h.4.7 eng101 argument techniques
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
1/20
Argument Techniques
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
2/20
Jerry Springer
Oprah
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
3/20
Purpose Audience
Reasoning strategies (Organization)
The rational appeal
The emotional appeal
The ethical appeal
Fallacies
Ethical issues
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
4/20
Demonstrating facts
◦Nursing is hard work, dorms are poor study
places
Defend/oppose a policy, action, or project
◦
Company should drug-test employees
Assert the greater/lesser value of
someone/something
◦Ranking candidates for promotion
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
5/20
Think like a reader (oh wait, you are...)
Consider reader’s interests expectations and
needs concerning this issue
Identify the evidence most likely to convince
readers
Identify the objections readers will have
Identify the consequences of this argument
Decide how objections should be addressed
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
6/20
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
7/20
Deduction
◦Demonstrates how a specific conclusion
follows logically from initial premise
◦Must make clear how conclusions do actually
follow from agreed-upon premises
Politicians assert the benefit to future
generations, then policies to favor that
Analogy
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
8/20
Analogy
◦Weakest form of rational appeal
◦ Never prove anything, only show
probability and sometimes offer
explanations
Assumption that humans respond to
chemicals as rats do
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
9/20
Present reasons and evidence in a way that
readers will find as reasonable or plausible
Established truths
Opinions of authorities
Primary source information
Statistical findings
Personal experience
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
10/20
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
11/20
Identify stories, scenes, or events of the
topic that arouse the strongest emotions
Can lend powerful reinforcement
Tug heartstrings of readers to take
actions
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
12/20
Write with genuine concern for topic,
commitment to truth and sincere respect
for others
◦ Tone is paramount
Offensive, arrogant, or mean-spirited
is ineffective
Look for snide comments
◦
Pleasant, fair-minded, decent is
effective
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
13/20
Lapses in logic that reflect upon ability to think
clearly and weaken argument
Hasty generalization – someone bases a
conclusion on too little evidence
◦ Student tries to reach instructor one time and
declares that the instructor is impossible to reach
Non sequitur – draws unwarranted conclusions
from seemingly ample evidence
◦ Bill is out every night. I wonder who he is dating?
Stereotyping – attaches one or more supposed
characteristics to a group or one of its
members
◦ Teenagers are lousy drivers
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
14/20
Lapses in logic that reflect upon ability to think
clearly and weaken argument
Card Stacking – only part of available evidence
given 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 when
several are available
◦ Either buy tires or get stuck inside this winter
Begging the Question – asserts truth of an
unproven statement
◦ Vitamin A is harmful to your health, so all bottles
should have a warning label. If enough of us write to
the FDA this could change. But how do we know it’s
harmful when evidence isn’t given?
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
15/20
Lapses in logic that reflect upon ability to think
clearly and weaken argument
Circular Argument – supports position merely
by 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 workers
Ad Hominem – argument attacks an individual
rather than opinion
◦ Sam doesn’t deserve a promotion. His divorce was
messy.
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
16/20
Lapses in logic that reflect upon ability to think
clearly and weaken argument
Appeal to the Crowd– plays on irrational fears
and prejudices of audience
◦ The Red Scare, Adolf Hitler
Guilt by Association – some similarity between
one person to another
◦ Similar to poisoning the well
Post Hoc – assuming that because one event
follows another, the first caused the second
◦ Coincidence that a black cat ran across the street
right before the car crashed into the telephone pole
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
17/20
Lapses in logic that reflect upon ability to think
clearly and weaken argument
Faulty Analogy – error of assuming two
circumstances are similar in all respects when
they are not
◦Football coach insists that if he emulates Lombardi’s
techniques that his team will win conference
Doesn’t take players into consideration level of play etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dln3DJEcghY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LydU2P7Yw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dln3DJEcghYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LydU2P7Ywhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LydU2P7Ywhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dln3DJEcghYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsI
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
18/20
Argument is an attempt to alter attitudes or
spark action
Responsibility for quality of argument and
possible consequences
Carefully consider stance and argument
◦ Is it credible? Is it dependent on certain conditions?
Be fair to other positions
Legitimacy of reasons and evidence
Examine fallacies and other possible reader
manipulations
Explore the consequences of readers adopting
this position
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
19/20
Apply your assigned argumentative element to each of the following readings.
Be prepared to extensively discuss your findings with the class.
Marissa Brown – “Teacher Natalie Munroe Has a Right to Call Kids Lazy and
Rude”
Jonathan Zimmerman – “When Teachers Talk out of School”
Byron York – “A Carefully Crafted Immigration Law in Arizona”
Conor Friedersdorf – “Immigration Policy Gone Loco”
Purpose Audience
Aziz, Mieah, Ashley C., Cody
The rational appeal
David, Daishawna, Danny, Brittany
The emotional appeal
Ashley B., Cassie, Tony, Summer
The ethical appeal Ethical issues
Naudya, Cambria, Corrine, Zach
Fallacies Reasoning strategies
Robert, Pauline, Kaprielle
-
8/18/2019 H.4.7 Eng101 Argument Techniques
20/20
Causal Analysis due
Comparative analysis mulligans due