Revising for Purpose

Revising your paper is the most important thing a writer can do before being satisfied with the work. He points out that writers build relationships with their papers, like they would with when dating someone and it is tough for them to easily see the negatives. To break this bond with the paper, a writer needs to take the perspective of a reader in order to discover gaps in information or sections of the draft that need more development. He points out that it is best to start with a purpose of your paper, and writing a strong thesis tie in with the purpose. There are different ways a writer can revise their draft and each way is effective, giving the writer a different perspective on the paper. They can get feedback from readers that gives them another viewpoint to the paper. I have found it easiest to read a draft of my paper and have a couple highlighters present. It helps me distinct my input on the paper with the facts that I am taking from research, and allows for me to put my opinions in when needed. Revising for information helps me find quick facts that may be missing in the paper that could ultimately help prove my point in the argument. Also, reading the draft out loud helps me find holes in the paper because it does give me that viewpoint of the reader and if sentences are not making sense to me, chances are the reader isn't making sense of it either.

Revision Is Where The Money Is At

This reading made one point very clear to me: Revision is the single most important step in writing. This could not have been written any more resolutely. Ballenger devoted almost twenty pages to the topic of revision. In these pages Ballenger goes over many different strategies pertaining to the “re-searching” of topics. I thought that it was very interesting the way that he broke down the roots of the word ‘revising’. Taken literally, revising means, “looking again” which makes the word a lot more helpful. We are simply ‘looking again’ at our previous draft. There are many ways in which we can revise our drafts, and every technique offers a different benefit. Some of these methods are, getting an outside opinion, attacking the draft by cutting your paper into pieces, examining your thesis and listening to your voice. These are all good strategies for revision, but in my opinion, listening to my own voice is the most effective method. Using this technique, I read the essay out loud to myself. I have always loved using this method. When a writer gets bogged down by work, it becomes very easy to start using canned phrases. The writer fills page after page with words that, while they make sense, do not make the writer’s voice readily apparent. Whenever I use this process I come across entire paragraphs in which I ramble on in someone else’s words; not making my own voice heard above the din of clichéd subjects and everyday predicates. Typically when I read my work out loud to myself I keep a pen or marker on hand, instantly rewriting sentences that do not sound like me.
Another great benefit of reading your draft out loud is that it makes grammar adjustments go much more smoothly. A lot of times a sentence will seem to have perfect structure on paper, but when you try to read through it out loud, you get caught on certain parts of the sentence. This fact makes this particular method even more beneficial for someone who does not have people to help with the correction of papers. It is amazing how much your ears pick up, that your eyes do not.

Improper Treatment of Sports Injuries

        Injuries in athletics are impossible, for the most part, to avoid.  A main concern for participants in the sports world today is how to deal with these injuries.  Athletes, physicians and coaches need to handle injuries in a more cautious way in order to allow athletes to heal properly before returning to their sport.  However many athletes do not give themselves enough time to recover completely.  Playing injured puts athletes at a greater risk to develop more major injuries that can effect their life for the long term.  In her psychological study about sports injuries, Jane Crossman found that most athletes and coaches can have unrealistic goals concerning how quickly an injured player should be allowed back into the game.  

       Being naturally competitive, athletes want to get back to playing as soon as possible; it’s an athlete’s instinct to fight through whatever pain they have in order to continue playing in the sport they love.  According to British football manager Gernald Houlier, this type of athletic character is considered a “good attitude”.  Players with this wrongly labeled “good attitude” are willing play no matter what kind of pain they may be in.  The “good attitude” characteristic is looked positively upon by other managers, coaches and teammates despite the negative effects that could come as a result of playing through pain.  

        Take former NFL player Kyle Turley for example.  As Yahoo! Sports writer Michael Silver reports, Turley had received various minor head “dings” throughout his football career.  However in 2003, during a game against Kentucky while Turley was playing for the St. Louis Rams, he was knocked unconscious after receiving a huge blow to the helmet.  Although Turley was pulled from the game, he did not receive proper treatment, even after his “bizarre” behavior that occurred in the locker room later that night according to his teammates.  Years later Turley is suffering from blackouts, collapsing and seizures due to these untreated injuries.  Turley is now showing symptoms of what doctors believe is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).  Shocked and irritated by these life threaten results, Turley wants to sue the NFL after realizing how many times he had been simply put into a dark room to recover from various minor concussions throughout the years instead of being properly treated.  As a result of his frustration, Turley has come up with many plans and ideas to prevent future athletes from going the suffering he now has to live with.  

