Style and Word Choice

Style (i.e. your word choice) is an important factor that contributes to the persuasiveness of your argument

Academic, argumentative essays should employ formal, appropriate language◦ Establishes a tone of seriousness and credibility◦ Avoid slang and colloquial terms◦ Consider your use of jargon

If your intended readers include a general audience, they may not understand jargon

Connotations◦ Words with different connotations can be used to give

different portrayals of the same event◦ Example: Same event described with different word

choiceNeutral

Students from the Labor Action Committee carried out a hunger strike to call attention to the university’s low wages.

NegativeAgitators and radicals tried to use self-induced starvation to force the university to cave in to their demands.

PositiveChampions of human rights put their bodies on the line to protest the university’s unfair policy of low wages.(Lunsford, Ruszkiewicz, and Walters 311)

Variety◦ It’s best to include variety in your writing, so your

writing doesn’t become repetitive and your reader doesn’t get bored

◦ Avoid: Starting multiple sentences with the same word, esp.

if the sentences are in the same paragraph Using many short, choppy sentences or sentence

fragments Using many overly-long, run-on sentences Listing an extensive series of rhetorical questions

Punctuation can be a key component of a writer’s style

Academic essays should adhere to conventional punctuation style◦ Avoid creative punctuation◦ Avoid unconventional punctuation such as those

used in online communication: Smiley face emoticons Asterisks for emphasis (ex. “You *must* come!”)

Semicolon◦ Connects two independent clauses of similar idea

Independent clauses are complete sentences that contain a subject and a verb

◦ Can often be substituted with a period◦ Can be used when listing with internal commas◦ Examples:

If you think two ideas are similar, then join them with a semicolon; otherwise, replace the semicolon with a period.

I went to the grocery store and bought meats, such as chicken, pork, and ham; as well as vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuce, and carrots; and drinks, such as milk and coffee.

Exclamation Point◦ Can be used to add emphasis◦ Use sparingly

Too many exclamation marks can be irritating and create a heated tone, as if the writer is shouting at the reader An academic argument is not a shouting match; instead,

academic arguments should be presented in an even, formal tone, discussing evidence in a logical manner

Ellipsis◦ Three periods (…)◦ Indicates pause or hesitation◦ Indicates omitted text when quoting

Example: “These scans […] can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, solve weight and addiction issues, overcome marital conflicts, and treat […] a variety of mental illnesses ranging from depression to anxiety to ADHD” (Crockett). Ellipsis should be preceded and followed by a space, and

can be enclosed in brackets, although brackets are not required.

Do not use ellipses at the start or end of the quotation.

For more information, the Purdue OWL is a good resource:◦ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/6/

Crockett, Molly. “Beware Neuro-bunk.” TEDSalon. Unicorn Theatre, London, England, UK. 07 Nov. 2012. Conference Presentation.

Lunsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters. Everything’s an Argument with Readings. 6th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. Print.