Writing a Rogerian Argument Essay

Topic: Implimenting a policy of your workplace going to a 4-day work week. Create a Rogerian arguement for the positive.

Word choice is very important to this type of writing. Make sure your language is neutral, inviting, compromising — not authoritative, inflammatory, condescending. Remember that in this type of writing, both sides are equally worthy.

–Have a little fun with it too. I appreciate it.

Outline Suggestion & Required Components

Introduction: Problem & 3-point claim — establish that a problem exists: 4 day work week

Opposition’s Point-of-View — make sure you fully outline the other point-of-view. Think about all of the nuances. Try to list all the objections the opposition has to your opinion. To truly address this side of the issue, attempt to identify several issues.

Your Point-of-View — make a list of the reasons you believe whatever it is you are supporting would be good for all parties involved, society in general, etc.

Common Ground — discuss several items related to the issue about which you and your opposition agree

Compromises on Both Sides — discuss compromises each side could make toward a common goal

Advantages to Both Sides — discuss in what way/s your point of view or an altered point of view (compromise) would benefit both sides?

Common Agreement — discuss what suggestions you might make that would represent a common agreement — one that includes concession on both sides — one represents a win-win for both sides.

Conclusion: Further Cooperation — how might further cooperation benefit both sides moving forward?

Writing

Once you have thought through the necessary components you are ready to write your essay. There is more than one way to organize this type of essay, but the common ground and opposition’s viewpoint must be addressed first in the essay and must be presented as valid and worthy of strong consideration.

This type of argument does not require “research” as you are appealing to everyone’s sense of fairness and common sense. You can offer research in the “problem section,” but it is not to be used to support your point of view or make your point-of-view seem superior.

Rhetorical Techniques – Please use 1 of each type; highlight as noted in the directions.
Some of them are easily incorporated while others take some finessing. If you incorporate some of these techniques, I ask that you highlight the section that illustrates the technique. I ask you to highlight these as they don’t always work effectively. Also, incorporating the highlighting simply makes the grading easier. You do not need to label them — I should be able to tell, right?

Alliteration – repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sentence or line of poetry. The repetition of vowels is called assonance. Alliteration must be 3 words as two words that alliterate in a sentence
occur organically often.
We have learned that to raise a happy, healthy, and hopeful child takes a family.
Songs of nature’s serenade came softly from the cicada.
Parallelism – intentional repetition of word endings, a single word, a phrase, a clause
We should be enabling, healing, curing. Your economic security does not lie in your job; it
lies in your own power to produce – to think, to learn, to create, to adapt.

Anaphora – repetition of a single word or a phrase at the beginning of sentences, phrases, or clauses

We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the streets.
Epistrophe – repetition of a single word or a phrase at the end of sentences, phrases, or clauses.
What education has to impart is an intimate sense for the power of ideas, for the beauty of ideas and the structure of ideas.
Rhetorical Question – question asked to elicit thought – not a response.
How many more lives must be lost? How many times must I tell you?
Analogy – extended comparison to clarify complex issues (similar to metaphor)
Minds are like rivers. Some are shallow while others are deep and wide.
Metaphor – an implied comparison saying one thing is another.
He spent weeks running the gerbil wheel of the college application process.
Simile – a figure of speech in which a similarity between two objects is expressed.
The truth is we live like bats or owls, labor like beasts, and die like worms.
Aphorism – a compact, telling expression. Witty words of wisdom.
“To be great is to be misunderstood.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Power of 3 – elements of three items given as examples.
As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as American we will rise again
Tri-colon – sequencing three items in rising order of importance
To see, to feel, to discover is all.
Stylist Fragment – fragments used for effect
Trapped. Deep in my skin. I did not know how to express my true feelings.
Dash – creates a more emphatic pause
I came to American, compelled by one driving force – freedom.
Double Dash – creates a pause in mid-sentence
One measure – and perhaps the best measure – of a person’s greatness is the capacity for suffering.
Parentheses – used to set off clarifying information – an aside.
The affliction (anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder that strikes mostly girls and young women.
Allusion — a brief, casual reference the author expects you to know – biblical, literary, mythological, pop cultural, historical

Caution: This is a new rubric as this is a different type of writing — be sure to review the components carefully.

Rogerian Argument Rubric

Introduction
This component presents a problem and the 3-Part claim that the writer wants to advance.

Oppositional Point of View

Give a full overview of the opposition’s point of view

Your Point of View
Give a full overview of your opinion.

Common Ground
Discuss places where both sides agree

Advantages to Your Point of View
While this approach is not necessarily to win, you still want to support your side.

Common Agreement – Conclusion
Sum up the common agreements between the two differences.

Organization & Paragraph Development
Follows the Rogerian format. Paragraphs transition well from one to another. Paragraphs are fleshed out with topic sentences, example sentences, and summary sentences.

Research
If research is provided, sources are introduced per the Reader Based Documentation format. Works Cited page is provided and done correctly.

Mechanics
All rules for formal grammar have been followed.

Publishing
All MLA formatting has been followed: margins, page numbers, etc.

Investment — Has Addressed Prior Instructor Feedback
Writer has taken the time to fix his/her error patterns from prior essays. It is evident the writer has read the feedback from prior essays and have incorporated that feedback in this essay.

Word Choice & Tone
Writer has used a tone of compromise and agreement.

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