The Argument Essay: Instruction from Brandon Abdon. —> What is the reason that the prompt is providing you for the argument? — What is the purpose, or what should you hope to accomplish with this argument? —>+ Who is the intended audience prescribed by the prompt? ‘Choose the examples/evidence that are most appealing and appropriate to the situation. 1, Audience: Why should they care? a, What do they care about? '. What do they like/dislike? c. Why might they disagree with you? 2. Writer: Why should they listen to you? a. Who are you? . What do you know? 3. Message: Does this make sense? a. Are the examples and evidence reasonable? . Is the argument organized logically? Consider, admit, and then refute the best possible argument against you. "Consider the audience and how they may argue with you. = What examples/evidence might they use in their argument against you? = YOU MUST CONCEDE THIS EXAMPLE AND ADDRESS IT. Their example: 1. Why do they care about this example? 2. What do you know about it? 3. How can you address and refute it reasonably? Don’t just attack the opposing view without putting forward your own argument. ‘THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS . + The biggest single mistake is using an example/evidence that is very appealing and appropriate, but failing to explain for the reader HOW it helps to support your argument, * Another major mistake is admitting an opposing argument, but failing to explain for the reader HOW that argument does not make sense and WHY it should be rejected. 0 THE HARDER THE READER HAS TO WORK TO UNDERSTAND YOUR ARGUMENT, THE LESS ‘SUCCESSFUL YOUR ARGUMENT AND THE LOWER YOUR SCORE. The conclusion is more important in an argument essay. It delivers the final appeal (the so what?) based on your claim; however, if you have focused on the task throughout the essay, not having a conclusion will not kill you.