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What is an argument in an essay
An argument is a piece of evidence given in support of a thesis. Instead of the word "argument", terms such as explanation, corroboration, proof, etc. are also used.
There are special requirements for arguments. In particular:
They must not contradict each other. I am writing in the plural here because the requirement is that there must be at least two arguments in the essay; the argument must be sufficient for the thesis to which it refers; the argument must be related to the topic and the thesis, not by itself. Changes in the assessment of the argument All elements of the essay - the thesis, arguments and conclusions - are evaluated separately: each according to its own criteria. It is better to understand the nuances of evaluation in advance, so that there are no surprises later. Especially, the rules of evaluation often change.
After 2020, the rules for evaluating arguments have also changed. The K4 criterion was used to evaluate arguments. Before that it was possible to get 3 points for a correct argument. After the change it is now only 1.
The requirements for the sources used for the argumentation have also changed. This is criterion K2. Before, it was necessary to bring two arguments: one from fiction (preferably in the form of a quotation), and the second from any other source. After the changes it became easier. The number of arguments remained the same. But now it is possible to argue your own point of view with the help of any sources and examples, including personal ones.
An important prerequisite for any argument is relevance to the topic, the issue and the author's position.
If you open the USE CMM and read the criteria for grading papers, you will not see the word "argument" there. Now instead of the word "argument" you will use the example illustration.
February 2023