Chapter 47 Summary

In this chapter we are learning about constructing reasonable arguments which is when your goal is not simply to win or to have the last word. Your aim is to explain your understanding of the truth about a subject or to propose the best solution available fro solving a problem. The audience should be viewed as jurors who will make up their minds after reading or listening to you. For example in scholarly debates you will be addressing readers who share your interest in a discipline such as literature or psychology. With the introduction you are going to have the sentences leading up to the thesis establish your credibility with readers by showing that you are knowledgeable and fair-minded. A tip that was mentioned in this chapter was to test a thesis while drafting and revising is to imagine a counterargument to your argument. The next part would be to make sure and have back up for your thesis and to sum up the main points of the argument so you will have a rough outline to your essay. After you come up with the main part of the argument you will need to list evidence to support the thesis. For example some things to include are, using facts and statistics, examples and illustrations, and citing expert opinion. When it is time to deal with the counter opposing arguments there is no best place in an essay to deal with their views. It is best to do it at the beginning of the essay where after your thesis is written you might have a paragraph that takes up the most important counterargument. Making sure that you explain the arguments of others accurately and fairly in you essay.
It is hard for me to understand this section because I always have to have the last word in an argument so I don’t know if I could write an essay on a topic to where there would be a debate on the issue. I have written some things on abortion which is a strong subject for me and I think I could write for days on that topic and not want to hear the counterarguments. Debates are also not my favorite thing to do, I remember in high school trying to do everything possible not to have to participate in them. People are allowed to have their opinions on anything in this world but do be prepared for those who disagree and want you to know their side. I hope to experience writing arguments sometime in the future to be able to use this chapter as a reference to help me get through the essay.