t explain things. STEP 2 RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC Think abut what yu already knw, feel, believe, abut the subject yu are writing What d yu NOT knw abut yur tpic? If yur essay is based n assigned readings, make sure yu cmplete all the reading Make sure yu understand the ideas, cncepts, arguments r claims the authr is presenting If there are any questins, speak t yur instructr If this is a research paper, then make sure yu use reliable resurces The librarian can guide yu t jurnals, magazines, newspapers, and n-line data bases that are cnsidered reliable There are als bks in the library that can help yu (Bking an appintment with a librarian fr research help can be very useful) Wikipedia is NOT cnsidered an acceptable academic surce fr yur research Neither are Yah Answers, Answers.cm, r ther similar websites STEP 3 TAKE A STAND/WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT There are 3 imprtant things t remember abut writing an argumentative essay: 1. Technically, there are n right r wrng answers Yu are being asked what d YOU think S, n particular answer is ging t guarantee yu a gd mark There are tpics and psitins that are cnsidered utside the bunds f acceptable Canadian academic standards Yu may nt, fr example, argue fr a psitin in favur f racial, ethnic, r religius discriminatin. 2. There are nly well-written r prly written answers Strive t write a well-written answer Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

5 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 3 3. Every successful Argument Essay has a clearly articulated THESIS STATEMENT. WHAT S A THESIS STATEMENT? Befre yu write yu shuld be able t state in a single shrt sentence exactly what yu want t prve. This statement f what yur paper is abut is yur THESIS statement. Yu need mre than a rugh idea If yu aren t clear abut yur psitin, yur audience wn t understand yur argument. A thesis statement shuld be: Direct (fcussed): It shuld tell the reader exactly what yu are setting ut t prve. Limited in scpe: Yu shuld be able t make yur case within the limits f yur paper. Arguable: Readers shuld be able t disagree with yu Supprtable: There shuld be evidence t supprt yur claims STEP 4 ORGANISE YOUR IDEAS/RESEARCH INTO AN OUTLINE Think abut what yu knw, feel, believe, abut the subject yu are writing Grup similar ideas tgether int a pint frm utline Remember t Cite as yu Write Add yur surces int yur utline as yu write This helps yu t avid plagiarism Nte: in yur utline, yu shuld include the facts yu have gleaned frm yur research as well as citatins. DON T SKIP THE OUTLINING STEP! Essay utlines help yu t rganise yur ideas int a lgical sequence and t keep similar ideas tgether This is an essential step t prducing an essay that is chesive and makes sense There are tw ways f rganizing yur argumentative essay: Blck pattern r Pint-by pint pattern. On the next pages are rugh ideas f what yur utline will lk like when rganized int a blck pattern and a pint-by-pint pattern The left side describes what shuld be in each sectin f yur utline The right side is an example f what a pssible utline culd lk like Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

6 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 4 BLOCK PATTERN Intrductin: Sme backgrund infrmatin t intrduce the tpic Thesis statement that clearly articulates what yu will be writing abut in this paper and the psitin yu will be taking. Sectin 2: Pssible Objectins Cnsider what smene might say in respnse t yur argument smene wh desn t hld the same pint f view Fcus n ONE r TWO bjectins nly, nt all pssible bjectins t yur psitin. Sectin 3: Respnse t Objectins/Supprting Arguments Dn t just dismiss the criticism/bjectin ut f hand Take the bjectin seriusly, but think why yur psitin is mre cnvincing. Refer back t yur thesis statement as yur write What psitin are yu taking? Why d yu feel yur psitin is crrect? What reasns can yu ffer yur readers t agree with yu? Develp yur ideas using research and yur wn critical thinking skills t cnvince readers t accept yur psitin. This will take mre than 1 bdy paragraph This is the bulk f yur essay Sectin 4: Cnclusin Wrap up yur discussin by linking yur thesis statement, t yur psitin, and t the bjectin(s) yu have discussed. Dn t simply summarise yur paper Yur cnclusin and yur thesis statement shuld agree with each ther See Strategies fr Effective Cnclusins n page 7. Sectin 1 Sample Intrductin: Canada wasn t fficially a cuntry when the war happened Thesis: This war brught Abriginals and French and English settlers tgether t fight fr a cmmn cause, thereby defining what kind f cuntry Canada wuld becme. Sectin 2: Sample Pssible Objectins Sme might argue this was nt really a Canadian battle because Canada didn t technically exist then Yu culd argue this was really just anther battle between the British Empire and their frmer American clnies. Sectin 3: Sample Respnse and Supprting Arguments The fact that the territries weren t annexed t the U.S. meant that Canada culd becme a cuntry in 1867 The battle brught tgether Abriginals, French and English Settlers wh did nt want t becme part f the U.S. Reslved issues left ver frm American War fr Independence Attempted annexatin f Canadian territries failed French & British Settlers & Canadian Abriginals fught as allies t stp American cnquest Curtailed American expansin in N.A. Affected/determined the cultural and linguistic develpment f the Canadian clnies distinct frm American Sectin 4: Sample Cnclusin War f 1812 was fught n several frnts Resulted in n changes in territry, ultimately Shaped the future f Canada Our laws and custms fashined n British and French mdels rather than American mdels, giving us a unique character French and English cnsidered funding natins and, therefre, cntinue t be fficial languages Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

