<p>Preparing for the Eng Lang exam, I was reading Cliff's AP Eng Lang & Comp prep book (it's apparently highly-recommended by the CollegeCon community). </p>
<p>It suggests that essay writers should explore both sides of the argument on an argumentative essay, instead of beginning with a solid stance. It goes on to explain that, although you might take a firm stance later in the essay, you should build up to that firm stance by initially discussing both sides of the argument.</p>
<p>I've ALWAYS heard--from AP teachers and others--you should immediately choose a side and stick with it.</p>
<p>I've recently come across a very similar problem. :) In my experience, English teachers have always urged to immediately take a side, but without giving up the validity of the opposing opinion. I try to maintain my focused opinion as the main idea, but still provide a short glimpse in the opinion of the opposing party. </p>
<p>I think this is a really interesting topic, that people should explore further. Can't wait to see what others have things to say about this. :)</p>
<p>It seems as I'm getting deeper into high school, i'm becoming less obligated to just choose a side and stick with it. When i was a freshman in english, that seemed like the thing to do. However, now in AP as a junior, it seems much more professional to just do whatever you want as long as you make an argument, qualify it, warrant it, and address both sides of the issue.</p>
<p>I faced the same situation when writing an argumentative essays in Rhetoric (AP Skills). For the two of the synthesis essays I have done,I qualified and still managed to get both six's. I could have done better if my essays have more sentence varieties, less grammatical errors, and stronger arguments (and I took the class as a sophomore as of this year)</p>
<p>As someone who got a 4 on the Eng. Lang. test, I would say you should pick a side, but give credit to the other side, and if you can, counter it.</p>
<p>On the AP Lang test the goal is to show the grader that you understand the argument fully, and support YOUR argument about what you feel is the best solution. In an argument essay you close yourself off in your reader's mind when you take a pronounced stance too early in an essay.
If you acknowledge the validity of an opposing argument (without agreeing) then explain fully why your side is better, you stand a much better chance of being accepted (by the reader) as having an intelligent, fair, well-thought point.
There are many strategies you can employ, but it is basically driven by the points in your argument. Ultimately, you are trying to win a debate on paper, so do what you think will win considering what you have to say.</p>
<p>Of course, all that being said...you CAN be effective trying to gain compromise or even offering little solution. It just must come off like you fully understand your resolution.</p>