Rogerian Argument [Lesson]
Kimberly Stelly
Overview
You will use the topic that you have already used for your Classical argument and restructure the argument into the Rogerian form of argument and APA style format. You have already done a great deal of research on this topic, and you should still be able to use that research. However, you will probably need to do further research into your “opponent’s” life and their viewpoints. The person you are writing to must be alive, currently employed, in a political office, or have the “power” to bring about change. This person must be in opposition to your stance.
- Length: 8-10 pages (not including your Title Page or References page)
- Research: 10 sources and at least 7 citations
- Structure:
- Title Page
- Introduction
- Summary of Opposing View(s)
- Statement of Your Position
- Statement of Benefits (Compromise)
- References
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this assignment, students will
- compose a persuasive letter following the Rogerian argument form, including a summary of opposing views, a statement of position, a proposed compromise, and a conclusion.
Title Page
APA format includes a title page (which won’t count toward the page count of your essay). Your header is only the page number. Follow the formatting below:
Title of the Paper: Remember to Capitalize Words With Four or More Letters
(triple-spaced)
Your Name
Department of English, Name of College or University
English 1302: Rhetoric and Composition
Professor’s Name
Month Day, Year
Introduction
This paper should be written in the form of a letter addressed to someone who would oppose your argument, but someone who has the “power” to bring about change if you can convince them. As such, the introduction should begin on page two, like so:
Title of the Paper: Remember to Capitalize Words With Four or More Letters
Dear First Name Last Name (Identity who this person is/job title/position, etc.),
Unlike the classical argument, Rogerian arguments should be written in first-person point of view. Introduce your problem. Provide a brief history of the issue, but avoid discussing the controversy. Instead, present the issue as one that needs a solution, and then raise the possibility of positive change. DO NOT include your thesis statement in the introduction. Encourage your opposition to engage in a discussion with you. Acknowledge the person you are writing to and explain why you have chosen to write to your person. Format reminder: don’t forget to add your title (centered and bolded) to the second page but only the second page of your essay.
Summary of Opposing View(s)
In this section, you will discuss the opposing side’s viewpoint. Be as accurate and neutral as possible. Don’t dismiss or insult their arguments or points. You need to prove to the opposition that you understand their view. Relate both the reasons the opposition has for their stance and the evidence in support of those reasons. Somewhere in this section, you should include a Statement of Understanding; this is where you demonstrate that you are listening, and you understand their side of the issue.
Statement of Your Position
After proving that you understand the other side, explain your views. Explain why you think the way you do and include both your reasons and evidence. Your Classical argument will provide you with assistance in this section. Watch your tone (diction) when stating your position. You don’t want the opposition to feel that you are attacking their beliefs. During this section, you should emphasize areas of common ground between you and your opposition. This section is referred to as a Statement of Contexts in which you show that you understand that there are situations in which the opponents’ views are valid. Do not concede that their views are always right, but recognize those conditions (contexts) under which you share their views
Statement of Benefits (Compromise)
Appeal to your opponent’s self-interest by showing how they would benefit from accepting your view. You probably won’t get them to concede their argument completely, but you might be able to persuade the opposition that the two of you can reach some type of agreement. This section is where you present a compromise. This compromise should be “doable,” realistic, and plausible. Include the benefits of compromising. Show the reader that you are capable of compromising; therefore, they will be inclined to compromise.
Conclusion
The essay should conclude with your thesis stated positively. You should remind your reader of the benefits of compromising and meeting in the middle.
References
The References page should begin on a new page and, as with the Classical argument, this does not count towards your overall page count. This page should
- center and bold the title References at the top, with no quotation marks.
- follow APA guidelines for format and individual citation entries.
- begin on a separate page and maintain double-spacing as well as alphabetical order for the sources.
- match parenthetical documentation.
Remember, no more than 10% of your paper should be quotes. Otherwise, it could lead to a failing grade! Additionally, the easiest way to get a failing grade on this assignment is to attempt to resubmit your classical argument essay with only a few changes. Your paper should be completely restructured.
Downloadable Resources (Assignment, Lesson Presentation)
Click here to download a Word Doc version of this assignment:
Click here to download a PowerPoint version of the lesson:
Rogerian Argument lesson presentation
Attribution:
Stelly, Kimberly. “Rogerian Argument [Lesson].” Strategies, Skills and Models for Student Success in Writing and Reading Comprehension. College Station: Texas A&M University, 2024. This work is licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).