      Kyle Turley’s story has opened the eyes of the NFL.  The NFL realizes that they have given unacceptable medical care in the past, and according to Michael Silver, they wish to improve their methods in dealing with injuries.  To enhance medical care, athletes need to develop a great amount of trust with their physicians.  Many physicians face pressure from coachers and employers to “heal” an athlete in the fastest way possible.  A majority of doctors fall into this pressure and resort to giving athletes a high amount of pain killers.  An athlete needs to be able to fully trust their physician, quite literally, with their lives.  Every athlete must have full faith that their physician is treating them in the best way possible to help them heal quickly as well as healthily.

Athletics: The Major Money Machine

Boise State University has a predicted budget for 2010 of over 350 million dollars. That can go a long way toward building the university, expanding academic success and providing the best post secondary education that its students can receive. Of that 350 million dollar budget, it is a popular belief that much of that is spent on athletics. A new press box and suites in the football stadium, a new indoor practice facility, renovations to the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, and a completely new track facility are all reasons why people think money is being thrown to the athletic department without discretion. However, closer examination of where that money comes from and how it’s distributed shows a much different story.
According to the 2010 financial plan for Boise State 350 million dollars is the expected budget, and of that 350 million dollars, the athletic department receives a mere 5 percent of the entire budget from the school, contrary to what many people believe. Considering the fact that athletics is the face of the university and the major marketing tool that Boise State has, then that small amount of money is not nearly enough. If one complains that athletics receives too much money, they must also consider that instruction receives over 88 million dollars, scholarship funds get 75 million annually and even the library receives 7 million, 2 million more than the athletic department! Too much money for athletics? Considering what the athletic department brings in, 5 million may not be enough.
The biggest moment in Boise State history was the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over football powerhouse Oklahoma. Frank Zang, Boise State’s director of communications and marketing said, “Athletics is a window to the university and the Fiesta Bowl journey provided unprecedented media coverage of the university, valued at between $100-$150 million.” 150 million dollars in return for a 5 million dollar investment (across the entire athletic department, not just football) means that Boise State brought in 33 times more money than they spent! Those statistics tell us the bold truth that athletic spending is a wise investment. That one game brought so much to Boise State where we have seen enrollment grow by 4,000 students since then. Jessica Hill, an incoming student from Seattle said, “I never even knew there was a university in Boise until the Fiesta Bowl. I cam through here a lot driving with my family to Utah, but I had no clue about Boise State.” The athletic department is what brings money and attention to our university.
The financial return from athletics is one of the biggest sources of income for any university and as any economist can tell you, to make money, you must spend money. Despite popular opinion, athletics does not receive most of the money from the universities budget, they get very little, but bring in nearly 30 percent of the universities funds annually. The athletic department is funded in a large part by donors, and not the university. However, with what is spent on athletics and the return that comes, it’s clear that athletics is a huge part of the budget, not in terms of spending, but in terms of income. Athletics fund the rest of the universities functions and operations. Athletics funds academics! It’s the money machine.

The problem with hobbies II

Hobbies are great, but the pursuit of them can often interfere with the family life. I am interested in racing, however the involvement needed is too great for me to pursue the sport I love. As a father, my family needs me to be more involved with the interests of my children. The only way for me to pursue my passion is to support my kids if they choose to race. Hobbies have many benefits. These benefits can be a drawback if not nurtured in the correct manner.
The foremost benefit of racing is the time required to enable one to race the next weekend. If a child's enjoyment of racing is nurtured correctly it is more likely that the child will refrain from delinquent acts. A sociology study, called Socialization Via Interscholastic Athletics: Its Effects on Delinquency" found in Sociology of Education found, “rates of delinquency (from court records) were highest for students who engaged in no extracurricular activities.” Racing is a time-demanding sport. One must work on a car throughout the week to ensure that it is in optimum condition for the next race. This time intensive work ensures that the child is busy and not out “running a muck.” The saying “idle hands are the devil's playground” says it best; if a child is bored they are more likely to cause trouble. The time involved with racing has a secondary benefit, it strengthens the bond between the child and the parents.
Travis Anderson, a late model driver, recounts the memory of spending all weekend in an R.V. with his parents,“the time we spent together (in the camper) helped me bond with my parents.” The more time spent together on a common goal the stronger the bond between a parent and a child. This is evident in the bond between my wife and our daughter. Carmon is the youngest, so while the older two boys were at school, my wife was able to spend an unequaled amount of time with our daughter. Now consequently our daughter is very attached to my wife, more so than the boys are. Hobbies, if pursued by the family as a family, can help the family ties become so strong that the family will become an insurmountable force. On the other hand, if pursued individually, the hobby has the ability to weaken a family's bond to a point that the family bond is easily splintered. Hobbies also have an ability to teach children how to become better, more responsible people.
Most people who race have a “day job.” The drivers that I have spoke with have emphasized that they have this job so that they can pay their bills and hopefully have enough to race. Gale Carter, a driver at Meridian raceway, admitted, “Racing is a drive for me to be responsible. Keep my bills paid, then try to come up with enough extra to support my racing.” The same is true for most hobbies, they all teach us to be better individuals. What better way to exemplify these values than to sacrifice what we may love, in order to support our children's love?

