Writing Arguments

1
Writing Arguments

• What is an Argument?

2
What is an Argument?

• It is not a fight or quarrel (My mother and I
  argue all the time).
• It is not a debate (Attack a position)
• Notice the following video. Why is this not an
  argument?

3
What is an argument?

1. A discussion with someone
2. Stating a claim and providing evidence
3. An quarell
4. None of the above

4
We are all in this together (MadV)
5
Was the video and example of an argument?

1. Yes
2. No

6
Why this is not an argument

• Claims are made BUT
• No supporting evidence or reasons are given for
  why anyone should do what they say.
• Too many times, people convicted of a point think
  or believe everyone believes as they do.

7
An Argument is then what?

• An argument is something in which you make/prove
  your point.
• Writers will attempt to change peoples minds by
  convincing them of the validity of new ideas or
  the superiority of a particular course of action.
• Writers will not only offer new evidence and
  reasons to support their position but will also
  examine the assumptions on which an argument is
  based, address opposing arguments and anticipate
  their readers objections.

8
What is a feature of an argument?

1. States explicit claims
2. Supports claims with reasons
3. Consider opposing positions
4. Analyze with insight
5. All the Above

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Features of Argument

• States explicit claims Make a claim that is not
  obvious (Thesis)
• Supports claims with reasons Because clause is
  often included
• Base reasons on evidence provide evidence for
  reasons in the form of facts, statistics,
  testimony, etc.
• Consider opposing positions.
• Analyze with insight.
• Investigate with complexity.
• Clear organization of argument
• Document sources carefully.

10
Professor M Python
11
Professor Monty P and Argument

• Good example as to what an argument is not no
  facts or claims made. This is just a long
  contradiction.
• Argument is a connected series of statements
  intended to establish a definite proposition . .
  . An argument is an intellectual process . . ..
• A goal is achieved

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What kind of claims can you make in an argument?

1. Claims of Fact
2. Cause and Effect
3. Value
4. Solutions to policies
5. All the above

13
Aristotles Methods

• Based upon the persuasive speeches of ancient
  Greek and Roman orators.
• Exhortium getting the audiences attention
  (Introduction)
• Narrati providing background information
  (Introduction)
• Pariti forecasting the outline of the speech
  (Thesis)
• Confirmatio arguments in favor of the
  proposition (Body)
• Confutaio refutation of opposing views (Counter
  Argument)
• Peroratio conclusion that sums up the argument
  (Conclusion)

14
What is an appeal to an audience?

1. Strategy for gaining trust and confidence
2. Strategy to convince the reader of your position
3. Strategy to win your argument
4. None of the above

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Exhortium (Introduction)

• Warms up the audience, establishes goodwill and
  rapport with the readers, and announces the
  general theme or THESIS of the argument.
• Capture readers attention by using focusing
  anecdote or quotation, a shocking statistic, or
  restating thesis.

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Creating an Argument Frame A Claim with Reasons

• The Frame you will do will include
• A clear question that focuses on the argument
  This is the problem/question/issue that you have
  chosen to focus upon an arguable issue.
• Stating a Claim this is the position you want
  to take on the issue it is your belief, a
  one-sentence summary to your issue question.
• In other words present the problem, pose a
  solution.

17
What kinds of appeals can you use?

1. Appeal to logic
2. Appeal to character
3. Appeal to emotions
4. All the above

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Narratai (Narration)

• Summarizes relevant background material, provides
  any information the audience needs to know about
  the environment and circumstances that produce
  the argument, and sets up the stakes whats at
  risk question.
• Establish context for your argument.
• Need to explain the situation to which your
  argument is responding.
• By the end, readers should understand what is at
  stake in this argument.

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Articulating Reasons

• Your claim, the position you take on an issue,
  must be supported by reasons and evidence
• BECAUSE as your secret weapon!
• Because is the linking, give your reason(s) for
  the truth of your argument.
• The government should not legalize heroin and
  cocaine Because doing so will lead to an
  increase in drug users and BECAUSE doing so will
  send the message it is okay to use hard drugs.

20
Which of the following is a claim of fact?

1. Grades do not measure intelligence
2. Capital punishment does not deter crime
3. Boxing is dehumanizing
4. All the above.

21
Using Evidence Effectively

• Kinds of Evidence
• Example from personal experience
• Summaries from research
• Statistics
• Testimony
• Subarguments, persuasive reasons

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Reliability of Evidence

• Recency if you are addressing current issues,
  make sure all evidence is recent
• Relevance
• Impartiality as much as possible
• Sufficiency have enough examples to justify
  your point, so you do not make hasty
  generalizations

23
Which of the following is a cause and effect
claim?

1. Grades do not measure intelligence
2. Capital punishment does not deter crime
3. Boxing is dehumanizing
4. All the above.

24
Partiti (Confirmation)

• Lays out in logical order the claims that support
  your thesis providing evidence for each
• Usually weakest to strongest
• It is important that you explain why the evidence
  for each claim supports it and the larger thesis.
• You can do this by bringing in facts, examples,
  testimony, definitions, etc.

25
Confirmatio and Confutatio (Refutation and
Concession)

• Looks at opposing viewpoints to the writers
  claims, anticipating objections from the
  audience, and allowing as much of the opposing
  viewpoints as possible without weakening the
  thesis.
• Hardest section for a person to write.
• Who wants to think of reasons why an argument
  wont work?
• Anticipate the opposing arguments and answer them
  here.

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Object and Counterarguments

• A. Anticipating Objections
• Establish possible counterarguments, discuss
  them and explain why they are not valid
• Toulmin calls this Conditions of rebuttal ask
  the arguers to imagine various ways skeptical
  readers may object to a writers argument or
  specific conditions under which the argument
  might not hold up
• This will help you to articulate your argugment
  frame

27
Which of the following is a claim about value?

1. Grades do not measure intelligence
2. Capital punishment does not deter crime
3. Boxing is dehumanizing
4. All the above.

28
Peroratio (Summation)

• Provides a strong conclusion, amplifying the
  force of the argument, and showing the readers
  that this solution is the best at meeting the
  circumstances.
• Remind readers what is at stake here and try to
  show why your thesis provides the best solutions
  to the issue being faced.