7 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 5 Intrductin: Sme backgrund infrmatin t intrduce the tpic Thesis statement that clearly articulates what yu will be writing abut in this paper and the psitin yu will be taking. POINT-BY-POINT PATTERN Sectin 1: Sample Intrductin Mst cuntries have a legal drinking age f 18. In the US, it is 21. But in many Eurpean cuntries, it is 16. Thesis: Alchlic tlerance, respnsibility and attitude t alchl are nt related t age; by lwering the drinking age t 16, teenagers will be able t learn t drink respnsibly and have the right attitude abut alchl. Sectin 2: Oppsing Pint 1+ Rebuttal Cnsider what smene wh desn t hld the same pint f view might say and begin with their argument Take the bjectin seriusly, but think what reasns can yu ffer t cnvince the reader yur psitin is strnger? Supprt yur argument with research Sectin 3: Oppsing Pint 2+ Rebuttal Begin with the ther side s secnd argument Respnd with yur wn cunterargument, supprted by research Sectin 4: Oppsing Pint 3+ Rebuttal Begin with the ther side s secnd argument Respnd with yur wn cunterargument, supprted by research Sectin 5: Cnclusin Wrap up yur discussin by linking yur thesis statement, t yur psitin and the bjectins yu have discussed. Yur cnclusin and yur thesis statement shuld agree with each ther See Strategies fr Effective Cnclusins n page 7. Sectin 2: Sample Argument Oppsing Pint: Drinking causes serius health issues in teenagers as their brains and bdies are still develping Rebuttal: Alchl tlerance less dependent n age than n physical attributes such as height, weight and gender E.g.: 16-year-ld male, 6 4 tall will tlerate a higher alchl level than a 25-year-ld 5 1 female (Student Affairs, Stanfrd University). Sectin 3: Sample Argument Oppsing Pint: Teenagers are nt mature enugh t drink respnsibly Rebuttal: Age des nt equal maturity. Lwering the drinking age allws parents t teach teens t drink respnsibly by example in cntrlled envirnment (e.g. restaurant) Drinking n lnger treated as a Rite f Passage ; teens will be mre fcused n their respnsibilities Sectin 4: Sample Argument Oppsing Pint: Teenagers are mre likely t binge drink and demnstrate alchl-assciated behaviurs such as vilence and drunk driving Rebuttal: Underage students can always btain alchl frm lder friends. Remving the frbidden fruit effect reduces binge drinking. Yung peple frm cultures that dn t treat drinking as a pisn r magic ptin, [e.g. Chinese, Italians and Greeks] have fewer drinking prblems (Prf. Ruth C. Engs, Indiana University). Sectin 5: Sample Cnclusin By lwering the legal drinking age, teens will nt assciate alchl with smething that is frbidden and tempting. Drinking can be a lessn in respnsibility and teens will be less likely t binge drink. Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

8 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 6 STEP 5 WRITE YOUR ESSAY Yu have an utline f yur essay and yu have a thesis statement yur rganizing idea Yur next jb is t cnvince yur readers that yur thesis is crrect by presenting arguments and evidence in supprt f yur thesis statement. Lk at yur utline Nte that yu have rganized yur thughts int SECTIONS, nt paragraphs A sectin, aside frm yur intrductin, may have 1 r mre paragraphs Each paragraph will have similar ideas gruped tgether t help build yur verall argument When yu begin t discuss a new idea, that is usually a clue t start a new paragraph Make sure that yu refer back t yur thesis s yu stay n tpic Remember t CITE AS YOU WRITE Include citatins in yur utline s yu dn t end up with an academic alert fr plagiarism. Make sure yur thesis statement and cnclusin agree If they dn t, yu may need t revise smething in yur essay If there aren t any errrs in lgic then it s kay t change yur thesis statement! Strategies fr Writing Effective Cnclusins The infrmatin in this sectin is based n Ending the Essay: Cnclusins, written by Pat Bellanca fr the Harvard Cllege Writing Center website: Cnclusins Matter! Yur cnclusin is yur last chance t persuade yur readers t accept yur pint f view, t impress yurself upn them as a writer and thinker. Yur cnclusin shapes the verall impressin yur readers will have abut yur essay the impressin that stays with them. At the end f the essay, yur readers shuld feel that yur discussin is cmplete while als leaving them with the sense there are further pssibilities abut yur tpic, its larger meaning, its implicatins. Fr example, an essay n gun laws shuld inspire yur readers t think abut the implicatins f changing r nt changing the laws where they live. An essay abut a human rights issue shuld spark brader thinking n ther human rights issues. In shrt, yur cncluding paragraph shuld clse YOUR discussin withut entirely clsing ff further discussin abut the tpic. Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