Atheltics Success and Money

350 million dollars can go a long way. That's the 2010 budget at Bosie State University. Each fiscal year, that budget is broken down into departments, divisions, and programs; each recieving a share of that lottery. Some people believe that athletics recieves too much of that money, however, when we look close, that's not the case at all. Of the 350 million, only about 5 percent will be spent on athletics. Compare that to nearly 33 percent on instruction and almost 25 percent on scholarships, and athletics recieves in comparison, very little. In fact, even the library recieves more money anually that the athletic department. Money from donors is not calculated into this because that is independent of the 350 million that Boise State brings in annually and donors can spend their own money when and where they want. Many of them chose to spend it on athletics because sports are the major marketing tool of any university. Donors paid a large part of the new Stuekle Sky Suites at the staduim. Donors contributed large amounts of money to build the new indoor practice facility. Currently, plans are underway for a new track where East Junior High once stood and donations have already begun flowing. This generosity is often misconstued into what the public sees as needless spending on athletics when that money could be going toward academics. They don't realize however, how much money academics actually recieves and that athletics recieves a very small portion of that budget, despite athletics being the face of Boise State.

Steroid Effecting Life

Steroids and performance enhancing drugs may seem like they benefit a baseball player's body during his playing years, but in reality he is setting his body up for failure during his post career days. I believe players should not suffer the consequence of having their stats tampered with in the record books, and also being banned from the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. One aspect of steroids that I would like to focus on is the negative effects it has on one’s body because the long-term effects take a toll on a person who abuses steroids. Alex Rodgriguez stated, "I knew I was setting my post-career up for failure after I suffered a minor neck strain that eventually went into my spine and I couldn't even move my head to either side" (A-Rod Interview ESPN). It is evident that steroids start attacking the muscles of people, causing a deterioration over time. Also, “However the most severe harmful effects are expressed in adolescent consumers of steroids." The stunted growth may result in teenagers since increased levels of estrogen may result in the epiphyseal fusion and hold back the lengthening of bones. The reduced expression of secondary sexual characteristics is also a result of adolescent steroid abuse. This supports the fact that if teenagers who are into sports are taking steroids, it would be near impossible to expand one’s opportunities on the field of play if they are taking steroids. This is why people could make a case that steroids are only helping athletes get a mental edge because of what they think steroids are doing for their bodies in a positive manner. Steroid rage is a huge side effect that people experience when taking steroids. However, most athletes are unaware that they are taking a banned substance. It is not until the substance is mixed with the chemicals one’s body naturally produces on the inside to become a steroid (Roberts, Anthony). Lastly, why are steroids such a huge topic in the new millennium when steroids have been used even by the baseball players who have been retired for 20 years? “Also, substance abuse rules have not always been in effect. Throughout sports, committees are buckling down on substances used by athletes in order to control what each person is taking” (Wilson, Wayne & Derse, Edward).

Golf, The Great Teacher

Teachers are human. This is why people will always have trouble learning from them. Don’t get me wrong, teachers do everything humanly possible to insert things into our brains. Teachers work tirelessly to create thinkers out of all of their students. Unfortunately people do not learn well from other people. This fact can frustrate many teachers, causing them to think apathetically about most students. This apathy causes them to put less effort into their lessons. They move on from lesson to lesson, not particularly interested in whether or not the students are grasping everything that they are teaching.

