Writing tips & Toulmin’s Theory of

Argumentation

Professor Truex

Case Memo & writing Feedback(1) : Plagiarism

  Representing someone else’s words and thoughts as your own.   It is wrong, it is against the rules   It will result in a failing grade or worse (see the syllabus)

  Even in a simple case analysis ATTRIUBTE YOUR SOURCES

  IF you are quoting then enclose by quotes and identify the source and page number

  IF you are paraphrasing then say something akin to:   according to xxx …   The authors say that…

  The general principle is FULL DISCLOSURE, when in doubt err towards the conservative.

Professor Truex

Writing Feedback(2) : Grammar

  Seek grammatical clarity and simplicity as well as correctness.

  Pay attention to the noun objects, e.g., A system, the developers, an organization

  Be ruthless with verb noun agreement in tense and plural vs. singular use.

  To whom or what does your pronoun refer?   They were… --WHO were??

Professor Truex

Feedback(3) : Logical flow   Seek parsimony and clarity   Do you include the five W’s (Who, what, why, when and where)

  Should you write in the “royal ‘We’?   Carefully consider the issue of verb tense: past,

present, future, future perfect   ALL claims must be supported by warrants to the

claim’s efficacy and correctness!   Go to the theories of argumentation web site

  To whom or what does your pronoun refer?   They were… --WHO were??

  Limit the use of buzz words and abbreviations (and always make abbreviations clear when they are used)

Professor Truex

Toulmin's Layout of Argumentation

1.  Rhetorical instantiation of principles derived from formal logic

Professor Truex

Professor Truex

Feedback(4) – Rhetorical and Style points

  Make a bridge or transition between paragraphs   Support points/claims   Beware of gratuitous throw-away and filler

statements like:   As everybody knows (they don’t)   It is obvious or obviously (It rarely is ‘obvious’)   It is common knowledge that…   The general assumption is….

  Most parenthetical phrases (you know the added mid sentence material) appear to be after thoughts.   If it is important enough to include make it a separate

sentence. Otherwise dump it.

Professor Truex

Feedback(5) –Document format and style

  Not bullets but full sentences in well-formed paragraphs

  12 pt type, double space between paragraphs. Make it visibly easy on the reader’s eye.

Professor Truex

Feedback(6) --Rhetorical points

 Make a transition between paragraphs

  Support points/claims Don’t assume that the reader will follow, lead her.

  Beware of gratuitous throw-away and filler statements like:   As everybody knows (they don’t)   It is obvious or obviously (It rarely is ‘obvious’)   It is inevitable, right like the stock market will keep

going up