Developing an Argument

Argument [a. F. argument (13th c.), ad. L. argment-um, f. argure (or refashioning, after this, of OF. arguement, f. arguer).]: 4. A connected series of statements or reasons intended to establish a position (and, hence, to refute the opposite); a process of reasoning; argumentation. [Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition (1989)]

The vast majority of your paper will be dedicated to providing supporting evidence for your thesis. A primary characteristic of a good research paper is the strength of its evidence. Three key features of good evidence in a research paper are: 1) the authoritativeness of your sources, 2) your critical engagement of these sources, and 3) your purposeful arrangement of the evidence.

The authoritativeness of your source is a matter of evaluating the accuracy and currency of the information. One traditional method of evaluating the accuracy of information is determining the reliability of the author and/or publishing agency, e.g., what are their qualifications and/or reputation as an authority on your topic? Many times you will not know the credentials of a specific author (you should try to determine this), but you might know the relative merits of the organization that has overseen the review, editing, and publication of a work (e.g., you might not know that George Marsden is a distinguished historian, but the publication of his book by Oxford University Press is one indication of its quality). This is of special importance in using online sources for support of your thesis. The vast majority of online information is not authoritative evidence. When citing online sources your argument will be suspect to discerning readers unless you take special care to demonstrate the authority of the author or publishing agency.

Your critical engagement of the sources should involve entering into dialogue with them, summarizing, integrating, and assessing their importance to your argument. The term “critical” is often used by instructors to describe the thinking and writing that characterizes excellent research papers. “Critical” here means “careful, exact evaluation and judgment;” sometimes this will mean that you find fault with your sources. Avoid a flat reading and simplistic copying and quoting of your sources that does not synthesize your findings into a coherent presentation. Describe and explain the evidence to your reader.

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Last Updated: 4/11/2006