If you've read my profile you know that one of my hobbies is knitting. Here's what I'm working on now. Without getting too technical (for those of you not fascinated by textiles) this triangular scarf starts at one end with just four stitches and increases gradually by adding a stitch every few rows. At the point pictured, there are about 50 stitches across; it will be over 100 across the row by the time it is finished.
I've put this up because it might represent one way to think about what you do when you "make an argument." We've talked about argument, and about what constitutes an arguable claim or thesis, but what I want to point out is that "make" really means create or write. You make an argument, not by simply finding quotations that back up your thesis, but by showing how the ideas--the component parts of your argument--are related. This is why the strategy of "stitching" is so important--as you take an idea forward and connect to a new idea, you are actually building something new.
If you aren't into textiles, feel free to stop here. But I just wanted to point out that knitting is actually created by pulling one loop of yarn through another loop--just as ideas should be looped together, an old part picking up a new part but still moving forward. Sound familiar?
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