This is the reason that golf is such a great teacher. Golf hits you with the same lessons, over and over, until you have fully grasped the concept. When a person tries to play the game without learning the lessons, they keep getting hit by the same problems. For instance, a man who has a problem with humility will have a big problem when he plays golf. From the first hole on, he will be humbled by the difficulty of the game. After just a few rounds of golf, a prideful person will either become humble, or quit the game. It is this repetitive teaching style that makes golf such a great teacher.

Children benefit the most from this type of teaching. When a teacher moves on from a valuable lesson, it can mess up a child’s entire education. Golf can provide a place for children to learn these valuable lessons from a teacher who does not stop until the lesson has been learned.

The problem with hobbies

Hobbies are great, but the pursuit of them can often interfere with the family life. I am interested in racing, however the involvement need to race is too great for me to pursue the sport I love. As a father, my family needs me to be more involved with the interests of my children. The only way for me to pursue my passion is to support my kids if they choose to race. Hobbies have many benefits. These benefits can be a drawback if not nurtured in the correct manner.
The foremost benefit of racing is the time required to enable one to race the next weekend. If a child's enjoyment of racing is nurtured correctly it is more likely that the child will refrain from delinquent acts. A sociology study, called Socialization Via Interscholastic Athletics: Its Effects on Delinquency" found in Sociology of Education found, “rates of delinquency (from court records) were highest for students who engaged in no extracurricular activities.”. Racing is a time-demanding sport. One must work on a car throughout the week to ensure that it is in optimum condition for the next race. This time intensive work ensures that the child is busy and not out “running a muck.” The saying “idle hands are the devil's playground” says it best; if a child is bored they are more likely to cause trouble. The time involved with racing has a secondary benefit, it strengthens the bond between the child and the parents.
Travis Anderson, a late model driver, recounts the memory of spending all weekend in an R.V. with his parents,“the time we spent together (in the camper) helped me bond with my parents.” The more time spent together on a common goal the stronger the bond between a parent and a child. This is evident in the bond between my wife and our daughter. Carmon is the youngest, so while the older two boys were at school, my wife was able to spend an unequaled amount of time with our daughter. Now consequently our daughter is very attached to my wife, more so than the boys are. Hobbies, if pursued by the family as a family, can help the family ties become so strong that the family will become an insurmountable force. On the other hand, if pursued individually, the hobby has the ability to weaken a family's bond to a point that the family is easily splintered. Hobbies also have an ability to teach children how to become better, more responsible people.
Most people who race have a “day job.” The drivers that I have spoke with have emphasized that they have this job so that they can pay their bills and hopefully have enough to race. Gale Carter, a driver at Meridian raceway, admitted, “Racing is a drive for me to be responsible. Keep my bills paid, then try to come up with enough extra to support my racing.” The same is true for most hobbies, they all teach us to be better individuals. What better way to exemplify these values than to sacrifice what we may love, in order to support our children's love?

Writing a paper is like playing football. In order to have a good offense, you need to have a good defense. The football team cannot advance with just their offense, they need their defense to make them stronger and make their results stand out more prominently.

A similar concept exists when writing any paper that argues that an idea, argument or product etc is better than any other. A paper will go nowhere just by stating why one opinion is the best or the right point of view without any "back up". Sports teams launch their defenses immediately; protecting their offense from the get go.

The same strategy is useful when authoring an opinion or argumentative paper; it is imperative to "clear the air" from the start by discussing what the opposing view point or critics believe. By following this model it allows for a much clearer paper and the reader comes away more knowledgeable and better able to understand your argument and then decide if they agree with your findings.


One of the most important aspects of writing any paper is clarity. If the aim is to sway the intended audience into agreeing with your point of view then a well written and concise argument must be made and this game plan should be followed: be clear about your stance from the very start, explain what the other side says and why they say it, and then make a convincing and succinct argument that proves why your position is the best. Game over.

Using "They Say"

When a person is forming an argument it seems very odd to introduce an opposing argument. The majority of people try to avoid doing this; pretending like their's is the only argument. So why would we do this? Why would we bring up a viewpoint contrary to our own? One reason is that we can strengthen our own arguments by weakening others. When I use an opposing argument to bolster my own I like to imagine that my argument is a fire, and opposing arguments are wood. When I introduce the opposing arguments, my argument not only destroys them, but grows bigger and stronger because of it.

Another reason to introduce an opposing argument to your audience is to take the strong points of that claim and use them to capture the idea of your own argument. In this style you say, "I agree with him when he says____, but the way he wraps up his argument is incorrect."This method not only helps to bolster the legitimate strength of your claim, but also develops you as an intelligent and unbiased author in the eyes of your audience.

