Argumentation

1
Argumentation

• Support your written opinion
• with good reasons.

2
What are debatable statements?

• Arguments are statements with which other people
  might or might not agree.
• They are called "arguments", "assertions",
  "propositions" or "premises.
• For example Solar energy is a good way to meet
  energy needs in the 21st century.
• Is an argument the same as an opinion?

Is this statement arguable?
3
What are non-debatable statements?

• Non-debatable statements are ones with which
  no-one would normally disagree or argue.
• These are sometimes called "facts, and they are
  not opinions.
• For example
• Demand is outpacing production, so the price of
  gas is up.

In the bar, whats important nuclear war or the
big game?
4
Which statements are debatable?

• __1. Computers and automation increase
  unemployment.
• __2. The government should provide residency
  status to the undocumented.
• __3. Plants produce oxygen that we need to
  sustain life.
• __4. A good education is necessary for a
  successful life.
• __5. The best way to eradicate AIDS is to
  quarantine all victims in another state.
• __6. The worst subject in college is advanced
  mathematics.
• __7. No one should drive over 80 mph because it
  wastes too much gasoline.

Notice that facts are not discussable, but
opinions are.
5
The red opinions are debatable

• __1. Computers and automation increase
  unemployment.
• X 2. The government should provide residency
  status to the undocumented.
• __3. Plants produce oxygen that we need to
  sustain life.
• __4. A good education is necessary for a
  successful life.
• X 5. The best way to eradicate AIDS is to
  quarantine all victims in another state.
• __6. One of the subjects in college is advanced
  mathematics.
• X 7. No one should drive over 80 mph because it
  wastes too much gasoline.

6
Can you support arguments?

• Opinion The US should document illegal aliens.
• Reason 1 The newly documented would pay more ___
  .
• Reason 2 The documented would be more likely to
  obey the ___ .
• Support 3 The documented would work ___ .

• Opinion The college should increase parking.
• Reason 1 Students would find __.
• Reason 2 They would waste less ___.
• Reason 3 They would also ___.

Do you want blowout tires?
7
You can support arguments

• Opinion The US should give papers to illegal
  aliens.
• Reason 1 The newly documented would pay more
  taxes .
• Reason 2 The documented would be more likely to
  obey the law .
• Support 3 The documented would work better .

• Opinion The college should add more parking
  spaces.
• Reason 1 Students would find parking .
• Reason 2 They would waste less time and gasoline
  .
• Reason 3 They would also make it to class on
  time more often.

8
Can you support arguments?

• Opinion The US military should cease operations
  in the Middle East.
• Reason 1 Without the cost of the war, taxes
  could be ___.
• Reason 2 Deaths from the war would be ___.
• Reason 3 The nation could fix our own ___.

• Opinion The college should add programs.
• Reason 1 Students would find __.
• Reason 2 They would not have to ___.
• Reason 3 They would also ___.

Do SUVs use reasonable amounts of gas?
9
You can support arguments

• Opinion The US military should cease operations
  in the Middle East.
• Reason 1 Without the cost of the war, taxes
  could be reduced.
• Reason 2 Deaths from the war would be avoided.
• Reason 3 The nation could fix our own highways,
  electric grids, and health care systems.

• Opinion The college should add more degree
  programs.
• Reason 1 Students would find more suitable
  majors.
• Reason 2 They would not have to transfer to
  other universities.
• Reason 3 They would also benefit from increased
  course offerings.

10
How specific is this paragraph?

• What is missing in this body paragraph?
• A big gap between my high school and college is
  the tests. My high school was famous for having
  the highest test scores. Thus, our graduates went
  on to famous universities. Yet the small tests of
  high school did not prepare me for the major
  exams of college, even though I am not attending
  a major university.

Blanca never did learn to say well instead of
good.
11
How can we add specific detail?

• A big gap between my high school and college is
  the tests. My high school was famous for having
  the highest test scores. Thus, our graduates went
  on to famous universities. Yet the small tests of
  high school did not prepare me for the major
  exams of college, even though I am not attending
  a major university.
• __1. Northwest High is well-known for having many
  students in the top 10 of SAT and ACT test
  scores.
• __2. Thus, half of our graduates went on to
  famous universities, such as Harvard, Michigan,
  and North Carolina.
• __3. Yet the chapter-level tests of high school
  did not prepare me for the mid-term and finals of
  even a smaller college such as Dalton State.
• __4. High schools should increase their level of
  testing, at least in advanced math and English
  classes, to ready graduates for college
  requirements.
• Regents Standards

12
What are biased arguments?

• Biased arguments are based on two types of
  reasoning.
• Fallacies are errors in logical thought.
• Propaganda is persuasion that spreads bias
  designed to support or oppose a person, product,
  cause, or organization
• Most often propaganda is based on just an
  emotional appeal the arousal of emotion to give
  meaning or power to an idea.

