SUCCESSFULACADEMIC WRITING

INFORMATIVE & ARGUMENTATIVE STRATEGIES THAT WORK

TYPES OF WRITINGAUTHOR’S PURPOSE: WHY THE AUTHOR CHOSE TO WRITE THE TEXT

PIE•Persuade: to convince the reader of something

•Inform: to teach the reader something

•Entertain: to engage the reader

•EXAMPLES?

ELEMENTS OF A DELICIOUS PIE• Just like different flavors of pie require different ingredients, different types of writing

require different elements, presented in specific ways, to be successful. To be successful, you must learn and follow the proper “recipes.”

Character a person in a work of literatureSetting the backdrop for a work of literaturePlot the events in a work of literatureConflict the opposing forces that drive the story

Theme the meaning of a work of literatureMotif an idea or image that repeatsSymbol something concrete used to represent something abstract

Style the language, syntax, and diction of a work of literature

A NovelEntertaining Writing

INFORMATIVE ESSAY WRITING

RECIPE FOR

SUCCESS

Informative EssayInformative Writing

1 Introductory Paragraph the first paragraph of an essay− Hook 1-2 sentences to grab the reader’s attention

− Context the stuff around the thing; background info.

− Thesis 1 sentence that previews the content of the paper

3 Body Paragraphs paragraphs that provide the meat of the paper’s content

− Topic Sentence the first sentence of a body paragraph

− State Point a single idea in an essay that supports a larger idea

− Cite Evidence quotes from the text used as support− Explanation the reasons given for why the evidence supports the pointd

(Repeat Twice)− Transition Sentence a sentence used to connect distinct ideas

1 Concluding Paragraph the final paragraph of an essay

Transition Words/Phrases words or phrases used to connect distinct ideas

Citations a method of giving credit to the sources used in an essay

Title the name given to the essay by the writer to help establish the topic

FOUR TYPES OF INFORMATIVE ESSAYS• Summary• Compare/Contrast or

Pro/Con• Relationship or Cause

and Effect• Classify, Categorize,

or Divide

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY WRITING

RECIPE FOR

SUCCESS

Argumentative Essay Persuasive Writing

1 Introductory Paragraph− Hook− Context− Thesis1 Claim an argument− Topic Sentence− Point− Evidence− Explanationd

(Repeat Twice in Each Body P )− Transition Sentence1 Counterclaim an argument posed by the opposing side

1 Rebuttal (Counterargument) reasons for why the opposing side’s arguments are invalid 1 Concluding ParagraphTransition Words/PhrasesCitationsTitle

COMPARING INFORMATIVE ESSAYS WITH ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS

INFORMATIVE ARGUMENTATIVE

− Objective Tone (no bias!)

− Body Paragraph content and order determined by the writer based on the topic and type of informative essay

− Takes a clear side (shows bias), but still tries to be fair to the other side

− Body Paragraph content follows Claim, Counterclaim, Rebuttal order.

− 5 Paragraph Structure− Introduction: Hook, Context, Thesis− Conclusion− Use of Textual Evidence and Citations− Academic Language− Topic Sentences− Point, Evidence, Explanation (PEE)

body Structure− Transition words, phrases, and

sentences− Need Titles

BOTH

INFORMATIVE AND ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS

ARE MOSTLY THE SAMEEXCEPT FOR SOME BASIC STRUCTURAL AND TONAL DIFFERENCES. YAY! NO

NEED TO RE-INVENT THE WHEEL HERE!

HOWEVER…NOT TO BE TOTALLY CONFUSING…BUTTHERE IS THIS THING CALLED A PERSUASIVE ESSAY…

…WHICH IS MORE LIKE AN INFORMATIVE ESSAY IN

STRUCTURE…

…AND AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

IN TONE…

…HERE IS A CHART TO HELP YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEMInformative Essay

Objective (unbiased) Tone

Introduction, Body P1-3 (Main Ideas), Conclusion

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive (biased) Tone

Introduction, Body P1-3 (Claims), Conclusion

Argumentative Essay

Persuasive (biased) Tone

Introduction, Claim, Counterclaim, Rebuttal, Conclusion

CLAIMYOUR ARGUMENTBACK IT UP WITH EVIDENCE FROM RELIABLE SOURCESEXPLAIN WHY THE EVIDENCE PROVES YOUR CLAIM

COUNTERCLAIMWHAT WOULD THE OPPOSING SIDE SAY ABOUT THE ISSUE?WHAT EVIDENCE WOULD THEY PRESENT AGAINST YOUR ARGUMENT?

