Discussion post

Part An academic argument is a formal argument usually reserved for topics pertaining to various academic disciplines. The arguments consist of specific conventions that specifically cater to the academic topic on hand. An argument may be considered to be of the academic nature when it has a claim or logic that falls under the following categories (Colorado State University, Writing@CSU):
The claim must be arguable -An argument must be based in fact not emotion. The claim must be meticulously considered, the evidence thoroughly researched and carefully selected; the audience correctly assessed.
The logic must be cohesive – A claim must be argued linearly, step-by-step, with appropriate transitions revealing the logic that ties one point to the next. If a minor point doesnt add to the main point, it doesnt belong.
Credit must be given where credit is due – All outside sources must be documented (e. g., footnotes, endnotes, and in-text citations) using a citation format approved by the academic discipline into which the argument falls.
An everyday argument on the other hand, is one that can be expected to occur among people in everyday life. According to Cenage Learning, the definition of an everyday argument is one that:
… are commonly characterized by tension, confrontation, anger and always involves personal, emotional attacks and counter attacks. (Cenage Learning, Building an Argument With Web Research)
I believe that there is no argumentative topic that will not be fit for the academia because people always find something to disagree about. Even if it is only something as simple as solving a math problem using 2 different methods of calculation. Take for example the everyday argument I recently had with my mother how we were going to have our dinner. I wanted to go out to eat because it was my night to wash the dishes and I was not feeling up to it. But my mother was thinking about the expense of eating out and the fact that we had left-overs to eat in the fridge. Basing the argument on the facts we had on hand, my mother won the argument mostly because she was becoming emotional and I was just too tired to have any sort of confrontation with her over something as petty as how we were going to eat. Add to that the fact that my mothers argument pertaining to the additional and unnecessary expense of dining out and how it would tax our food budget for the month and it was clear I was not going to win that argument just because I was feeling lazy.
Part Two
For my research topic, I would like to do something related to the field of In-Vitro Fertilization. There have been so many childless couples these days that have benefitted from this particular field of medical science that I feel it deserves a deeper look. To narrow down the focus, I would opt to concentrate my research on the possible side-effects of the IVF procedure on the growth and development of the child and in the end, I would want to be able to dispel the belief that IVF born children should be considered to be “ Designer Children”.
Thesis Foundation:
1. IVF children are “ Designer Children” because their sex and number of conceived eggs are manipulated by man
2. Do IVF children develop normally even though their conception was not done by the natural method?
3. Is IVF really a safe method by which children can be conceived?
Works Cited
“ Academic Arguments”. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University. 2012. Web. 26 Feb. 2012.
“ Building an Argument With Web Research”. Student Research Center Internet Research Guide Part 5. Cengage Learning. n. d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012