Lesson: Analytic Writing Asessment - 04t03

Argument Analysis: Example Prompt

Here's the prompt we'll be working with today. Read it through, and then go on to the task below.

The following appeared as part of an article in the business section of a newspaper in the country of Freedonia: "Freedonia's commercial airline industry has experienced impressive growth over the past three years. This trend will surely continue in the years to come, since the airline industry will benefit from recent changes in Freedonian society. Incomes are rising, most employees now receive more vacation time, and interest in travel is rising as shown by an increase in media attention devoted to foreign cultures and tourist attractions."

Explain how logically persuasive you find this argument. In explaining your viewpoint, analyze the argument's line of reasoning and its use of evidence. Also explain what, if anything, would make the argument more valid and convincing or would help you better to evaluate its conclusion.

Task Identify the topic and scope.

Do so, in your head or on scratch paper, and then click Continue.

Task Note the conclusion, paraphrase it, and type it.

Do those things now. Locate the author's conclusion, and type your simple rewrite below. Then click Continue.

The conclusion is the main clause of the second sentence: "This trend will surely continue in the years to come." "Since," the word that follows, is always used to signify evidence. Indeed, all of the rest of the paragraph acts as support -- reasons -- for a highly optimistic prediction. Noting that last point, incidentally, would be a great way to start your essay:

This author's conclusion is a highly optimistic prediction about the future of commercial airlines in Freedonia. That past success, he believes, will continue.

Since Job One of this essay is to identify the conclusion, you might as well put it into your own words and type it right away. Bingo, you have an essay under way. (A good one, too.)

By the way, you can call the author "he" or "she." It doesn't matter as long as you're consistent. If you prefer, use a more impersonal "the author" or "the argument."

Countinue

Next to display next topic in the chapter.

A good rule of thumb is that your reader should be able to get the gist of your entire argument just by skimming the first sentence of each paragraph. Remember, your reader is probably going to devote no more than 3 to 5 minutes to your essay. Take a few minutes at the beginning of your AWA to outline the five sentences that will begin your paragraphs; this strategy can make your reader’s job far easier, and a happy reader is probably more apt to make those tricky 4/5 line calls in your favor. Similarly, the e-reader is programmed to assess organization, and well-written topic sentences that use transition words and clearly state the point of each paragraph are a big help in creating the kind of organizational structure that earns you points on test day.