Chapter 3 Notes

o   Types of Supports

§  Anecdote

·      A brief story that illustrates a point you are making

§  Facts

·      Information that is verifiable through general sources

o   Encyclopedia

o   History book

o   Biographical dictionary

§  Quantitative Data

·      Statistical information

·      More than just numbers

o   You might report on trends

·      You should document – give credit to- the sources where you find this information

§  Expert Testimony

·      You could quote the expert directly or put his/her points in your own words by summarizing or paraphrasing them

·      Citing anecdotes, facts, statistics and experts is one way to appeal to logos

·      Documenting such information establishes your ethos

o   Writers at Work

§  Don’t let other writer’s points of view effect your own.

o   The Relationship of Sources to Audience

§  Make sure you know whom your audience is!

·      A general audience

·      The audience will expect a more formal approach for something written for a literary magazine for writers

·      Scholars and Researchers

o   The Synthesis Essay

§  Requires you to use outside sources, sources that have been assigned to you, or sources that are part of your classroom readings

§  Your goal is the same as that of the more experienced writers

·      Use sources to support and illustrate your own ideas and to establish your credibility as a member of the academic community that values the “conversation” created by different voices

§  Citing your sources

·      Informal in-text citations

·      Formal in-text parenthetical documentation

·      End-of-paper Works Cited List

o   MLA

§  You MUST document sources to give credit where credit is due

o   Identifying the Issues: Recognizing Complexity

§  A compelling argument leaves the reader thinking, questioning, considering, and reconsidering

§  Anticipate objections to your position and recognize and respect the complexities of your topic

§  Recognize there are more than two sides to an issue

o   Formulating Your Position

§  Before formulating you position, take stock of the issues

·      Ask yourself questions to make sure you understand the writing and to help form your ideas for your argument

o   Incorporating Sources: Inform Rather than Overwhelm

§  Don’t simply summarize or paraphrase a series of texts, but rather cite your sources