Essays and arguments : a handbook for writing student essays
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Essays and arguments : a handbook for writing student essays
Broadview Press, c2015
revised ed
- : pbk
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Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
How does one help undergraduate students learn quickly how to produce effectively organized, persuasive, well-reasoned essays? This book offers a straightforward, systematic introduction to some of the key elements of the construction of arguments in essay form. The focus here is on practical advice that will prove immediately useful to students-recommended procedures are emphasized, and detailed examples of academic and student writing are provided throughout.
The book introduces the basics of argumentation before moving on to the structure and organization of essays. Planning and outlining the essay, writing strong thesis statements, organizing coherent paragraphs, and writing effective introductions and conclusions are among the subjects discussed. A separate section concisely explores issues specific to essays about literary works.
Table of Contents
Author's Note
1.0 Introduction
The Purpose of This Text
A Word to the Student Reader:
Why Essay Writing Matters
2.0 Some Basic First Principles
Initial Comments on Arguments
Trivial Arguments
More Complex Arguments
The Importance of Reason
An Overview of the Major Tools
Definition
Deduction
Induction
Deduction and Induction in Combination
Recognizing the Form of Simple Arguments
Exercises in Deduction and Induction
Further Observations on Deduction and Induction
The Strength or Persuasiveness of an Argument
Agreed-Upon Principles and Facts
Applying General Principles to Particular Claims
Falsification Theories of Science
The Problem of Hidden or Misleading Assumptions
Negative Proofs: Eliminating the Alternatives
Overstating the Conclusion
Exercise in Simple Inductive Arguments
Some Potential Problems in Arguments
Exercise in Evaluating Short Arguments
3.0 Organizing a Written Argument
Understanding the Assignment
The Importance of Structure: Paragraphs
A Note on the Tone of the Argument
4.0 Setting Up the Argument
Defining the Argument
Two Simple Examples
General Features of an Introductory Paragraph
The Importance of Identifying a Focus
The Importance of Establishing a Thesis
Forming Good Thesis Statements
Exercise: Recognizing Potentially Useful Thesis Statements
Thesis Statements with a Scientific or Historical Focus
The Start of an Outline for the Argument
Writing Introductory Paragraphs
Exercises in Opening Paragraphs
5.0 Explaining Key Terms
Organizing Definitions
Sample Definition Paragraphs
Disputed Definitions
Self-Serving Definitions
Descriptive and Narrative Background
Extended Definitions
Summary Points on Establishing the Argument
6.0 Organizing the Main Body of an Argument
General Remarks
Selecting the Topics for the Main Body
Rethinking the Focus and Thesis of the Argument
Developing an Outline: Argumentative Topic Sentences
A Common Error in Argumentative Topic Sentences
Exercise in Argumentative Topic Sentences
Drawing Up a Simple Outline (For a Short Essay)
Checking the Outline
Some Sample Formats for Topic Sentences
Topic Sentences to Avoid
More Complex Structures
Depth versus Breadth
Interrupting the Argument
Organizing Paragraph Clusters
Inserting a Detailed Illustration or Example into the Argument
Acknowledging Alternative Arguments
Introducing Analogies
Paragraphs of Narration, Description, and Definition
Setting Up a Narrative or Descriptive "Hook"
Guiding the Reader through a Paragraph Cluster
An Example
7.0 Paragraph Structure
Argumentative Paragraphs in the Main Body of the Essay
Paragraphs Arguing from General Principles
Paragraphs Providing and Interpreting Evidence
Interpreting Evidence
Paragraph Unity
Paragraph Coherence
Achieving Paragraph Coherence
Transition Words as Logical Indicators
A Short Catalogue of Transition Words
Concluding Paragraphs
Conclusions
Sample Conclusions
More Substantial Conclusions
Recommendations
Structuring a Comparative Essay
Writing Reviews of Fine and Performing Arts Events
Sample Short Review of a Dramatic Production
8.0 Essays about Literature
Preliminary Considerations
Imposing Snap Judgements
Summarizing and Interpreting
Interpreting and Explaining Away
Interpreting from the Outside and from the Inside
Clarifying the Assignment
Appealing to Context
Appealing to Sources
Appealing to Authorial Intentions
Appealing to Literary Conventions
Arguing about What Is Missing in a Text
Using a Conceptual Framework as the Basis for an Interpretation
Writing Essays about Arguments
Dealing with Arguments on Their Own Terms
Focus on Something Specific in the Argument
Using Examples and Counterexamples
Sample Outlines
Evaluating the Style in Assessing Arguments
Writing Essays about Fiction
Selecting a Focus
Avoiding a Structure that Is a List of Examples
Dealing with Themes in Fictions
Writing Essays on Lyric Poetry
What Is a Lyric Poem?
Interpreting a Lyric Poem
Structuring a Short Interpretative Essay on a Lyric Poem
Interpreting the Evidence in a Lyric Poem
Interpreting Symbolic Meanings in a Lyric Poem
Dealing with Ideas in Lyric Poems
9.0 Answers to Exercises
2.6 Recognizing the Form of Simple Arguments
2.7 Exercises in Deduction and Induction
2.8.8 Exercise in Simple Inductive Arguments
2.10 Exercise in Evaluating Short Arguments
4.3.2 Exercise: Recognizing PotentiallyUseful Thesis Statements
4.5.1 Exercises in Opening Paragraphs
6.4.2 Exercise in Argumentative Topic Sentences
Index
by "Nielsen BookData"