How biased is that?
13
What is the first logical fallacy?

• The first logical fallacy is personal attack, or
  ad hominem.
• It is abusive remarks without real evidence.
• For example
• It is obvious that President Bush is so stupid
  that he cannot even speak correctly. Therefore,
  we should never listen to anything the man has to
  say.

How biased is this cartoon?
14
What is the second logical fallacy?

• The straw man substitutes a weak argument for a
  stronger one to make the argument easier to
  challenge.
• Jill "We should clean out the messy closets."
  Bill "We just went through those closets last
  year. Do we have to clean them everyday?" Jill
  "You want too keep your junk forever."

Is there a problem?
15
What is the third logical fallacy?

• Circular reasoning or begging the question
  restates the point of an argument as both the
  support and the conclusion.
• If driving sixty miles per hour were not illegal,
  it would not be against the law to do it!
• Of course, its a mans world because thats just
  the way God made it!

How circular is this?
16
What is the fourth logical fallacy?

• Name calling uses negative labels against a
  product, an idea, or a cause.
• Look at those wacky conservatives! They think a
  strong military is the key to peace!"
• If Obama wasnt such an extremist, left-wing,
  radical liberal more normal, middle American
  people might just be able to support his ideas!

Is this the way to go?
17
What is the fifth logical fallacy?

• Testimonials use irrelevant personal opinions to
  support a product, idea, or cause.
• NFL football superstar Payton Manning drinks Diet
  Sprite every morning. Why dont you try one,
  too?
• Oprah Winfrey lost fifty unwanted pounds just by
  eating AcaiBerryBust.
• Now, it should work for anyone else, right?

Do you believe in Hollywood?
18
What is the sixth logical fallacy?

• The bandwagon is an appeal that uses the
  irrelevant detail that everyone is doing it.
• "Bill, I know you think that Asians are good at
  math, but we don't accept that sort of thing in
  our group.
• Wife to husband All of the neighbors who know
  what they are doing have in-ground swimming
  pools. Why dont we get one, too?

Is Junior right?
19
Whats the seventh logical fallacy?

• Plain folks uses details irrelevant to build
  trust on common values.
• Visiting a church, the president dresses in a
  dark suit and blue shirt. He walks slowly and
  with hands together in front of him. Later, he
  wears denims and fleece top to take the dog for a
  walk. He meets a dog owner and exchanges cheery
  pleasantries.

How agreeable is this?
20
What is the eighth logical fallacy?

• The false dilemma or either-or fallacy assumes
  that only two sides of an issue exist.
• America either love it or leave it.
• My country right or wrong.
• You know that you are better dead than red.
• Either go to church every weekend or do not go at
  all, ever.

You mean its not all or nothing?
21
What is the ninth logical fallacy?

• The false analogy or the confused comparison
  assumes that two things are similar when they
  really are not.
• "Skis and roller skates are both strapped on your
  feet. Skis help you travel over snow
  efficiently, so roller skates would help you
  travel efficiently over snow."

Whose tummy has the burger and fries?
22
What is the tenth logical fallacy?

• False cause or post hoc assumes that because
  events occurred at the same time, they have a
  cause-and-effect relationship.
• My girlfriend gave me neon laces for my spikes
  and I won my next three races. Those laces must
  be good luck...if I keep on wearing them, I can't
  help but win!

How much is the bum worth?
23
What is the eleventh logical fallacy?

• One-sidedness or card-stacking omits facts to
  misrepresent a product, idea, or cause.
• A minister of a new church group sets up in a
  poor area, feeds people who will listen, tells
  them of how the poor will be saved, and so on.
• He doesnt mention that his church doesnt
  believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

How clearly is she thinking?
24
What is the twelfth logical fallacy?

• Transfer creates a false association between a
  product, idea, or cause with a symbol or image
  that has positive or negative values.
• Would it be good for a Catholic priest to invite
  Michael Jackson to his church?
• Why wouldnt the Republican convention invite the
  unpopular George Bush there?

Whats got the clerk suspicious?
25
Whats the thirteenth logical fallacy?

• Glittering generalities offer general positive
  statements that really just cant be proven.
• Miracle Diet Tea helps you to lose weight by
  absorbing fat you eat before digestion.
• Doctor-approved studies show Miracle Diet Tea
  helps millions of Americans!
• Dont ask to see the studies, though!

Does the announcer have the viewers attention
now?