Title: Written Argument
1Written Argument
- How to express critical thought
2What is the goal of argument?
- The purpose of written argument is to convince
the reader to accept your opinion on a topic. - If the reader will not change a strongly-held
opinion, then the goal is to take your opinion
seriously. - If the audience is divided, then the writer must
seek common ground in order to establish
compromise.
Is this a real compromise?
3How do we support written theses?
- Which two statements best support the thesis?
- Premise Our transition away from fossil fuels
may take decades. - __1.The president says that we need to get away
from dirty fossil fuels. - __2. A decade ago fuel-cell car promoters said
they would by now be on the road in large
numbers. - __3. Our current power plants took nearly sixty
years to construct.
How safe is the argument?
4We back an argument with reasons
- The transition from fossil fuels may take time
because - _? 1. The president says that we need to get away
from fossil fuels. - _x 2. A decade ago fuel-cell car promoters said
they would by now be on the road in large
numbers. - _x 3. Our power plants took sixty years to
construct.
How clean burning is coal?
5How do we prove our arguments?
- Which two statements support the thesis?
- Premise The US should not send more soldiers to
the Middle East war. - __1. The war is already costing millions of
dollars per day. - __2. One thousand Americans die there each
year. - __3. Our very unpopular president says that the
nation must stay the course.
How targeted is this?
6We enforce opinions with facts
- These two statements support the thesis
- Premise The US should not send more soldiers to
the Middle East war. - _x_1. The war is already costing millions of
dollars per day. - _x_2. One thousand Americans die there each
year. - _?_3. The nation must stay the course.
How targeted is this?
7How do we reinforce our theses?
- Which two statements support the thesis?
- Premise Struggling Automakers cant afford to
develop hybrids. - __1. GM has delayed its Vue hybrid to save
money. - __2. Hondas Insight hybrid will arrive next
year. - __3. Chrysler will stop making its Durango hybrid
in December.
How well supported is the argument?
8We prove the thesis with facts
- These two statements support the thesis
- Premise Struggling automakers cant afford to
develop hybrids. - _x 1. GM has delayed its Vue hybrid to economize.
- _? 2. The Honda Insight hybrid arrives next year.
- _x 3. Chrysler will stop making its Durango
hybrid in December.
How well supported is the argument?
9How do writers connect thoughts?
- Which connective word best fits each blank?
- first, second, in addition, moreover, furthermore
- Premise Marijuana should be legalized.
- __1. It is less harmful to people's health
than alcohol. - __2. A very large percentage of the population
uses it.
Are there such medical exceptions?
10You can use connecting words
- Use the words that logically connect
- Premise Marijuana should be legalized.
- First, it is less harmful to people's health
than alcohol. In addition, a very large
percentage of the population uses the substance. - First could be left out, and other words can
replace the second word.
Whos the supply teacher?
11Can you add transition words?
- In each blank, fit the correct connector
- in fact, unlike, while
- __ high school teachers, college professors
present far more information. - __, each of Dr. Smiths World History I lectures
covers a century, __ a semester of Ms. Jones US
History only covered one century per semester.
What students must learn outside of college!
12Written logic makes connections
- Here are the correct connectors
- Unlike high school teachers, college professors
present far more information. - In fact, each of Dr. Smiths World History I
lectures covers a century, while a semester of
Ms. Jones US History only covered one century
per semester.
Which lesson was this one?
13How do we deal with opposition?
- Argument must deal with the other side by
- Showing awareness of the opposition.
- It could be argued that computers create
unemployment. - 2. Exposing the other sides weakness.
- However, computers actually create many new forms
of employment that never existed before.
Is it a good call?
14Can you meet opposing arguments?
- Which two show the oppositions weakness?
- They say biofuel can add to our energy. However
- __1. Biofuel cannot replace diesel, the most-used
fuel of all. - __2. Biofuel raises food prices and even produces
food shortages! - __3. Biofuel can be produced within our nation
rather than imported.
How brilliant is this move?
15You can expose weaknesses
- Points to expose the oppositions weakness
- It has been argued that ethanol can solve the
energy crisis. However, - _x 1. Biofuel cannot replace diesel, the
most-used fuel of all. - _x 2. Biofuel raises food prices and even
produces food shortages! - __3. Biofuel can be produced within our nation
rather than imported.
How likely is this scenario?
16Can you meet opposing arguments?
- Which two points show the oppositions weakness?
- Some say a big nation needs big vehicles however
- __1. Congress must bail Detroit out to save the
economy. - __2. With "Detroit" synonymous with "SUV,"
automaker woes have now become a proxy referendum
on a gaudy lifestyle whose time is past. - __3. Millions in smaller vehicles resent the
energy hogging trucks that clog our roads.
Who is hogging the road?
17You can meet opposing arguments
- These two points show the oppositions weakness
- Some say a big nation needs big vehicles however
- __ 1. Congress must bail Detroit out to save the
economy. - _x 2. With "Detroit" synonymous with "SUV,"
automaker woes have now become a proxy referendum
on a gaudy lifestyle whose time is past. - _x 3. Millions in smaller vehicles resent the
energy hogging trucks that clog our roads.
Why spoil everything?
18How do writers spin arguments?
- Depending on how they are spun, the same
arguments can be used in essays that have
opposite premises. - Arguments that support the writer's premise are
presented as facts or as non-debatable
statements. - Arguments that oppose the writer's premise are
marked with problematic phrases to appear
debatable or even untrue.
