Chapter 10: The Argument Essay

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Chapter 10 The Argument Essay

• Writers Task
• argue for his claim and recognize opposing view
  and anticipate the responses of his audience

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Techniques for Writing Argument

• Analysis of the rhetorical situation know your
  audience, purpose for occasion, genre, and
  cultural context
• Focus on a debatable proposition or claim
  (becomes your thesis)
• Represent and evaluate the opposing points of
  view on the issue fairly and accurately
• Argue reasonably against opposing view and for
  your claim.
• Support your claims with sufficient evidence
  facts, statistics, quotations, sound research

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Deciding on your Claim (thesis)

• Claim of Fact often difficult, not easily
  determined because they are often debatable.
• Do grades measure achievement?

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Claim of Cause and Effect

• Violent Video games cause violence in teenagers
• More easily supported

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Claim of Value

• Evaluation
• Criteria

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Claim of Solution or Policy

• Present a problem
• Suggest solution(s)

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Logos, Ethos, Pathos Appeals to Written Argument

• Appeal to reason (Logos) Using reason and logic
  to appeal to the audiences sense of sound reason
  and logic
• Scientific method Inductive reasoning present a
  generalization and provide evidence until a
  conclusion can be reached
• Inductive leap the gap between the evidence and
  conclusion

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Deductive Reason

• Specific to general
• Argument begins with a common value that writer
  shares with audience
• Women should have the right to choose
• Children disserve the best education

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Appeal to Character Ethos

• Using the writers good character
• Reader will make judgment based on what he
  perceives the writers character to be
• Establish your credibility by
• Providing sound research, using credible sources
• Providing personal experience
• Recognizing the opposing view
• Good writing
• Reasonable and objective

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Appeal to Emotion Pathos

• Strong appeal, sometimes the most effective
• Use sparingly, effectively
• Only one of many strategies

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Using the Rogerian Argument

• A negotiated argument
• For highly controversial subjects
• Less adversarial
• Non threatening, opens lines of communication
  between opposing views
• Appeal to character
• Sensitive to opposing view
• Reduces conflict

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Rogerian Strategies

• Avoid confrontation dont threaten audience
  which will increase audience defenses
• Present your character as one who understands and
  can empathize with opposition
• Establish common ground with opposition
  indicated the shared beliefs and values--things
  you both agree on
• Be willing to change your views recognize where
  you might be able to modify your position
  (concession)
• Compromise

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Organizing the Rogerian Argument

• I. Introduction
• A. Get readers attention
• B. Off Claim (thesis)
• C. Map
• Strategy Appeal to character (yours as a writer)

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Body of Rogerian Outline

• II. Opposing arguments Establish common ground
  here by stating your oppositions views
  fairly--let reader know that you understand the
  opposing view
• A.
• B.
• C.

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• III. Your arguments state your position fairly,
  explaining how and why your arguments are valid
• A.
• B.
• C.

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• IV. Resolution Present the compromise position
  state your solution to the problem show
  advantages to both positions.
• V. Conclusion Summarize main points, restate
  your position in relation to opposing view
  remind readers of your compromise call to action
  (what you want the audience to do)

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Toulmin Model of Argument

• Stephen Toulmin inductive and deductive reason
  models not adequate
• Too restrictive and not adequate for different
  disciplines
• Changed the rules of formal debate and argument

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Toulmin Guidelines

• Data evidence gathered to support the claim
  (thesis)
• Claim thesis fact, cause and effect, value, or
  policy
• Warrant The statement that explains how or why
  the data support the writers claim
• Backing additional logic or reasoning that
  supports the warrant, if necessary
• Qualifier allows writer to qualify statements
  generally, sometimes, often, typically
• Exceptions those particular situations when the
  writer does not insist on the claim.

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Outlines

• Introduction
• Present your arguments
• Refute opposing view
• Conclusion

• Introduction
• Refute opposing view
• Present your arguments
• Conclusion

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More Outlines

• Introduction
• Refute first point of opposing view by presenting
  your view Refute second point of opposing view by
  presenting your view Refute third point of
  opposing view by presenting your view
• Conclusion

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General Structure Outline p.527

• Introduction announces subject, gets audience
  interest, establishes writers good character
• Narration Gives background, contest, statement
  of problem or definition
• Partition States thesis or claim, outlines or
  maps arguments
• Argument Makes arguments and gives evidence for
  the claim or thesis
• Refutation Shows why opposing arguments are not
  true or valid
• Conclusion Summarizes arguments, suggests
  solution, ties into the introduction or background

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Rogerian Outline

• Introduction
• Opposing Arguments
• Your Arguments
• Resolution
• Remember the tone and nature of the argument
  concession

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Avoid Common Logical Fallacies

• Hasty Generalization drawing a conclusion on
  insufficient or unbiased information

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• Post hoc ergo propter hoc after this, therefore
  because of this
• Just because event b occurred after a, does not
  mean that be caused a
• You wash your car and it rains

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• Genetic Fallacyan error in causal relationships
  arguing that the origins of a person, object, or
  institution determine its character, nature or
  worth
• Faulty judgment about someones character based
  on nationality
• Germans are picky housekeepers, everything must
  be perfect
• Polack jokes, blonde jokes

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Either/Or

• An oversimplified argument that presents only two
  choices Love it or leave it indicates only two
  choices, love or leave, when there is a 3rd
  choice stick around and help make the place
  better

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Ad hominem

• to the man an personal attack on the man rather
  than his beliefs, arguments, or opinions or
  qualification

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Just what is argument?

• Take a stand on an issue Women should be allowed
  to participate in front line combat.
• Provide reasons why
• Provide reasons why not
• Avoid Faulty logic or Fallacies in Logic (p. 532)