9 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 7 T accmplish this, cnsider the fllwing: One ptin: link yur final paragraph t the first, perhaps by repeating a significant wrd r phrase yu used at the beginning. Cnsider using a qutatin frm r reference t a primary r secndary surce Select ne that amplifies yur main pint r puts it in a different perspective. Fr example, a qute frm the nvel, pem, r histrical figure yu are writing abut can add sme texture and fcus t yur discussin. A qute frm a schlar (secndary surce) may similarly be helpful. A wrd f cautin: this is YOUR essay, s make sure YOU have the final wrd. Anther ptin: cnclude by placing yur discussin int a different r larger cntext. Example: Yu culd cnclude an essay n the impact f the industrial revlutin n wrkers by linking it t a cntemprary cncern like increased rbtizatin displacing wrkers in mdern car factries. Anther strategy: end yur essay by redefining ne f the key terms f yur argument. Example: Yu culd begin an essay that argues against Marx's treatment f the cnflict between wage labur and capital with his claim that the "capitalist ecnmy is... a gigantic enterprise f dehumanizatin". Yu culd then cnclude with the ntin that Marx himself is guilty f dehumanizing wrkers because his thery cnsiders them frm a slely ecnmic perspective. Anther alternative: wrap up by assessing the implicatins f yur argument, analysis, r discussin. What des yur argument imply, r invlve, r suggest? Example: an essay n multiculturalism might pen with the thesis that argues that the cultural msaic mdel allws individuals and cultural grups greater autnmy in deciding their level f integratin int Canadian sciety. The cnclusin might indicate that this autnmy als pses greater challenges t Canada when native mres are at dds with Canadian mainstream values. Clsing Sentences: Instructrs will ften ask yu t have a cncluding idea r final thught that leaves readers with smething t think abut. This can smetimes be a bit f a challenge, but cnsider ne r mre f the fllwing writing techniques: Cnsider writing a final sentence that is cmpsed mainly f ne-syllable wrds. Simple language can have a lasting impact by giving yur cnclusin an understated sense f drama. Write a cncluding sentence that is cmpund r parallel in structure. These kinds f sentences can establish a just right sense f balance r rder t a cmplex discussin. It will leave the readers with an impressin that yur essay is balanced and therefre fair and ratinal. This is a great impressin t leave with yur readers! Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

10 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 8 STEP 6 PROOFREAD YOUR ESSAY Prfread mre than nce. Run Grammar-Check, (MS Wrd) r Prfreader (Mac Pages) These are useful tls, but they are nt bullet-prf Wrk with a writing specialist at the Writing and Learning Centre TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING Avid Lengthy Intrductins. Be brief and get t yur thesis statement. Prvide relevant details: Dn t waste yur readers time by telling them yur tpic is imprtant r that it has interested peple fr hundreds f years Clearly explain what yur essay is abut Use Apprpriate Writing Style Gd academic writing is usually simple, dignified and nt cnversatinal. It is clear, free f grammatical errrs Avid unnecessary verly descriptive r flwery language such as: Describing peple as famus r imprtant r well-knwn Phrases like since the dawn f time, r fr thusands f years Clichés and slang expressins Chse wrds that best explain yur psitin, nt because they are big r sund impressive r intelligent r academic Use An English Dictinary!!! This will help yu select apprpriate wrds It will als build yur English writing and cmprehensins skills Electrnic translatrs are pr tls fr academic writing. They are great fr helping turists find things, but they d nt translate technical, academic material accurately. Stay Fcussed On Yur Thesis As yu are writing, g back t yur thesis and ask yurself: Hw clearly and effectively am I defending my thesis? Always cite yur surces Use citatin and writing style designated by yur instructr (MLA, APA, r Chicag Style) fr citatins and bibligraphies D NOT use citatin generatin apps in Micrsft Wrd r nline sites they are almst always wrng. Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 9 Yu must cite: Direct qutes (in qutatin marks ) Summaries and paraphrases f the ideas f anther writer General ideas, cncepts r a particular line f argument, even if

The best way t frmulate a ratinally cnvincing argument is t assume that yur reader is Intelligent and can understand yur pint f view, But disagrees with yu Anticipate bjectins.

