Mhsenglishiii.weebly.com



Argument EssayEach of the following authors makes observations about life and living, and often, their assertions raise philosophical and/or ideological concerns. ?Choose one of these arguments and respond in writing by considering the extent to which the author’s assertions hold true for contemporary American society.??Support your argument with appropriate evidence.Look at the following observations and in your own words, write what the author is claiming.Option 1: In Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bryson argues that “It’s an unnerving thought that we may be the living universe’s supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously.”Option 2: In her essay “On Compassion,” Barbara Ascher explains the following:“Like other cities, there is much about Manhattan now that resembles Dickensian London. Ladies in high-heeled shows pick their way through poverty and madness…. And yet, it may be that these are the conditions that finally give birth to empathy, the mother of compassion. We cannot deny the existence of the helpless as their presence grows. It is impossible to insulate ourselves against what is at our very doorstop. I don’t believe that one is born compassionate. Compassion is not a character trait like a sunny disposition. It must be learned, and it is learned by having adversity at our windows, coming thought the gates of our yards, the walls of our towns, adversity that becomes so familiar that we begin to identify and empathize with it.”Option 3: Ralph Waldo Emerson, American transcendentalist and essayist, suggests that?“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”?Option 4: Henry David Thoreau, American essayist, argues that?“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”?Step Two: Select one of the topics, and examine both sides of the argument.Step Three: Create a working claim for your argument. Step Four: What could you use to support this argument?Step Five: Creating a hook: Now that you have established your position and generated your evidence, you need to consider how to begin your argument so that anyone coming across it cannot help but read on. Consider the many ways to begin: (some are exemplified below). These serve as the “hook” or initial attention getter for the audience and ultimately lead the audience to your thesis. Defining the abstract: This is NOT the time to use Webster’s; it is an opportunity for you to create a unique, original definition of a term/concept. Use the sentence starters to start thinking about the word/concept in more creative ways. Provide concrete images in each of the sections that you associate with your word. _______________ is . . . _______________ is not . . . _______________ is like (analogy, simile, metaphor). . . ______________ thrives when . . . _____________ suffers when . . . ____________ has the following characteristics . . . ____________ makes people think of . . . Example: Greed is like a bucket with a hole in the bottom. No matter how often we fill up this bucket, it still ends up empty. The thirst to have more material possessions can never truly be quenched. It is similar to a passing rain shower in the dessert. After a few brief moments of satisfaction, we are left with vast emptiness. Startling Statement (good and evil theme)- All human beings are capable of the most gruesome crimes imaginable. It is only because of the customs and controls of civilization that we do not become brute savages.Anecdote/Scenario (courage theme) - A close friend of mine was in the Vietnam War and he admitted to me that he was terrified every time he had to go into battle. Even so, I consider him one of the most courageous men I have ever known. It is not the absence of fear that defines courage, but the ability of one to force oneself to take action in spite of fear.Analogy (superficiality theme) - The models that grace the pages of magazines seem to be better than anyone we have ever met: they seem elegant, untouchable, and perfect. But, just as magazine covers are manipulated to hide imperfections, we, too, sometimes fool ourselves into ignoring the flaws of individuals whom we have built up to be perfect beings.Humorous Musing (conformity theme) - Why is it that, when I go to school with my underwear on my head, the world looks at me as if I were unusual? High school kids are so caught up in their little cliques that I feel like I’ve got to become one of those “underwear under the pants” types too. (Note: Humor is not appropriate for all classes and teachers. Use good judgment.) your hook: ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download