Argument

Argumentative writing is the use of evidence presented in a logical manner to convince the reader of a particular line of argument or proposition.  It is sometimes also called persuasive writing.  

While this kind of writing can be used by novelists to shape and guide a reader's response, particularly if the novel contains a moral argument, the kinds of argumentative writing that are most common in the academic context are essays.  This kind of writing is also known as critical persuasiveness.  For example, open up any literary journal (such as Westerly or Meanjin) and there will be articles or essays that put forward a proposition in relation to their topic, and then proceed to argue and explore that point.  Therefore, argumentative writing is an important aspect of academic enquiry and the development of knowledge in any field, such as in business, government and other professions. 

Argumentative writing is also the form used in preparing academic essays while you are at university.  In The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Joseph Gibaldi says that “identifying, locating, assessing, and assimilating others' research and then developing and expressing your own ideas clearly and persuasively – are at the centre of the educational experience” (p.2).  These are wise words from someone who should know; the MLA Handbook is universally the standard reference point for essay writing.  So how do you go about preparing an essay such as Gibaldi describes?

To begin with, decide how you will approach your essay topic.  Do you agree with the essay question?  Do you want to challenge it?  Do you think the question can't be answered with a simple “for” or “against” argument, and so you will argue for a pluralistic approach?  You then need to research your topic and see what other critics have had to say.  Your research will consist of primary and secondary research.  Your primary sources are the focus of the essay topic and your argument, and are your “raw” materials, such as a literary text, piece of artwork or drama performance.  Secondary sources are what other people have written about your primary text or related subjects.

Preparing a good piece of argumentative writing is usually a four-step process.  Firstly, you choose and define your topic and your proposition in relation to it; secondly, reading your primary sources, researching secondary sources, and using their work for your own argument; thirdly, writing the paper; and fourthly, revising and polishing your draft.

The format an argumentative paper usually begins with an introductory paragraph, where your main argument or proposition is introduced.  Then follows the body of your essay, where each paragraph deals with a relevant point of your argument, together with appropriate evidence to support what you are saying.  Then your conclusion summarises the main points of your argument and consolidates and re-states your proposition and the conclusion that you have arrived at.

Here are some good points to remember for writing a persuasive paper:

• Be clear about what your argument is.  Know what it is you are going to say and how you are going to say it, and make this clear in your introductory paragraph.  Your writing won't be persuasive if you aren't clear about your proposition.

• Keep it relevant.  Irrelevant points do not contribute to convincing the reader of your argument.  Keep each paragraph relevant to your proposition.

• Never use overly long quotations.  Let the essay be driven by what you have to say, not by extensively quoting someone else.

• Never use general statements.  Unfounded statements do not contribute to good scholarly work, nor are they convincing.  Make sure everything you say is watertight and can be backed up by your sources.  Think of it as having to convince a jury through the presentation of your evidence.  You are presenting your case and giving reasons for having taken that view.

• And speaking of evidence, use a variety of sources.  Do not rely on just one or two journal articles; your argument will seem more convincing if you can draw on several sources.  If you must use internet sources, make sure those sources are reliable, and not someone's home page with questionable merits.  Stick to on-line academic journals, government websites, that sort of thing.  And while using these sources, do not lose sight of your primary texts and your own argument.

• Do not be afraid to question other critics.  Use their work to enhance yours; it does not mean you have take what they say as the last word.  Also, make sure you use their points in the fabric of your own argument.  Quoting from a critic does not constitute a point in itself.  You must explain to the reader why you have used that quotation and how it serves your proposition: why it is relevant and how you place it in your argument.  The same principle applies to quoting from and using your primary sources.  Make sure that your research expands on what you have to say in the course of your argument.

• Make sure your writing follows a logical structure.  Points of argument that are otherwise good will lose their strength if they do not flow together properly.  Make your structure clear in your introductory paragraph and then stick to it.

• Keep to one main point per paragraph.

• Use correct grammar and spelling.  This may sound basic, but poor spelling and grammar do detract from a well-argued paper.

• Use a formal style.  Formal language and tone is much more appropriate for this kind of writing than colloquial style.

Naturally, if you are using critical sources, you need to attach a bibliography to your essay and make sure those sources are properly referenced throughout the body of your essay.  Checking your referencing should be part of your revision process.  Check also for relevance, and that your essay does what is set out in your introduction.

While this process may sound dull and dry, remember that critical and argumentative writing is an art in itself, and creating a good essay is a valuable and valid skill.  It can even be fun (!) to come up with your own original argument in relation to a text and then execute the writing of that argument well.