Everything is an Argument:

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Everything is an Argument Introduction to
Persuasive Writing
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Purpose, Audience, and Tone
What is your purpose?Persuade!Who is your
audience?Shared OpinionHostile
AudienceNon-expert Audience Expert Audience
What is your tone?Serious, Lighthearted,
Formal, or Informal
As a writer, you are like a salesperson
What is your purpose?Persuade a person to buy a
carWho is your audience?Preferred
CustomerPicky or Hostile CustomerNon-expert
Expert What is your tone?Serious,
Lighthearted, Formal, or Informal
The reader is your customer
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What are the main ingredients of an argument?
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What is the claim?
Claim
A claim is the point an arguer is trying to make.
The claim is the thesis or the proposition or
assertion an arguer wants another person to
accept.
Claim of ValueThis type of claim says something
is more or less desirable based on taste or
morality.
Claim of PolicyThis type of claim says some type
of action should be taken.
Claim of FactThe argument is provable by fact or
data.
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What is the support?
Support
The support is used to convince the audience that
the claim (thesis) is sound.
Facts and Statistics
OpinionsMust backed by factual knowledge,
experience, good reasoning and judgment.
ExamplesAnecdotes or short stories, hypothetical
or real examples
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What is the warrant?
Warrant
The warrant connects the claim and support.The
warrant summarizes the claim and support.
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EXAMPLE
CLAIM (THESIS)
SUPPORT
WARRANT
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1. Prewriting for the Timed Essay
I want my audience to believestate claim
becausesupporting reason 1supporting reason
2supporting reason 3
EXAMPLEI want my audience to believethat the
government should not censor the internet
becauseThere would be less privacy if the
government regulated the internetMany
organizations already have added more security to
their sites
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2. Create an outline
I. Claim or Thesis II. Support Opposing
Argument a. Support Reason 1 b. Support Reason
2 c. Support Reason 3, 4, 5IV. Warrant
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Format of Essay
Attention grabberClaim (thesis)
Intro
Support
Body
Warrant
Conclusion