They Say

In order to form a well thought out argument you must have an opposing argument. Using the "they say" idea helps us to present a point in our arguments. The "they say" method can create a stance for us to take, and help present that stance to the reader. When using what others think we can agree, disagree, or both. If the ideas of others are used correctly in an argument, regardless of the stance we take, it will help us to improve the formation of our own ideas. If we disagree, other's ideas give us something to argue against. If we agree, it allows us a starting point to develop on. If we agree with part, but disagree with another part, it allows the opportunity to interject our own voice, and argue why part of it is wrong. The saying "it takes two to Tango" is correct. We need a voice to develop a good argument. If we do not use an other's point of view we might as well be arguing with ourselves. When we use other's ideas we actually improve our side of the argument.

In an argument it is important to use what others say, but you must interject your own feelings or analysis promptly. If we do not develop our thought immediately we leave the reader to develop their own ideas. In an argument this is not advantageous. In an argument we want to tell the reader how they should feel, before they have time to figure out how they feel. This method helps create a strong argument. After the reader is done with reading about our point of view, then we want them to form their own ideas, but not before we are done.

George Orwell Response

In his writing, George Orwell seems to be extremely irritated with the way the English language has been used recently.  Orwell expresses his concern with the English language, especially in politics, by giving examples of typical mistakes made.  One mistake I can easily relate to is one’s failure to translate or paraphrase ideas while still keeping the same meaning.  He demonstrates this by translating a passage from Ecclesiastes into “modern english” from “good english”.  This example of paraphrasing by Orwell shows that if a writer does not take the time to examine the original writing thoroughly, then “concrete illustrations [...] can dissolve into vague phrases”.  For most writers it may be difficult to fully illustrate an idea in their own words.  Writers have to face challenges when it comes to conveying an idea: do not use meaningless or empty words, do not use too few words (missing the whole idea all together) or do not shape the idea to fit your own meaning.  Orwell wants us to get pass using hollow words or complex phrasing that can lead us to become “human machines”.  In everyday conversations we can point out some the typical metaphors or phrases that Orwell lists.  How many of the individuals involved in these conversations know the true meaning of the these metaphors or understand the wordy phrases?  The purpose of Orwell’s essay is to offer suggestions to turn from the laziness of the English language; Orwell’s desire is for writers to flee from vague meaningless writing.

While reading Orwell’s response I found myself comparing much of what he used as negative examples to what I do as a writer.  As I’m sure many writers do, I fall into the ease of replacing words with something that does not quite fulfill an image.  As Orwell pointed out, “the writer either has a meaning and cannot express it, or he inadvertently says something else, or he is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything or not”.  I do this all the time in my writing.  I regularly use a thesaurus while writing, and though sometimes this can be very useful, it also tempts me to use words that may not have the meaning to what I am trying to state.  For my argument paper I hope to meditate on Orwell’s writing to avoiding falling into the cycle of lazy writing.

Orwell Response

The author seems irritated that people do not take the correct steps to create an argument paper that catches the attention of the reader. In the essay he states that the development of language needs to increase and it is curable. For the most part language is a major influence on the way we write papers. Writers' become vague in their papers and it ultimately gives the paper a lack of focus. Orwell wants writers to get to the point and make it thorough. He also states that creating imagery, expressing private opinions, and papers that contain precision are things that allow a paper to be enjoyed. Orwell also gives tips to writers when writing a paper that include never using a large word when a small one will do.

The entire point of this essay is to get writers' to be more prepared when they are writing future papers. I thought metaphors were good for a paper but it looks like the author thinks metaphors are unnecessary. Orwell does a good job in not trying to "fix" all the mistakes writers make, but he makes it so writers like myself can improve with each paper. Orwell gives interesting facts about past writings and clearly points out mistakes to make it easier on each person reading this essay.

Orwell Response

This reading made me blush. How do we write? Orwell's frustration with writing, and language si aparent. The vagueness of which we write is appaling. "There is nothing new under the sun," applies to writing as well. I was shocked realizing what lazy attributes lay exposed in my writings. The thought occured to me as I was reading that many of the phrases we use everyday, in spoken and written language, have already been plucked from the tree of knowledge. How do we as writers, convey a point using words and phrases that are vague by nature? It is nearly impossible to write a meaningful paper while using these phrases. A point is exactly as it sounds, a point as if on the tip of a needle, sharp. Using vague and often murky language trying to develop a point, is like using a ball to sew. The only time that language should be used is to confuse or bore the reader into reliquishment of their own thoughts.

