ENGL002: English Composition II

4.2: Organizing Your Arguments

• 4.2.1: Refine Your Thesis

  Earlier in this course (in subunit 1.3.2), you developed a working thesis, the purpose of which was to help you begin your research. Now that you have completed your research, you must write your real thesis, which articulates the argument that your research supports.
  

  • Writing for Success: "Chapter 9, Section 1: Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement"

    Read this chapter and complete the exercises. Then create a final version of your thesis statement for your research paper.

• 4.2.2: Develop Arguments around Your Thesis

  • Writing for Success: "Chapter 6, Section 2: Effective Means for Writing a Paragraph"

    Read this section and complete the exercises. Use these exercises as an opportunity to review your thesis statement and develop the arguments you will make in your paper. After you have completed the exercises, revise the outline you created earlier in the course so that it helps support the arguments you wish to make.

  • Writing for Success: "Chapter 9, Section 2: Writing Body Paragraphs"

    Read this section and complete the exercises. This reading and these exercises will help you develop stronger body paragraphs in which the claim of that paragraph supports your thesis.

• 4.2.3: Strengthen Your Claims

  • Pennsylvania State University: Joe Schall's "Blending Source Material with Your Own Work" Page

    Read this article, which will help you to learn techniques for integrating your research with your writing.

• 4.2.4: Toulmins Schema

  Stephen Toulmin developed a system for analyzing arguments, a system that you can use to develop more effective arguments.

  • Utah State University: "Intermediate Writing: Toulmin's Schema" Page

    Review and analyze this reading about Toulmin's schema. Then, take some time to draft a formal warrant for your paper. Consider how your research findings will relate to your warrant, and rework it as you think necessary. Finally, return to your essay outline and revise as necessary, adding as many elements from Toulmin's Schema as you can.