Argument "the word brings to mind thoughts of heated disagreements, hostility, rising pulse rates, and shouting talk show guests. In literary terms, that definition could not be further from the truth. A literary argument simply means stating your opinion in a persuasive yet educated manner. "The She-Dragon of The Old Curiosity Shop" and "The Little Women of The Old Curiosity Shop" by Brenda Ayres are effective examples of argumentative writing. Although the two passages differ, they come from the same book. While the former paints a picture of a domineering woman defying her gender, the latter shows a group of women controlled by men because of their sex. Both excerpts include excellent use of grammar, well thought points, and powerful quotes from the text. They both serve their purpose within the larger text of Ayres book. However, when read individually, "The Little Women" packs a more powerful punch.
The first writing rule a high school freshman learns is to create a detailed, structured thesis. A concise opening creates a unified paper. The beginning lines of the introduction in "The Little Women" set the stage for the rest of the argument:.
The Old Curiosity Shop also contains fascinating contortions of Victorian gender ideology. The little women in this novel are not much different from those already considered except in the degree to which they are sexually abused and exploited and except for the narrative strategy that constructs them. (3) .
By giving the readers a sharp thesis, Ayres provides a clear direction for the discussion. Readers know what to expect from the paper and are not surprised by information later on in the text. "The She-Dragon" lacks definite direction. The introduction tells that Sally Brass will be discussed, but does not explain what aspects of her character will be included in that discussion (1). The readers must read further into the selections to discover any information.
