CHAPTER 20 ( Preposing a Solution )

 

                       A good proposing-solution addresses a proposal that is worth pursuing and can be solved practically. Develop a proposal. The first person you’ll need to convince of your topic is yourself. By develop a rationale for your selection, define your initial understanding: clarify what you know about the proposal and what you think you know about potential solutions. Determine what you need to learn: develop questions to help you begin your research or writing. Get early feedback. Don’t jump to conclusion. We all think we have the answer to life’s problems. Unfortunately, in our rush to judgment, we often Miss Key details that would help us make better decisions, Research, Read as much as you can about your topic, starting with broad discussions on your topic, Research some more—but creatively. The two best methods: construct a survey to be given to the audience affected by your problem or interview key people associated with the problem (or solution). Both methods can provide significant credibility to your analysis and proposal. Outline your proposal first. Know where your paper needs to go before you begin. Proposal-solution has a lot of components and thus need to follow a tight structure: you address the problem, you establish middle ground between all concerned parties, and you present your vision for how to solve the problem. What I learned in this chapter that we need to define the nature of the problem, Establish its existence by explaining what has caused or led to the problem, Explain the extent of the problem, Explain its effects and why it is an issue that needs to be solved, finally, warn readers about future effects if no solution is offered. Apply prior experiences from other communities to this section. 

CHAPTER 19 ( Persuading Readers To Act )

 

                       Persuading readers is a difficult task. No one is expected to persuade every reader or audience member, but you can get all of your readers or audience to think critical about your view. Difficulty Moderately Easy Things You’ll Need: Strong set of facts a command of your point of view a way to connect your points to the audience’s needs and wants Step1Tell your audiences why you believe in the point you are arguing for or against. People will not believe in something if they believe you don’t. Step2Present solid facts on what you are arguing for or against, or are trying to persuade your audience to do. Emotional appeals are fine, but when people are asked to believe in something they never thought of or don’t agree with the best way to get them on your side is to present facts that they can’t disagree with. Step3 Mention reasons why some people may not take your side. The point of persuasive readers is to get one’s audience to agree with his or her point of view, but everyone may not agree with you or have questions about what you are arguing for or against. By stating opposing viewpoints you recognize those members of your audience, show your audience that you are not blinded by your own personal view. But remember that you still hold strong to your views, and immediately after giving views different from your own that you tell your audience why your view is better. Step4Tell your audience how adopting your viewpoint can be beneficial to them. For example, if you’re trying to persuade your audience to quit smoking tell them how it will add more years to their life and save them money from not buying a new pack of cigarettes every week. Well, the important thing in this chapter is that when writing a persuasive paper, you need to think about whether you want to write on the whole issue or just one aspect of it. 

CHAPTER 18 ( Taking a Position )

 

                            A position presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to. Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your position. It is very important to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue and presenting it in a manner that is easy for your audience to understand. Your job is to take one side of the argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the topic being presented. It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure the validity of your claims, as well as to address the counterclaims to show that you are well informed about both sides. Issue Criteria To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that interests you. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to present a strong position: Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty? Can you distinctly identify two positions? Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions? Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable? Analyzing an Issue and Developing an Argument Once your topic is selected, you should do some research on the subject matter. While you may already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which side of the argument you want to take, you need to ensure that your position is well supported. Listing out the pro and con sides of the topic will help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting evidence for both sides. Supporting evidence includes the following: Factual Knowledge - Information that is verifiable and agreed upon by almost everyone. Statistical Inferences - Interpretation and examples of an accumulation of facts. Informed Opinion - Opinion developed through research and/or expertise of the claim. Personal experience related by a knowledgeable party. Once you have made your pro and con lists, compare the information side by side. Considering your audience, as well as your own viewpoint, choose the position you will take. In considering the audience, ask yourself the following questions: Who is your audience? What do they believe? Where do they stand on the issue? How are their interests involved? What evidence is likely to be effective with them? In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following: Is your topic interesting? Can you manage the material within the specifications set by the instructor? Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of action? Do you have enough material to support your opinion? Organization Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that organizes the rest of your position. 