The reading is important to all writers of an argument. Development of the language we use in the paper helps us to project our idea clearly. A murky argument is easily dismissed, due to the lack of thought. A writer must develop his thought and his language. If his thought is not complete his point will suffer. As will his point suffer with the use of poor language.

"Writing an Argument" Reading Response

Arguing is a part of human nature.  Every family has a father like Ballenger’s that is fond of arguing just for the thrill of the argument.  In his writing, Ballenger takes on the task of explaining how to develop a good argument, whether it be an informal op-ed or a formal academic paper.  Ballenger focuses on how important it is for a writer to have both strong opinions, but to be open to other explanations and ways of thinking.  I see this demonstrated in my person life with my family, similar to Ballenger’s.  Arguing at family get togethers is nothing unusual.  Within the arguments, family members may have extremely different opinions, but they are open to what is being discussed around them.  As Ballenger stated, “[...] they often were getting along because argument and conflict in some cultures is an expression of commitment and caring” (203).  But how do we go from informal dinner table arguments to formal persuasive essays or argument papers?  

Before investigating our argument, we have to make sense of our preconceived viewpoints and assumptions, or warrants as Toulman states it.  As a writer we have to explore different aspects to either support or change our warrants.  In order to do this, Ballenger suggests that we need to stop thinking about our argument as black or white, with two simple sides.  Developing an argument is complex and may have more sides than those that first appear.  According to Ballenger, an arguer does not simply pick sides, but searches for the truth.  “This is an open-ended as well as a closed process; it involves suspending judgement and coming to conclusions, hearing what has already been said and discovering what you think” (208).  This holds true in both formal arguments along with informal op-eds.

Reading Ballenger’s explanations and opinions on what contributes to a good argument has been very informative.  Ballenger pointed out on more than on occasion that some argument papers do not first state their thesis at the beginning of their paper.  I found this very interesting, having always included my thesis in introductions myself.  However, having a delaying thesis seems very reasonable.  While writing an argument paper, you work towards your thesis through research and exploration, coming across different ideas that may have not reached your attention before.  Along with the delayed thesis idea, Ballenger’s emphasis on the importance of providing evidence to support claims has allowed me to become aware of how crucial it is to gather enough information to do this.  Overall this read has prepared me with ideas and explanations to get started writing an argument paper.

Ballenger and Argument

Merely an hour before doing this reading response I was engaged in a discussion with my wife over the point and necessity of general education requirements. I argued that they were mainly a waste of my time as most of them have very little to do with my chosen course of study. I told her I was never going to use what I learned in those classes; so what was the point in taking them in the first place? My wife argued that they were necessary in molding students and making them more well rounded and better educated. A few minutes after as my wife looked over the requirements she would need for her History degree she realized she would have to take three science classes. Suddenly, she no longer argued for the general education requirements but rather started expounding over the uselessness of needing science to teach history.

Ballenger uses this very example in his chapter to convey that there are usually more than two sides to every argument. He states: "...it would be misleading to think that these are the only two possible positions on general education requirements in American universities." My wife found herself torn between these positions and thinking about it more deeply rather than accepting one over the other. Ballenger discusses method of discovery and evaluation which are invaluable tools in argument. Using my wife as an example again: Jessica realized after further thought that although science is often viewed as being on the opposite side of the spectrum from the study of history; in actuality there are certain science courses that strengthen the study of history. Learning the scientific method of inquiry, hypotheses and investigation can aid the history student as they research and delve into complex concepts. Ballenger's model follows a similar guide: investigate, explore, explain, reflect.


If one uses serious inquiry and a deeper thought process we can expand our knowledge by looking at an argument from more than the standard two sided view. Introspection into arguments and ideas allows us to gain a deeper understanding for the topic at hand. This corresponds with Ballenger's following point: " To argue well is an act of imagination, not a picking of sides."

I hope that as I continue to work on my paper I can keep this model and basis in my mind as I delve into the different sides and arguments that are pertinent to my subject matter.

