- The argument is appropriately complex, based in a claim that emerges from and explores a ling of inquiry.
- The stakes of the argument, why what is being argued matters, are articulated and persausive.
- The argument involves analysis, which is the close scrutiny and examination of evidence and assumptions in support of a larger set of ideas.
- The argument is persuasive, taking into consideration counterclaims and multiple points of view as it generates its own perspective and position.
- The argument utilizes a clear ogranizational strategy and effective transitions that develop its line of inquiry.
|
Outcome #1
To produce complex, analytic, persuasive arguments that matter in academic contexts.
The first outcome pertains to argument. Students are required to "produce complex, analytic, persuasive arguments that matter in academic contexts." I believe one of my best examples of this was through my paper "Campaigns and Complaints". My argument states that Seventeen magazine, while it claims to promote healthy, independent young women, contains advertisements that promote just the opposite of this. I argue this claim using an article by Anandi Ramamurthy's entitled "Constructions of Illusion". The image of "beauty" Seventeen magazine promotes, creates a social hegemony that is harmful to our society today. The magazine also commodities the female body to make it appear desirable to those of the opposite sex. This raises the stakes of the claim immensely and implies there are massive effects on today's society by influencing thousands of young women (see excerpt 1).
I use the arguments from Ramamurthy's article and apply them to this much larger set of ideas. Throughout my paper, I analyzed four separate advertisements. I then related each of these to one of Ramamurthy's arguments about the commodification of women's bodies and the impacts this has on today's young woman (see excerpt 2). My line of inquiry is explored throughout my paper in an organized, effective way with smooth transitions from one idea to the next. I analyzed the evidence I presented very closely and, because of this, I was able to make assumptions about this evidence and relate it to the argument I was making.
Another example of this first outcome is evident in my paper entitled "Critiquing Fashion and Commodity Photography". This is another paper based on Ramamurthy's "Construction of Illusion" article. In this paper, I created a complex claim based on a Chanel fashion advertisement. I was able to form a persuasive argument for a point of view not many would take on the photograph featured in this advertisement. This paper exemplifies my ability to "consider counterclaims and multiple points of view" in creating a more persuasive argument (see excerpt 3).
This paper also "utilizes a clear organizational strategy and effective transitions" to further my claim. In this paper, I chose to first state the counterclaim to my argument- thus leaving me the entire paper to argue against this counterclaim. I believe this made my claim more forceful and by eliminating this claim towards the beginning of my paper, I was able to further develop my claim without a counterclaim hindering my argument. In both of these papers my transitions were also effective in keeping the flow of my paper. The argument I make each time is evident throughout the paper and is carried out through my transitions between thoughts (see excerpt 4).
|
|||||
|
