How to write an academic argument
While some classes still want students to write reports, others will want students to create their own arguments for papers. In college, a student should be able to argue a point clearly and articulately.
It is important to know how to argue with facts to back the argument up.
How to argue:
According to Walden University:
“An academic argument is your stance, your claim, or your take on your topic.
This stance, claim, or take is your contribution to the current conversation on your topic and provides your readers with a position, perspective, and/or point of view on your topic.
An academic argument is also based in the research, what we often call ‘evidence-based.’ This means you must support your argument with findings from sources you read…An academic argument is not a fight, a battle, or a negative confrontation. An academic argument is also not emotional nor focused on one person's opinion.”
When writing a paper, it is good for a student to argue a point that they are passionate about. This passion should not show through in outbursts or emotional pleas, as this will lower the arguer’s credibility. Instead the passion should come out through intense research and knowledge on the subject.
While a student writes their argument, they should research their topic in the same way they would research a report topic. A student can research using databases, interviews, articles, archives, and experiment data (if they are writing about math or science). Students should also research the opposing point of view so that they can better push back on the opposition. A good paper will mention the alternate point of view and dispute it to the best of the author’s ability.
An argument should not be something that has been argued before, at least not in the way that the writer argues. A student should look up other articles that discuss aspects of the argument, but that do not make the exact same argument for the exact same reasons. A student should write an argument that is unique.
As always, students should cite their sources.
Sources:
These sources are in MLA Format.
“Academic Arguments.” Writing@CSU, https://writing.colostate.edu. Accessed 30 July 2019.
Lai, Paul. “Academic Guides: Writing a Paper: Academic Arguments.” Walden University, https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/arguments. Accessed 30 July 2019.
While some classes still want students to write reports, others will want students to create their own arguments for papers. In college, a student should be able to argue a point clearly and articulately.
It is important to know how to argue with facts to back the argument up.
How to argue:
According to Walden University:
“An academic argument is your stance, your claim, or your take on your topic.
This stance, claim, or take is your contribution to the current conversation on your topic and provides your readers with a position, perspective, and/or point of view on your topic.
An academic argument is also based in the research, what we often call ‘evidence-based.’ This means you must support your argument with findings from sources you read…An academic argument is not a fight, a battle, or a negative confrontation. An academic argument is also not emotional nor focused on one person's opinion.”
When writing a paper, it is good for a student to argue a point that they are passionate about. This passion should not show through in outbursts or emotional pleas, as this will lower the arguer’s credibility. Instead the passion should come out through intense research and knowledge on the subject.
While a student writes their argument, they should research their topic in the same way they would research a report topic. A student can research using databases, interviews, articles, archives, and experiment data (if they are writing about math or science). Students should also research the opposing point of view so that they can better push back on the opposition. A good paper will mention the alternate point of view and dispute it to the best of the author’s ability.
An argument should not be something that has been argued before, at least not in the way that the writer argues. A student should look up other articles that discuss aspects of the argument, but that do not make the exact same argument for the exact same reasons. A student should write an argument that is unique.
As always, students should cite their sources.
Sources:
These sources are in MLA Format.
“Academic Arguments.” Writing@CSU, https://writing.colostate.edu. Accessed 30 July 2019.
Lai, Paul. “Academic Guides: Writing a Paper: Academic Arguments.” Walden University, https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/arguments. Accessed 30 July 2019.