REBUTTALHOW CAN YOU REFUTE THE OPPOSING SIDE’S ARGUMENTS?WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE TO REST YOUR CASE?

THE BEST ARGUMENTATIVE

WRITERS THINK ABOUT MORE THAN JUST

PURPOSEASK ARISTOTLE.

ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHER. ALL AROUND COOL GUY. CAME UP WITH THIS PRETTY AMAZING THING CALLED THE RHETORICAL

TRIANGLE.

RHETORICAL

TRIANGLE

LOGOS: APPEAL TO LOGICMain techniques-structure-references to studies, statistics, case studies-comparisons (analogies and metaphors)

ETHOS: APPEAL TO ETHICSMain techniques-personal branding/background-confidence in tone-citing credible sources

PATHOS: APPEAL TO PASSION

Main techniques-stories/anecdotes-vivid language and imagery-inspirational quotes

The Rhetorical Triangle Should Affect:

The syntax (sentence structure) and diction (word choice) you use throughout your essay.

The evidence you select.

How you explain your evidence.

TO SUMMARIZE•Good Argumentative Essays:

–Include a clear claim (argument) backed up by evidence and explanations

–Address potential counterclaims thoroughly–Respond to counterclaims with a rebuttal

(counterargument)–Consider Purpose, Speaker, and Audience (The

Rhetorical Triangle) and use Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to form their appeals.

10 COMMANDMENTS OF AWESOME ACADEMIC WRITINGDO THESE THINGS NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF ESSAY YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO WRITE.SERIOUSLY. PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

1. FOLLOW A BASIC 5 PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

INTRODUCTION, 3 BODY PARAGRAPHS, AND A CONCLUSION

2. DELIVER A CLEAR THESIS AT THE END OF THE

INTRODUCTIONINFORMATIVE: “Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus encounters many temptations, including food, sex, and friendship, which prevent him from making it home.”ARGUMENTATIVE: “Although the State has attempted to show that Adnan Syed killed Hae Min Lee, Adnan must be acquitted of her murder because both the physical evidence and witness statements are unreliable.”

3. OPEN WITH A HOOK

PROVIDE THE READER WITH A REASON TO KEEP READING

4. PRESENT THE READER WITH CONTEXT IN THE

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

ASSUME THAT THE READER’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE TOPIC IS MINIMAL. ESTABLISH A BASIC LEVEL OF INFORMATION FOR THE READER.

5. START EACH BODY PARAGRAPH WITH A

TOPIC SENTENCETOPIC SENTENCES SHOULD BE FOOLPROOF AND EXTREMELY STRAIGHTFORWARD. TELL THE READER EXACTLY

WHAT THE PARAGRAPH WILL BE ABOUT—NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.

6. State your pointcite evidence

explain your evidence.MAKE A POINT, BACK IT UP WITH EVIDENCE, AND EXPLAIN HOW THE EVIDENCE PROVES YOUR POINT.

7. USE TRANSITIONS

TRY SOME OF THESE TRANSITION WORDS AND PHRASES.

8. FOLLOW THE THESIS

PRESENT IDEAS IN THE BODY EXACTLY AS THEY ARE GIVEN IN THE THESIS.

9. USE AT LEAST TWO QUOTES PER PARAGRAPH

QUOTES ARE INTRODUCED AND EXPLAINED.

10. AVOID PLAGIARISM BY CITING PROPERLY

QUOTES AND PARAPHRASES ARE CITED. QUOTES ARE PUT INSIDE QUOTATION MARKS. USES BOTH IN-TEXT (PARENTHETICAL) AND AFTER-TEXT (WORKS CITED) CITATIONS. FOLLOWS M.L.A.

RULES.