Fw: Re: [RST-LIST] Online resource: Mapping the rhetorical structure ofargumentessays

[Mark A. Bell]

Thanks to Lahcen <lahcen at fulbrightweb.org> for this valuable feedback. The
full text of his message is at the end. Here is my reply.

Mark A. Bell
Sydney, Australia
E-Mail: M487396 at bigpond.com
Web site: http://www.users.bigpond.com/m487396

----- Original Message -----

 Re: [RST-LIST] Online resource: Mapping the rhetorical structure of
argument essays
 http://www.users.bigpond.com/m487396/Argument/essay_notes.htm

 Prof. L.GHCHI,

 Thanks for your comments. I'm a beginner at RST, so this is very
helpful for  me.

 > I'd rather be hesitant to say that the argument essay in English has a
 > "strict structure".

 That's a good point. I'm actually much more interested in rhetorical moves
 like "evidence" and "concession" than I am in structural elements like
 "thesis" and "topic sentence". I'll rewrite that section to take the
 emphasis off "strict structure".

 > I don't see any clear evidence relation between your thesis
 > "smoking is an expensive habit" and the health problems smoking causes .

 Yes, I'm also not happy with the way the writer inserts that piece of
 supporting evidence into the thesis. "Smoking is AN EXPENSIVE HABIT (FOR
 SOCIETY) and it should be banned". I think it would be clearer if it was in
 the Preview at the  end of the introduction. On the other hand, I'd like to
 show how writers sometimes mix things up, so I'll include a note on this
 point in my commentary. The writer of this rather trite Example Essay
 probably felt a need to create some variety in the structure.

Thanks again for your input.

 Mark A. Bell

----- Original Message -----
 From: lahcen <lahcen at fulbrightweb.org>
 To: Mark A. Bell <m487396 at bigpond.com>
 Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 9:39 PM
 Subject: Re: [RST-LIST] Online resource: Mapping the rhetorical structure
 of argument essays

 > Mark,
 >
 > I don't see any clear evidence relation between your thesis
 > "smoking is anexpensive habit" and the health problems smoking causes .
 > The evidence is rather made clear at the first development paragraph.
 > Still smoking is not primarily an 'expensive habit'. Health is priceless.
 Smoking indeed causes deadly health problems like cancer.
 > I'd be content with something like "Smoking should be banned becuase it
is a habit that causes a lot of health problems."
 >
 >
 > I'd rather be hesitant to say that the argument essay in English has a
 "strict structure". There are a lot of argument essays out there that are
 difficult to submit to an RST analysis or any other analysis. Students
would  be disappointed if one day they discover that the tools they are
using are
 not good for authentic essays.
 >
 > Very good luck
 >
 > Prof. L.GHCHI