More perspectives on argument than any other concise writing guide. Best-selling argument author Nancy V. Wood offers a concise presentation of how to write persuasively. This efficient text provides instruction in reading, critical thinking, and writing about argumentative issues in a clear, student-friendly manner. Students will learn to identify topics of personal and social consequence, to read and form reactions and opinions of their own, to analyze a potential audience, and to write argument papers that express their individual view and perspective.Essentials of Argument, 2e, contains ten chapters, each accompanied by class exercises and writing assignments. Research methods are introduced early; students learn to locate, print, and evaluate online materials and avoid plagiarism. Appendices teach MLA and APA styles, summarize major ideas about argument, and provide a list of 100 potential topics for argument papers.