Accommodating Your Audience

1
Accommodating Your Audience

• Chapter 8, Writing Arguments

2
Gauge Where the Audience Stands

• When you know that your audience largely agrees
  with you, it is not necessary to prevent
  alternate views your audience will read it as a
  waste of time wishy-washy
• When the audience is neutral, you must use
  moderate language and present both sides fairly
  (no straw man arguments) or else your wary
  audience will perceive you as biased
• When the audience is hostile, you must build
  bridges (Rogerian argument)

3
Summarize Opposing Views

• Dont oversimplify
• Avoid loaded language / distortion
• Avoid biased arguments
• Avoid the straw man fallacy

4
Rebuttal

• Refute the argument by attacking the claim or
  reasons
• Dispute the choice of X or Y term, or else argue
  that X does not truly match the given criteria
• Refute the argument by attacking the warrant or
  backing
• Dispute that the criteria truly define the Y term
• Make concessions, but shift values or else
  minimize the criticism
• The objection is true, but consider the broader
  issues associated with this argument

5
Strategies for Rebuttal

• Deny the accuracy of the data
• Give counter-examples
• Claim examples are not representative or
  sufficient
• Claim the evidence is irrelevant
• Question an authoritys credibility
• Question the interpretation of stats or data

6
Rogerian Argument (for hostile
audiences)

• Some hostile audiences cannot be brought to share
  your point of view. In this case, your
  arguments purpose should be to minimize their
  hostility and to help them see that you are a
  reasonable, honorable person.
• The best method for appealing to hostile
  audiences is to build bridges
• Begin by discussing the values that you believe
  you share with your audience if you favor an
  anti-flag-burning amendment, open by testifying
  to your loyalty to the principle of free speech.
  If you want to close corporate tax loopholes,
  begin with a eulogium on how entrepreneurial
  values have made America great. If you want to
  expand free trade, begin by expressing your
  heartfelt concern for the environment American
  laborers.
• You can also begin by providing a sympathetic
  summary of your opponents point of view.
• With luck, you may be able to reach a compromise.