Response to Writing an Argument

Ballenger is writing to explain how to correctly construct a proper argument paper. I think a major point he is trying to get accross is that catching the attention of the reader is the most important thing when writing the argument paper, and there are ways to prove your point when writing the paper that makes it worth reading. The closed argument model consists of a pre-existing opinion or belief about the topic, gathering evidence to support your opinion, and an argument for pre-existing beliefs with reasons and evidence to support. All these components are key in a successful argument. Ballenger also explains the different methods of development of an argument paper and which techniques a writer can use to be successful. These include a narrative, question to answer, problem to solution, cause to effect or effect to cause, and using evidence. He goes off into the importance of evidence and how it can make or break your argument and also states that there are not only two sides to every argument. If you argue a side opposed to another side there is a good chance the argument will be weak. Instead, writers should "respect the complexcity of the subject and examine it from a variety of perspectives and not just the two opposing sides."

Ballenger's guide has greatly helped me especially in the sense that I will no longer be so closed minded in my views of the argument. I think it is important to know that I can still strongly get my point across to the reader, but give different perspectives on the topic that can ultimately make my point even stronger. I believe that evidence is something writers take for granted because they have such strong feelings for the topic that the opinions of others are not put into perspective. At the same time, evidence can contrast with some aspects of a writer's paper, which is why I think Ballenger makes a good point about getting different perspectives on complex subjects. With this guideline I will be more prepared to compare and contrast my ideas with more than just one other perspective on my topic.

The Curious Writer Reading Response

In this chapter, Ballenger is explaining how to properly form an argument paper. Of course, to begin writing an argument paper we must know how to clearly form an argument. Logical fallacies aside, an argument has many other components that can affect its clarity. The British born philosopher, Stephen Toulmin, developed an outline for a properly constructed argument. In this "Toulmin Model" a person must create a claim out of clear data. The first step in forming an argument by Toulmin's standards is to develop a warrant from the data that leads to a claim. The warrant is just the logical steps that you take to arrive at your claim. After you have warranted a claim you must qualify this claim with both backing and rebuttal. Backing is the point at which you qualify your claim by simply restating the logical process involved in your warrant. After this you rebut yourself; introducing and refuting claims that can be made in opposition to your own. I have spent a lot of time in argument over my life, and I have found that good arguments always have this form (Toulmin).

Now what would this form look like? Well it starts with data. For the sake of starting an argument, I am going to say that from the years 2007 through 2009 the total national banana import fell by eight million bananas in the United States. Coinciding with this data is the fact that the hip fracture numbers in the US fell by two-thousand fractures. Now I have my data. At this point I start to analyze this data, applying a basic logical conclusion. As banana imports fell, so did hip fracture rates. I can now create a claim that banana peels are the leading cause of hip fractures in the US. My warrant is simple; as A fell so did B, thus A falling causes B to fall. This is simple logic. Now I must qualify this claim. I could simply state that the numbers are obvious and they do not lie; a sort of appeal to the unwavering ethical stature of numbers. I then rebut myself by saying that there are those who claim that hip fractures are caused by osteoporosis. This is an easy claim to refute because I can state that osteoporosis does not break the bones, it simply makes them break easier. I now have a complete argument. This claim may not be accurate but it is legitimate simply because of its form. I try to never include an argument in any of my writing that does not follow this guideline.

Toulmin, Stephen. The Uses of Argument. 2nd. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1958. Print.

Reading Response

Ballenger is trying to convey how to correctly form an argument paper. He starts by giving examples on the formation of an argument. This formation is an important part to the argument, without a correct idea, or hypothesis, an argument will be weak, or non-convincing. Arguments, or discussions are a way to gain knowledge. So if an argument paper is formed weakly no one will learn the point of view the author is trying to convey. He is also trying to help his reader develop the argument paper by explaining the different aspects of an argument paper. He explains that there are different ways to write an argument paper, narrative, question to answer, problem to solution, effect to cause, or cause to effect, or a combination of these. These forms help shape the idea that the author has into a cognitive paper. He also explains that the argument paper must contain evidence, and analysis. These are very effective means to persuade the audience to "see things your way." Through the formation, development, evidence, and analysis we can convey our ideas in a clear and concise manner to inform the audience of our point of view.

This is a very informative guide at this point of our paper. It should help us by giving us ideas on the formation of our paper. After reading this, I had some of the inspiration I needed to get started on the writing of my own paper. Up until this point the ideas I had were a jumbled mess in my brain. Ideas that did not flow smoothly together, and ideas that I wanted to talk about, but had no fluidity with other ideas. This reading allowed those ideas to take form, and start becoming a cognitive paper.

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