Academic argument
Write sustained academic arguments: positioning in a debate, signposting your contribution, and managing counter-positions across a long text.
In this lesson you will
- Position your argument within existing debate
- Signpost your contribution and structure
- Sustain and manage an argument over a long text
Learn
Positioning: academic arguments enter an ongoing conversation: While much research has focused on X, relatively little attention has been paid to Y. This paper argues that…
Signposting contribution and structure: This essay makes two contributions. First… Section 2 outlines… Section 3 then argues… Finally, I consider the implications for…
Metadiscourse guides readers: As noted above… ; I return to this point in Section 4. ; It is worth pausing here to consider…
Managing counter-positions: integrate objections where they are most relevant rather than in one isolated paragraph; show how your argument accounts for them.
Examples
- Existing studies have largely overlooked the role of informal networks.
- This essay argues that…, and in doing so challenges the assumption that…
- I return to this objection in the final section.
- It is worth pausing here to consider an alternative explanation.
Vocabulary
metadiscourse
language that comments on the text itself
positioning
locating your view within a debate
contribution
what your work adds
overlook
fail to notice
in doing so
by doing this
Practice
“While much research has focused on X, little attention has been paid to Y” is used to…
Speaking
Present the argument of your essay introduction as if at a conference, in 90 seconds.
Writing
Write the introduction (200–250 words) to an academic essay on a topic from your field: position the argument, state the thesis and contribution, and outline the structure.
- ☐ Positions the argument within existing debate
- ☐ Clear thesis
- ☐ States the contribution
- ☐ Outlines structure
- ☐ Appropriate metadiscourse
Lesson quiz
Metadiscourse is language about…
Review
Key points
- Position within debate.
- Signpost contribution and structure.
- Use metadiscourse.
- Integrate counter-positions.
What you learned
- ✓ I write sustained academic arguments.
- ✓ I position my work.
- ✓ I guide readers through long texts.