Genre Conventions
22 Argument and Digital Writing
by the Excelsior Online Writing Lab
So, by now, you must feel like you’re becoming an expert in all of this argument stuff, even though there is a lot take in. However, before you conclude any lessons in writing good arguments, it’s important to think about the different forms arguments can take.
It’s not all about the essays, and though they are likely to be an important part of most college classes, digital writing is likely to play a role as well. You may be asked to create an argumentative presentation to supplement your essay, or you may be asked to create a web page or photo essay instead.
When you enter the world of digital writing, the same rhetorical principals will apply: You have to think about your audience, purpose, and voice, and you have to consider your persuasiveness by thinking about how you will appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos. It’s just the medium of presentation might be different.
The following pages will offer some important tips on creating arguments in digital environments and link you to some additional resources, which can be helpful as you work with the technology.
Argumentative Presentations
All good presentations have a clear purpose, and an argumentative presentation will have a clear argumentative purpose.
Many college students are required to build presentations to present information to an audience, and your writing class is likely no different. Chances are, you’ll use PowerPoint, Prezi, or some other presentation software to build a presentation that would present your argument to a broader audience.
Before you begin to build your presentation, be sure to review the tips and help on creating effective PowerPoints and Prezis in the Online Writing & Presentations area of the Excelsior OWL. Then, remember the lessons you have learned about building a good argument and apply those to your presentation.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Remember to present your thesis statement or main idea clearly, and remember it should present your argument.
- Provide the highlights of your evidence from your essay (if you are building from an essay) or simply focus on the key points of evidence from your research.
- Remember to address the opposition. How you do this will depend upon your goals and the type of argument you are making, but you should always do it.
- Use images relevant to your points as evidence. Images are powerful and are important pieces of an effective presentation.
- Always cite your sources
The sample video linked below was created using Prezi by a student in a beginning writing class. She took an essay she had written on issues in the clothing industry (Cheap Thrills: The Price of Fast Fashion) and developed a Prezi to share with a broader audience. Click here to see how one student developed an argumentative presentation for her writing class.
Argument and the Web
Fortunately, there are plenty of free sites out there that offer free web space and e