Writing Arguments

Basic Steps

Understand the problem.
List what you know about the problem.
Start grouping evidence (facts) into themes.
Use "cubing" to figure out the best argument to respond to the problem.
Respond to the problem by formulating a thesis statement.
Write an essay to defend the thesis, threading the evidence and argument throughout.

1. Understand the problem.

Understanding and responding to all parts of a question can be demanding. Sometimes we read a question and begin responding, only to later learn that we did not answer the question at all. Taking a systematic approach to understanding questions (and prompts) can make responding to all parts accurately a little more routine.

The following includes some of the critical skills necessary to understand the demands of a question or prompt.

Classifying the question

What is the question asking you to do?

Determine which historical thinking skill you need to develop an argumentative response to the question (or problem).

Start with the explicit verbs like the ones below.

Important Verbs

Identify: establish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is

Describe: give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events.

Explain: make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas.

Compare: estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between.

Contrast: the state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.

Cause: a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.

Effect: a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

Evaluate: form an idea of the amount, number, or value of; make a judgement.

2. List what you know about the problem.

What do you know?

What do you think you know?

What do you need to know?

This is your evidence. Make sure that you are differentiating between facts and opinions.

Fact vs. Opinion

A fact is a statement that can be tested by experimentation, observation, or research and shown to be true or untrue.

An opinion is a person’s belief, feeling, or judgment about something. It is a subjective or value judgment that is not necessarily based on fact(s).

FACT

In 1924, the Model T Ford could be purchased for $290.

OPINION

The Model T was the most important invention of the first half of the century.

Opinions can be tricky.

Words such as ...

perhaps

sometimes

probably

… often indicate the possibility of opinions.

Words such as ...

I think

I feel

I believe

… clearly point out that an opinion is being expressed.

Proper nouns

Also, think about proper nouns whenever possible because it ensures that you are using the most specific evidence.

It doesn't get much more specific than particular people, places, and things. These nouns have names and should be used often to tell our history.

3. Start grouping evidence (facts) into themes.

As you select evidence from what you know or have learned, start considering how the examples relate. Be creative with this process and know that it's iterative -- it may take several groupings and regroupings to end up with themes that work for your argument.

If you had to group the following events into thematic categories, how would you do it?

The following themes can be used to organize all of the events in the list above. These categories are not perfect and would likely change and improve based on the question or prompt. But they are an example of a starting place.

Conflict with native Americans

Events that unite Americans

Development of Mass Bay Colony

4. Use "cubing" to figure out the best argument to respond to the problem.

Once you know what evidence is available, you can begin to develop your argument. Sometimes the position is not so clear. That's why using a strategy like cubing can be so useful.

Finding Your Argument

5. Respond to the problem by formulating a thesis statement.

Writing a thesis statement is like doing anything. If you know what makes a thesis good and bad, you will be able to write good thesis statements by including the good elements and avoiding the bad.

Read the article and think of a recent thesis statement that you could rewrite to make it a good one.

Developing A Thesis .pdf

Thesis Statement Format

Although _____________ [alternative] is ____________ [main part of the question], __________ is the best [enter a superlative] ______________ because ....

Exemplar Thesis Statement

"While cultural forces contributed to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the disintegration of economies played the key role in driving its decline."

6.

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