Constructing Claims
When writing an argumentative response, your job is to help the opposition understand your claim (your position) WITHOUT inflammatory wording, such as second person language (‘you’/’your’/etc.) demanding that the reader make a change for one side or another based on fallacies.
1. Step One
Contextualize your topic. Meaning, explain to your audience what the topic is, why it is relevant and why it is an issue/controversial.
Example using the Digital Connectedness prompt:
Immediate access to information regarding current events, social media and global communication is a prevalent concern with respect to today’s youth and their ability to communicate effectively.
OR
With the advancement of technology and society’s ability to have instant access to global communication, the younger generation is suffering from an inability to conduct person-to-person conversations.
OR
Due to the saturation of digital connectedness, younger generations are less able to have mature verbal skills when entering the work force and higher education settings.
2. Step Two
Clearly define your position (for/against) the topic. Meaning, be very clear about which side of the position you are arguing – you may NOT ‘WAFFLE’ and state the topic is both good and bad. Your prompt will dictate which stance you are to take in your argument.
This may lead into or become your thesis
Example using Digital Connectedness prompt:
Students fail to understand the importance of verbal communication and difference between using ‘Texting Talk’ versus academic language in job interviews, formal assignments and face-to-face communication.
OR
Because young people rely so heavily on social media, they are unable to properly capitalize and construct complete sentences.
3. Step Three
Provide examples to support your argument about the topic. Meaning, construct multiple sentences/paragraphs with concrete examples to prove your claim.
4. Step Four
Provide a counterclaim AND a refute. Meaning, acknowledge the opposition’s position.
Example using Digital Connectedness prompt:
Opponents to the negative impact of digital connectedness state that, (fill in the blank with examples that are PRO Digital Connectedness). EXPLAIN those examples.
Then, REFUTE....
However, what the opposition fails to realize is (fill in the blank) with why the opposition is incorrect.
LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP / TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONSimilarity / also, in the same way, just as … so too, likewise, similarly
Exception/Contrast / but, however, in spite of, on the one hand … on the other hand,
nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast,
on the contrary, still, yet
Sequence/Order / first, second, third, … next, then, finally
Time / after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately,
later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then
Example / for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate
Emphasis / even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
Place/Position / above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there
Cause and Effect / accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus
Additional Support or Evidence / additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important,
further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then
Conclusion/
Summary / finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end,
in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize,
in sum, to sum up, in summary