CHAPTER 17 ( Strategies for Argumentation and Persuation )

 

                        The purpose of a persuasive or argumentation is to get the reader to side with you on a particular topic for the reasons that you present. One thing to keep in mind is that no matter what mode of writing you choose, all writing should meet the guidelines set by Persuasive and argument contains some common elements. They must clarify the relevant values of the topic so that the audience can see the position of the paper. Remember that there are many parts of any argument. The topic of the paper should be specific to the issue that you plan to address. Present facts that support the side of the argument that you plan to present and to persuade for or against. Facts can consist of statistics, researched information, and other materials that are found in. theStrategiesforPersuasive, Argument Papers should take some time to organize your thoughts. Here are a few prewriting strategies that focus specifically on writing persuasive argument essays. Choose a side of the argument that you feel most comfortable presenting._ while researching the facts, think of the questions posed for the assignment or the topics to investigate. Analyze the source of information presented for value and reliability. List the facts and opposing arguments on the topic that are most important for your audience. 

CHAPTER 16 ( Definition )

 

                                 Definition is writing that explains what a term means. Some terms have definite, concrete meanings, such as glass, book, or tree. Terms such as honesty, honor, or love are abstract and depend more on a person's point of view. Three Steps to Effective Definition Tell readers what term is being defined. Present clear and basic information. Use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand. Choosing a Definition choosing a definition is a key step in writing a definition. You need to understand the term before you can define it for others. Read the dictionary, but don't just copy the definition. Explain the term briefly in your own words. Also, it's important to limit your term before you start defining it. For example, you could write forever on the term "love." To limit it, you would write about either "romantic love," "platonic love," or "first love."Thesis Statement of a Definition The thesis statement usually identifies the term being defined and provides a brief, basic definition. How To Write an Effective Definition Create a definition. There are several ways to define a term. Here are a few options. Define by function. Explain what something does or how something works. Define by structure. Tell how something is organized or put together. Define by analysis. Compare the term to other members of its class and then illustrate the differences. These differences are special characteristics that make the term stand out. For example, compare a Siberian husky to other dogs, such as lap dogs, or sporting dogs.(term) (precise definition)Ex: A Siberian husky is a dog reputed for its ability to tolerate cold, its distinctive features, and its keen strength and stamina. Define by what the term does not mean. This distinction can sometimes clarify a definition and help a reader to better understand it. Use understandable facts, examples, or anecdotes. Select facts, examples, or anecdotes to fully explain your definition. Ask yourself, "Which examples will best help readers understand the term? What examples would most appeal to my readers? Will a brief story reveal the term's meaning?" Do not use any examples that will not support the definition. Remember: A definition is writing that explains what a term means. When writing a definition, remember to tell readers what term is being defined, to present a clear and basic definition, and to use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand. 

CHAPTER 15 ( Process Writing )

 

                   Writing is a process that involves at least four distinct steps: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. It is known as a recursive process. While you are revising, you might have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand your ideas. Prewriting is anything you do before you write a draft of your document. It includes thinking, taking notes, talking to others, brainstorming, outlining, and gathering information (e.g., interviewing people, researching in the library, assessing data). Although prewriting is the first activity you engage in, generating ideas is an activity that occurs throughout the writing process. Drafting occurs when you put your ideas into sentences and paragraphs. Here you concentrate upon explaining and supporting your ideas fully. Here you also begin to connect your ideas. Regardless of how much thinking and planning you do, the process of putting your ideas in words changes them; often the very words you select evoke additional ideas or implications. Don't pay attention to such things as spelling at this stage. This draft tends to be writer-centered: it is you telling yourself what you know and think about the topic. Revision is the key to effective documents. Here you think more deeply about your readers' needs and expectations. The document becomes reader-centered. How much support will each idea need to convince your readers? Which terms should be defined for these particular readers? Is your organization effective? Do readers need to know X before they can understand Y? At this stage you also refine your prose, making each sentence as concise and accurate as possible. Make connections between ideas explicit and clear. Check for such things as grammar, mechanics, and spelling. The last thing you should do before printing your document is to spell checks it. Don't edit your writing until the other steps in the writing process are complete.