Fence sitting: D nt present a number f different psitins in yur paper and then cnclude by saying that yu are nt qualified t settle the matter.

11 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 9 Yu must cite: Direct qutes (in qutatin marks ) Summaries and paraphrases f the ideas f anther writer General ideas, cncepts r a particular line f argument, even if yu mdify it Cmmn Mistakes t Avid Nt Enugh Supprt Dn t verestimate the strength f yur psitin. Just because yu are cnvinced that yur thesis is true, it des nt mean everyne else is. The best way t frmulate a ratinally cnvincing argument is t assume that yur reader is Intelligent and can understand yur pint f view, But disagrees with yu Anticipate bjectins. Assume yur reader is asking Why shuld I accept that? Als assume that sme readers will say I dn t accept that. Fence sitting: D nt present a number f different psitins in yur paper and then cnclude by saying that yu are nt qualified t settle the matter. Or that yu are undecided D nt clse by saying that philsphers have been divided ver this issue fr centuries and that cannt reslve the issue in a shrt essay Yu are expected t take a clear stand based n an evaluatin f the argument(s) presented. That is what yu are being graded n Accusatins f Falsehd An argument is NOT false because yu disagree with it Yu have t demnstrate hw the argument is false It s nt just a matter f pinin but demnstrating an errr in lgic Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 10 Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink: Mentining virtually every argument yu have cme acrss in supprt f yur psitin The everything-but-the-kitchen-sink apprach generally

Including weaker arguments gives the impressin that yu are unable t tell the difference between weak and strng arguments. Including many different arguments results in spreading yurself t thinly.

12 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 10 Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink: Mentining virtually every argument yu have cme acrss in supprt f yur psitin The everything-but-the-kitchen-sink apprach generally results in weak papers because: Yur readers find it hard t keep track f s many different arguments The arguments that stand ut are the very best nes and the very wrst nes. Including weaker arguments gives the impressin that yu are unable t tell the difference between weak and strng arguments. Including many different arguments results in spreading yurself t thinly. This makes yur paper seem unfcussed It als gives the impressin that yu are nt s certain abut yur wn psitin Instead, cver ne r tw pints in greater depth rather than a brad range f arguments superficially. Name Calling Just because yu disagree with smene s psitin, desn t mean that persn is an idit r wrng. Disagreement is kay, but it must be respectful. Yu can t just claim that Kant is an idit r that Vegetarianism is crazy Tell yur readers why yu think Kant s mral reasning is weak r why yu think Vegetarianism wn t wrk as an alternative t ther types f diets Begging the Questin This expressin gets used a lt in cmmn speech, but it is seldm used crrectly. Begging the questin means engaging in what is knwn as circular reasning r assuming the truth f the cnclusin in the premises f the argument. The graphic belw is a classic example f Questin-Begging: The Bible is the wrd f Gd Hw d yu knw that? Because the Bible tells us s Why shuld I believe the Bible? Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 11 The Bible is infallible Hw d I knw that? Because. The Bible is the wrd f Gd Questin begging assumes the validity f yur cnclusin in ne f the premises.

13 Hw t Write an Argumentative Essay 11 The Bible is infallible Hw d I knw that? Because. The Bible is the wrd f Gd Questin begging assumes the validity f yur cnclusin in ne f the premises. In this example, claiming that the Bible is infallible because it cntains the wrd f Gd assumes Gd s authrship, smething which has nt been prven. That s the circle in the reasning; the questin-begging Arguing By Citatin: Inexperienced writers ften rely t heavily n qutatins and paraphrases. This is cmmnly referred t as arguing by citatin. Keep direct qutes t a minimum Use qutes in thse places where it is essential t establish the authr s exact selectin f wrds. Paraphrasing shuld als be kept t a minimum. After all, it is yur paper it is yur arguments that matter. Keep that in mind, especially when yur essay tpic requires yu t critically assess smene else's views. Resurces t Help Yu If yu are still having truble with yur essay: 1. Speak t yur instructr during ffice hurs if the assignment is unclear t yu 2. Make an appintment with a writing instructr at the Writing & Learning Centre Citatin Style Guides: Yu will als find a schedule fr campus-wide citatin wrkshps 4. Everything Essays Web resurces frm the Writing & Learning Centre: Pdf writeable utline wrksheets: designed fr different types f essays. Anntated Bibligraphy: Writing Guide and Pdf writeable wrksheet. Thesis Statement: Writing Guide and practice wrksheet Alexander Cllege Writing & Learning Centres

ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY VIRTIUAL WRITING CENTER

ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY VIRTIUAL WRITING CENTER IDENTIFYING AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE As yu mve further int yur research, it can be helpful t step back and name the purpse and audience yu think yur writing will serve. The prcess belw will help yu sift thrugh