Purpose

This essay brings together all that we have learned about argument up to this point. In How Arguments Work Links to an external site., we have read about how to write a summary of an argument, how to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and how to make a recommendation in response to it. We also looked at many ways arguments seek to build trust and affect readers’ emotions. In this essay you will choose a short excerpt from an argument and analyze the strategies it employs, whether logical or emotional. Ultimately, you will form a judgment as to how successful the argument is.

Writing Task

Write a thorough argument analysis of The New York Times columnist John Eligan’s “A Debate Over Identity and Race Asks, Are African-Americans ‘Black’ or ‘black’?” or German Lopez’ article for Vox, “Why You Should Stop Saying ‘All Lives Matter,’ Explained in 9 Different Ways." (This essay prompt can be adapted to work with most any college-level text. See Section 12.1: Suggested Short Readings Links to an external site. for some possibilities.)

In your argument analysis, summarize your argument’s most central claims, reasons, and assumptions. Discuss how it limits its claims and how it describes and responds to any counterarguments. Identify and analyze its most powerful strategies for appealing to emotion and establishing trust. State your assessment of how convincing the argument is and what its weaknesses are, if any.

Note: You do not need to analyze every single aspect of the argument. Take a step back and think about what you want to emphasize. What stands out as crucial to the argument’s success or failure?

Requirements: 

• Describe the key ideas of the argument, including the main claim, key reasons, counterarguments, rebuttals, and limits.
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. What was compelling, persuasive, troubling, unclear, or problematic?
• Describe the main ways in which the argument appeals to emotion and attempts to establish trust. 
• Use “signal phrases” to describe the argument and strategies, such as “The article implies that gender is fluid” or “The author relies heavily on personal anecdote” or “The writer argues that sex is an immutable biological fact.”
• Write most of the essay in your own words, but consider using the occasional direct quote where the original word choice is critical.
• The introductory paragraph should include the title of the argument, the author’s full name, the argument’s main claim, and your overall assessment of the argument's effectiveness.
• Make sure each paragraph presents and then supports a single main point with specifics. Generally speaking, each body paragraph will likely focus on a particular idea from the argument or on an appeal to trust or emotion.
• Edit the paper for errors in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, word use, spelling, and proofreading (see Chapter 11: Shaping Your Sentences Links to an external site.).
• Cite paraphrased or quoted material from the book or article you are writing about, or from any other works, according to MLA guidelines. This assignment does not require a Works Cited page.
• The essay should be at least 5 pages long. 

Suggestions for the Writing Process 

1. Read or reread Chapter 10: Writing an Analysis of an Argument's Strategies Links to an external site.. Chapter 2: Reading to Figure out the Argument, Links to an external site. Chapter 3: Writing a Summary of Another Writer’s Argument, Links to an external site. Chapter 4: Assessing the Strength of an Argument Links to an external site. , Chapter 8: How Arguments Appeal to Emotion Links to an external site., and Chapter 9: How Arguments Establish Trust and Connection Links to an external site. can also help guide you through the steps of this assignment. 
2. Read the brief sample argument analysis Links to an external site. and the longer sample argument analysis Links to an external site. to get an idea of what you are aiming at.
3. Reread the argument you have chosen and make notes as you go on its claims, reasons, counterarguments, rebuttals, and limits.
4. Make an argument map and/or answer the questions in Section 10.2: Generating Ideas for an Argument Analysis. Links to an external site.
5. Write a draft.
6. Seek feedback from a tutor, classmate, friend, or teacher.
7. Revise the content.
8. Proofread for grammar and punctuation.

Essay assignment created by Anna Mills, edited by Kimberly Braasch, and offered under a CC BY-NC license Links to an external site..