How strong was the line?
19Can you find the marked phrases?
- Which slanted phrases below make the arguments
against Australia becoming a republic seem
debatable and possibly untrue? - Jacob argues that Australia doesnt need a
republic to build a sense of national identity as
we already have one. Its claimed that three
quarters of our population is still Anglo-Celtic.
In this argument, immigrants have to accept
Australia's way of life. Other countries, so the
argument goes, do not feel that they have to
change their constitution just because they
accept immigrants from different cultures.
However, as Smith explains, Australia must
develop a new cultural identity to reflect its
diverse population. It is claimed that if
Australia was a republic it would give our
migrants a stronger sense of belonging.
20Here you see the spin phrases
- The underlined phrases below make the arguments
against Australia becoming a republic seem
debatable and possibly untrue - Jacob argues that Australia doesnt need a
republic to build a sense of national identity as
we already have one. Its claimed that three
quarters of our population is still Anglo-Celtic.
In this argument, immigrants have to accept
Australia's way of life. Other countries, so the
argument goes, do not feel that they have to
change their constitution just because they
accept immigrants from different cultures.
However, as Smith explains, Australia must
develop a new cultural identity to reflect its
diverse population. It is claimed that if
Australia was a republic it would give our
migrants a stronger sense of belonging.
21Can you find the spin phrases?
- Which phrases make the arguments seem debatable?
- Smith asserts that Australia must develop a new
cultural identity to reflect its diverse and
multicultural population. In the argument, were
no longer a nation of British, but of different
cultural backgrounds. It is claimed that if
Australia was a republic it would give our
migrants belonging. This position argues that we
would not be turning our back on our
Anglo-centered past if we became a republic we
could still be in the Commonwealth of Nations.
However, as Jacob states, Australia doesnt need
a republic for national identity because we
already have one. Moreover, our population is
still mostly Anglo-Celtic. Further, immigrants
must accept our way of life. Also, other
countries dont feel that they have to change
their constitution just as they accept
immigrants.
22You can find the spin phrases!
- These phrases make the arguments seem debatable
- Smith asserts that Australia must develop a new
cultural identity to reflect its diverse and
multicultural population. In the argument, were
no longer a nation of British, but of different
cultural backgrounds. It is claimed that if
Australia was a republic it would give our
migrants belonging. This position argues that we
would not be turning our back on our
Anglo-centered past if we became a republic we
could still be in the Commonwealth of Nations.
However, as Jacob states, Australia doesnt need
a republic for national identity because we
already have one. Moreover, our population is
still mostly Anglo-Celtic. Further, immigrants
must accept our way of life. Also, other
countries dont feel that they have to change
their constitution just as they accept
immigrants.
23Can you use transition words?
- Which transition logically fits?
- A. IndeedB. IncidentallyC. Initially
- Of course, it is good that the plane left on
time. __, it would have been terrible if Alex
had missed the showing of his new movie at the
Canne Film Festival in France.
How logical is the argument?
24You can use transition words
- This transition logically fits
- A. IndeedB. IncidentallyC. Initially
- Of course, it is good that the plane left on
time. __, it would have been terrible if Alex
had missed the showing of his new movie at the
Canne Film Festival in France.
Is the increase logical?
25Which transitions are correct?
- 2. __, when Alex landed at the Nice Côte dAzur
Airport, he could not find his checked luggage. - A. Although, B. However, C. Unfortunately
- 3. __, Alexs luggage was probably accidentally
routed to Frankfurt, Germany. - A. In fact, B. However, C. For instance
- 4. __ he filled out the proper forms at the
airport, his suitcase was not located that
afternoon. - A. Just in case, B. Even though, C. Adjacent to
- 5. __, he would have brought only a carry-on
suitcase, but his film equipment was too bulky to
fit in the overhead. - A. Unfortunately, B. Ideally, C. Initially
26These transitions are correct
- 2. __, when Alex landed at the Nice Côte dAzur
Airport, he could not find his checked luggage. - A. Although, B. However, C. Unfortunately
- 3. __, Alexs luggage was probably accidentally
routed to Frankfurt, Germany. - A. In fact, B. However, C. For instance
- 4. __ he filled out the proper forms at the
airport, his suitcase was not located that
afternoon. - A. Just in case, B. Even though, C. Adjacent to
- 5. __, he would have brought only a carry-on
suitcase, but his film equipment was too bulky to
fit in the overhead. - A. Unfortunately, B. Ideally, C. Initially
27Which transitions are correct?
- 6. __, Alex took a taxi into town, checked into
his hotel, and went to the shopping district to
buy some new clothes and a toothbrush. - A. Subsequently, B. Consequently, C.
Simultaneously - 7. __, Alex won great acclaim at the festival and
the good movie reviews spread fast. - A. However, B. To demonstrate, C. Incidentally
How logical is the argument?
28These transitions are correct
- 6. __, Alex took a taxi into town, checked into
his hotel, and went to the shopping district to
buy some new clothes and a toothbrush. - A. Subsequently, B. Consequently, C.
Simultaneously - 7. __, Alex won great acclaim at the festival and
the good movie reviews spread fast. - A. However, B. To demonstrate, C. Incidentally
How logical is the argument?
29What is the goal of argument?
- To strengthen any written opinion
- Present a logically supported thesis.
- Show awareness of but also expose the weakness of
the opposition. - Use well-chosen transition words to indicate
logical turning points.
How credible is this line?