Fix This Essay!

1. First, clearly identify the particular issue in the source text (the other writer’s article) about which you want to make an argument.

2. Next, sketch out a plan as to how to present your argument to your readers.

* Visualize who your readers are, or who they could be.  Knowing your audience helps you to write to them more naturally and reasonably.

* Determine what you want your readers to know about the issue as you’ve defined it.

* Anticipate what questions will come up in your readers’ minds, and what they might have difficulty with.

* An essay is always stronger when it answers important potential objections directly than when it neglects any such objections.

3. Of course, your essay must go beyond simply summarizing the source text; your essay is an argument, not a summary.  At the same time, your essay must provide sufficient factual information so that readers have no problems understanding what’s being argued about.

* Therefore, a balance is needed:  use neither too little nor too much summary information — only as much summary information as you need throughout the essay to keep the basis of your argument clear.

4. Your main argument should be stated clearly.  You should not delay too long in stating your main argument.  Though there are exceptions, typically the final sentence of the first paragraph in a short essay is an ideal place to state your main argument.

* In combination with your main argument, you might additionally suggest (still in the first paragraph) how you will proceed throughout the rest of the essay to support that main argument.

5. Each middle paragraph should detail a supporting claim and its evidence, all of which should back up the first paragraph’s main argument.

* Sometimes a supporting claim can be dealt with adequately in a single paragraph; sometimes it takes more than one paragraph, depending on the type and amount of evidence needed, or depending on the complexity of the claim.

6. Every claim you make must be supported adequately and convincingly by sound evidence.

* “Evidence” includes the following: examples, illustrations, quotations, explanations, specifics, details, and logical analyses.  It is any information that serves to make a claim “evident” and convincing.

* Readers must see enough evidence in your short essay for every important aspect of your overall argument.

* Test each important claim in your own mind — before making the claim in your essay — by asking yourself whether or not you can immediately defend it with real evidence.  If you cannot, you should reexamine and rework that claim until you have no problem defending it readily.

7. Quotations from the source text should be used as evidence throughout your essay. Do not use the source text simply as a first paragraph pretext while neglecting the source text throughout the rest of the essay.  There are many advantages to using quotations; here are only two:

* Well chosen quotations demonstrate an understanding of a source text writer’s points much more precisely than summaries — and precision is exactly what you want your argument to convey;

* Quotations also help you present a lively, deeply engaged argument to readers, because they convey an intellectual dialogue between you and the source text writer.

8. Every text you read, every major theme you examine, calls for a unique approach.  Be creative in seeking such approaches!  Remember, though, that your arguments will gain more respect in the long run, from both those who agree and those who disagree with you, if you let the search for fairness and honest truth be your primary guide, instead of being guided merely by the impulse to “win” arguments and beat opponents.  Exposing the plain truth is the best and noblest end of all rhetorical work.