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Greene, Stuart. “Argument as a Conversation the Role of Inquiry in Writing a Researched Argument.” Research Processes and Practices. Boynton/Cook: Portsmouth, NH. PDF
In“Argument as a Conversation the Role of Inquiry in Writing a Researched Argument” Greene discusses the some essentials steps to consider when a writing a researched argument. Her first point is that it before being able to effectively write a researched argument you must first read and compile enough information to support your argument. Having research, counterarguments, and discussions that are being talked about in your topic provides the writer with a good foundation to begin their argument. She shows this by using the metaphor of a person walking into a parlor where there is a heated discussion going on and you want to join, but since you arrived late you have no idea what the discussion in about. Well in that case you would have to sit back and listen to other people’s arguments before you can jump in and provide your own feedback. The second step to writing a researched argument would be deciding what side of the argument are you going to choose and figuring how you will use the information that you have gathered to your advantage. In order to do that it is important that you frame a good question, “a good question can help you think through what you might be interested in writing.” Greene then describes a good tool for us to use when framing our research. She said that just like a photographer would use light and shade to take a picture and focus on what he wanted to put focus on. The writer can take his paper and frame it so that the argument is effective. Greene uses the example of Jennifer Farrell’s paper in which she takes the research she had and uses it as authority for her essay. Greene concludes the article by stating that it is important to come off as a knowledgeable writer. And you can do so by using the research you have compiled to support your points and providing the reader with enough information so that they know that you know the topic. |
February 18, 2013
In “Argument as a Conversation the Role of Inquiry in Writing a Researched Argument” Greene describes what a researched argument should consists of and she gives the reader with insight on what they should do in order to have an effective paper. Listening to the argument or researching the argument in depth is probably the most important part to having an effective paper. Before beginning to write it’s important to make sure that you take into consideration what is already being talked about in the discussion. If you were to try to jump into a conversation without deep knowledge of what the topic is then you would get shut down within the first round. On the other hand if walk into the ring with knowledge of what the competitors are bringing to the fight then you have a better chance of a KO or at least leaving them with a couple of good bruises. Within the article she speaks of framing and how by framing the paper you will have your audience looking at what you want them to see. Framing the paper with key words like Jennifer Farrell can give you a good way to organize your paper as well. So instead of simply listing events in the order they occurred you can use the words to help guide your focus. For example if I was to write a researched argument about discourse communities I might say something like “genre is the result of repeated rhetorical event within a discourse community”(Devitt). By using that to frame my argument then I have a good foundation to organize my argument and a strong authoritative voice to provide me with credibility. Furthermore, Greene also mentions that is important to provide counterarguments and to do research on what the other people in the argument are saying. This to me is important because thats way you are providing the audience not only with a reason to choose your side but also with a reason why they shouldn’t choose the opposing side. |