ARGUMENT/RESEARCH
Key elements of a good argument:
F = facts given
O = opposing viewpoints given and refuted
R = reference to authorities (experts in the field)
C = conclusions drawn
E = examples given (specific incidents)
Examples of documenting the above elements:
(F) Binge drinking has become the leading cause of death on college campuses across the nation.
(O) Many college students would have people believe that they can drink all they want whenever
they want, without any ill effects, but this is not the case. Many are too ill to go to classes on a
regular basis, thus failing their classes. Some become victims or perpetrators of rape and other
crimes. Some even lose their lives.
(E) A good example of this is the Ferris State student who fell to her death from a third floor
dorm when she was getting out of bed after a night of binge drinking.
(R) According to Rubin, the author of “Binge Drinking on College Campuses,” binge drinking is
….
(C) If students value their career goals, their health, and perhaps even their lives, they should
drink only in moderation or not at all.
