Everythings An Argument

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Everythings An Argument

• Chapter 1 Everything Is an Argument

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Arguments to

• Inform
• Convince
• Explore
• Make Decisions
• Meditate/Pray

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Arguments to INFORM

• Presenting specific information to inform readers
• Example
• Political ad
• Movie poster

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Arguments to CONVINCE

• Focuses on readers
• trying to satisfy or convince them that you have
  thoroughly examined and presented information
  that merits attention.
• Example
• Writing a research essay on the causes of soil
  erosion in southeast Alabama

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Arguments to EXPLORE

• Usually show that there is merit in looking into
  a subject that there is an argument to be made.
• Opponent can be the status quo or current
  trend.
• Problem does exist writer or reader needs to
  solve it.

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Arguments to EXPLORE

• Problem does exist writer or reader needs to
  solve it.
• Example
• We have a problem with litter on campus.

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Arguments to MAKE DECISIONS

• Closely allied with Exploratory arguments.
• Argue for a particular decision.
• Example From the essay addressing soil erosion
  in Southeast Alabama, you might write a proposal
  which focuses on a possible solution to the
  problem.

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Arguments to MEDITATE/PRAY

• Arguments can take form of meditation on a theme
  or of prayer.
• Pausing to consider or to gain peace of mind.

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God is the fountain whence ten thousand
blessings flowTo Him my life,my health, my
friendsAnd every good, I owe.
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Occasion for Argument

• Past
• Present
• Future

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Arguments about Past

• Forensic arguments debates about what has
  happened in the past.
• Present evidence from past to justify
  conclusions.
• Rely heavily on precedents actions or decisions
  in past that influence policies or decisions in
  the present.

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Arguments about Future

• Deliberative argument
• try to establish policies or project future
  outcomes

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Arguments about Present

• Often about contemporary values
• Ethical premises/assumptions widely held within a
  society

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Kinds of Arguments

• Arguments of Fact
• Arguments of Definition
• Arguments of Evaluation
• Proposal Arguments

• Did something happen?
• What is its nature?
• What is its quality?
• What action should be taken?

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Arguments of Fact

• Facts can be proved or disproved with evidence or
  testimony.
• Concern if something can easily be proven, it
  cant be argued.
• Joe has 32 teeth. Count em.

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Arguments of Definition

• Often involves categorizing or defining terms.
• Is a human embryo a human being?
• Is abortion murder?

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Arguments of Evaluation

• Common type of argument
• Argument of quality
• Makes some kind of judgment about topic
• Tahoe vs. Expedition which is the better SUV for
  the price?
• Parks evaluation of Martin Luther King Jr.
• Noonans evaluation of Ronald Reagan

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Proposal Arguments

• Present evidence to show there is a problem
  then, propose a solution.
• Recommend most viable course of action.

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Everythings an Argument

• Chapters 2 3

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Key Issues Regarding Arguments

• Making a connection to readers
• Understanding lines of argument
• Making a claim
• Shaping an argument
• Giving an argument style
• Managing the conventions of argument

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Making a Connection to Reader

• Writers do not write in a cultural vacuum.
• Writers works are influenced by who they are.
• Race
• Religion
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Class
• Intelligence

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Making a Connection to Reader

• Readers perceptions of writer influence their
  reception of what has been written.
• Must think about readers perceptions, values,
  possible prejudices.
• Establish some connection with readers.
• Familiarity
• Presenting yourself as authority

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Making a Connection to Reader

• Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed
• and planted, and gathered into barns, and no
• man could head me. And aint I a woman?... I
• have borne thirteen children, and seen most all
• sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my
• mothers grief, none but Jesus heard me. And
• aint I a woman?
• Sojourner Truth
• Aint I a Woman?

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Four Types of Appeals

• Arguments based on Emotion
• Arguments based on Values
• Arguments based on Character
• Arguments based on Fact and Reason

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Emotional Arguments

• Designed to appeal to the readers emotions and
  feelings.
• Can cause readers to think more carefully about
  subject.
• Persuading reader not to drink and drive
• telling a story of a teen or young mother killed
  by drunk driver

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Emotional Arguments

• Sometimes we have to be wary because emotions can
  lead to unwise or impulsive judgments.
• Advertising
• Driving a certain car will make you feel superior
  to others.
• Wearing a certain brand of clothing will make you
  feel good about yourself because you are in style

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Value-Based Arguments

• Closely related to emotional appeals
• Writer either
• Asks reader to live up to higher principles,
  respected traditions, or new values
• Complains that they have not done so
• Close ties with ceremonial arguments.
• Define or celebrate values/ideals of a society
• Be aware of the values/ideals of community.

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Character-Based Arguments

• As writer, must seem honest, sincere, and
  trustworthy.
• Look for evidence of character in arguments
• Who is the author?
• Is writer an authority on topic/knowledgeable
  about topic?
• Is evidence presented full/complete, not slanted
  to writers agenda?
• Does writer acknowledge and address opposition?
• Are sources documented?
• REMEMBER these same questions will be used to
  analyze your writings.

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Character-Based Arguments

• As author, you must consider
• Language
• Organization structure
• Sense of authority

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Facts and Reason-Based Arguments

• Writer must provide enough evidence to support
  argument.
• Test all assumptions and claims.
• Question every source and authority cited.
• data and information from reliable sources

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Making a Claim

• Claim statement of belief or truth
• Can be plainly stated (more traditional
  arguments).
• Can be inferred (in stories, anecdotes, etc.).
• Claims must be attached to reasons that support
  it and premises that uphold it to be an argument.
• Can have several claims in one essay.
• Look at relationship among them

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Shaping an Argument

• Arguments must have logical structure, even if
  appeal uses emotion, values, or character.
• Aristotle asserted arguments had only 2 parts
• Statement (claim)
• Proof (evidence)

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Giving an Argument Style

• Have to think of the way the evidence is
  presented.
• Even logical, well-planned argument can be
  boring.
• Have to tailor your style to the topic
• What is most appropriate
• Style can tell readers what to expect
• Examples on pg. 40
• 1st is straightforward and to-the-point
• 2nd is humorous/tongue-in-cheek

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READERS CONTEXT

• Must always think about audience or readers when
  you present arguments.
• Must always address an intended audience.

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SUBJECT
PURPOSE
CONTEXT
READER
WRITER
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READERS CONTEXT

• Different kinds of readers
• Ideal reader (exists in authors mind)
• Invoked reader (represented in the text)
• Real reader (ones who actually read text)

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READERS CONTEXT

• If potential readers do not feel connected to
  text in some way, then
• They will (probably) not be affected by your
  argument or
• They will not even continue to read.

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Establish Credibility

• Ways to establish credibility
• Demonstrate you are knowledgeable
• Highlight shared values
• Refer to common experiences
• Use language to build common ground
• Respect reader
• Almost impossible to guarantee credibility
  because readers are varied.

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Establishing Credibility

• Demonstrate Knowledge
• Show readers you know what you are talking about
• Facts/statistics

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Establishing Credibility

• Highlight Shared Values
• Find common values with the potential readers
• What community do you share?
• Refer to Common Experiences
• Build Common Ground
• Closely related to common experiences
• Establish a connection with readers
• Use pronouns

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Establishing Credibility

• Respect Readers
• Do not speak down to readers
• Do not use offensive language