10.28 10.29 eng101 argument techniques

8/20/2019 10.28 10.29 Eng101 Argument Techniques

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Argument Techniques


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Jerry Springer

Oprah


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Purpose AudienceReasoning strategies (Organization)The rational appeal

The emotional appealThe ethical appealFallaciesEthical issues


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Demonstrating facts◦ Nursing is hard work, dorms are poor study

placesDefend/oppose a policy, action, or project◦

Company should drug-test employeesAssert the greater/lesser value ofsomeone/something◦ Ranking candidates for promotion


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Think like a reader (oh wait, you are...)Consider reader’s interests expectations andneeds concerning this issueIdentify the evidence most likely to convince

readersIdentify the objections readers will haveIdentify the consequences of this argumentDecide how objections should be addressed


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Induction◦ General claim is supported by specific

evidence (direct observations, statisticaldata, scientific studies)

◦ Makes conclusion probable but doesn’tprove

◦ Must demonstrate credibility of evidenceCollege program effective because most

students in it get jobsDeductionAnalogy


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Deduction◦ Demonstrates how a specific conclusion

follows logically from initial premise◦ Must make clear how conclusions do actually

follow from agreed-upon premisesPoliticians assert the benefit to futuregenerations, then policies to favor that

Analogy


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Analogy◦ Weakest form of rational appeal◦ Never prove anything, only show

probability and sometimes offer

explanationsAssumption that humans respond tochemicals as rats do


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Present reasons and evidence in a way that

readers will find as reasonable or plausibleEstablished truthsOpinions of authoritiesPrimary source informationStatistical findingsPersonal experience


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To Evaluate Evidence

How credible are the sources of information?How reliable is the evidence?How much confirming evidence is there?

How much contradictory evidence is there?How well established is the evidence?How well does the evidence actually supportor fit the claim?

What does the evidence actually allow you toconclude?


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Identify stories, scenes, or events of thetopic that arouse the strongest emotionsCan lend powerful reinforcementTug heartstrings of readers to take

actions


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Write with genuine concern for topic,

commitment to truth and sincere respectfor others◦ Tone is paramount

Offensive, arrogant, or mean-spiritedis ineffectiveLook for snide comments

◦

Pleasant, fair-minded, decent iseffective


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Lapses in logic that reflect upon ability to think

clearly and weaken argumentHasty generalization – someone bases aconclusion on too little evidence◦ Student tries to reach instructor one time and

declares that the instructor is impossible to reachNon sequitur – draws unwarranted conclusionsfrom seemingly ample evidence◦ Bill is out every night. I wonder who he is dating?

Stereotyping – attaches one or more supposedcharacteristics to a group or one of itsmembers◦ Teenagers are lousy drivers


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clearly and weaken argumentCard Stacking – only part of available evidencegiven while deliberately omitting essential info◦ College students have it easy because they are only in

classes 12 hours per week.Either/Or Fallacy – only two choices exist whenseveral are available◦ Either buy tires or get stuck inside this winterBegging the Question – asserts truth of anunproven statement◦ Vitamin A is harmful to your health, so all bottles

should have a warning label. If enough of us write tothe FDA this could change. But how do we know it’sharmful when evidence isn’t given?


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clearly and weaken argumentCircular Argument – supports position merelyby restating it◦ That person is overweight because he is fat.

Red Herring – argues off point◦ American car is superior but abruptly shifts to the

plight of laid off workersAd Hominem – argument attacks an individualrather than opinion◦ Sam doesn’t deserve a promotion. His divorce was

messy.


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clearly and weaken argumentAppeal to the Crowd – plays on irrational fearsand prejudices of audience◦ The Red Scare, Adolf Hitler

Guilt by Association – some similarity betweenone person to another◦ Similar to poisoning the wellPost Hoc – assuming that because one eventfollows another, the first caused the second◦ Coincidence that a black cat ran across the street

right before the car crashed into the telephone pole


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Argument is an attempt to alter attitudes orspark action

Responsibility for quality of argument andpossible consequencesCarefully consider stance and argument◦ Is it credible? Is it dependent on certain conditions?Be fair to other positionsLegitimacy of reasons and evidenceExamine fallacies and other possible reader

manipulationsExplore the consequences of readers adoptingthis position


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Apply your assigned argumentative element toeach of the following readings. Be prepared toextensively discuss your findings with the class.

Marissa Brown – “Teacher Natalie Munroe Has aRight to Call Kids Lazy and Rude”

Jonathan Zimmerman – “When Teachers Talk out of

School”Byron York – “A Carefully Crafted Immigration Lawin Arizona”

Conor Friedersdorf – “Immigration Policy GoneLoco”

Essay #3 (Causal Analysis) dueNewsletter mulligans due


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Purpose AudienceAdam, Jordan, Jasmine, Regan

The rational appealKymmen, Chamira, Kim, Hannah, Elizabeth

The emotional appeal

Tayah, John, Chris, Kamyn, RandallThe ethical appeal Ethical issuesJocelyn, Aliyah, Mattie, Perri

Fallacies Reasoning strategiesTyrell, Zac, Josh, Brock, Thori,


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10.28 10.29 eng101 argument techniques

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