Writing effective arguments

1
The Art of Argument

• Writing effective arguments

2
The parts of an argument

• Claim the statement of the position you are
  arguing your thesis
• Warrant Your evidence to prove your claim is
  true
• Impact Why your argument matters and how it
  impacts those affected by the argument

3
Identify the claim, warrant, and impact in the
following argument

• The American flag stands for more than our power
  and our interests. Our founders dedicated this
  country to the cause of human dignity, the rights
  of every person and the possibilities of every
  life. This conviction leads us into the world to
  help the afflicted, and defend the peace, and
  confound the designs of evil men.
• President George W. Bush, State of the Union
  address 2003

4
Types of warrants to use

• Aristotle believed there were three forms of
  proof or warrants
• Pathos appeals to personal feelings such as
  fear, pity, and anger (emotional appeal)
• Ethos audiences respond to the speakers
  competence, character, goodwill, and dynamism and
  the credibility of the evidence (ethical appeal)
• Logos appeals to reason and logic using
  statistics, facts, and scientific evidence
  (logical appeal)
• Scholars today believe that there is one final
  element to the proof
• Mythos appeals to the traditions and values of
  your culture, legends, and folktales

5
Practice

• Video 1
• Video 2
• Video 3

6
Identify the types of warrants used in this
example

• The American flag stands for more than our power
  and our interests. Our founders dedicated this
  country to the cause of human dignity, the rights
  of every person and the possibilities of every
  life. This conviction leads us into the world to
  help the afflicted, and defend the peace, and
  confound the designs of evil men.
• President George W. Bush, State of the Union
  address 2003

7
Hot Topics in The Help

• Choose an argumentative topic from The Help
• In a one page essay, construct your argument
  using a claim, warrants, and impact. Be specific
  in your details from the novel. Keep in mind the
  different types of warrants to use. Label your
  claim, warrants (label the different kinds of
  warrants used), and impact when you are finished.
• Extra credit QUIZ grade