Essays are graded on a NINE point scale, just like AP essays

1
Essays are graded on a NINE point scale, just
like AP essays

• 9 100
• 8 97
• 7 93
• 6 86
• 5 80
• 4 77
• 3 72
• 2 70
• 1 65
• NS below 60

• Right now, if you are in the 5/6 range, I think
  you are okay and can learn what you need to
  learn to succeed in the class and on the AP exam.

2
Issues that need to be fixed

• Proper nouns need capital letters English,
  America
• A lot is TWO words.
• There and their are NOT interchangeable.
• s and s are not interchangeable
• Themself is not a word
• SentEnce, not sentAnce
• Spell the authors name correctly, and punctuate
  appropriately
• Learn where to divide words at the end of a line,
  or better yet, if you dont have room, go to the
  next line.
• Refer to Elements of Style for more rules you
  should know. This book is a REFERENCE book.

3
More issues Refer to Elements of Style if you
are confused

• Parallel structure errors (Ex. Immigrants who
  come to America are looking for a better life,
  sanctuary, or simply because they have nowhere
  else to go.)
• Sentence fragments/run-ons
• Subject/verb agreement errors
• Pronoun/antecedent agreement errors (Ex. If an
  immigrant lives here long enough, they need to
  learn English.)

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Other things that will help you

• Dont be wordy. (Ex. due to the fact that,
  utilize, etc.)
• Handwriting really does matter, even though its
  not supposed to .
• Details are important.
• Summary is unnecessary.
• Spelling matters.
• Watch the immature expressions (Ex. beat her
  over the head with, all up in his face) and
  cliches (beat around the bush)

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Rogerian Argument

• Dont hate on your audience.

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Rogerian Argument

• Rogerian is one of THREE models of argument.
  (The others are Classical and Toulmin, we will
  cover them later)
• Ideas come from Carl Rogers, a psychologist. Your
  reading packet is written by him.

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A few quotes

• Real communication occurs when we listen with
  understanding Carl Rogers
• The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince
  his opponents that he understands their
  arguments, and sympathizes with their just
  feelings. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (English
  Romantic Poet)
• You can catch more flies with honey than you can
  with vinegar -??

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You dont pick fights with your audience!

• The  Rogerian  model  acknowledges  the
   audiences  point  of  
• view  or  opinions  before  presenting  the
   authors  different  or  
• opposing  viewpoint .   
• A  Rogerian argument  supports  the  central
   argument  with  tact  
• without  outright  attacking  the  audiences
   preconceived  notions.
• But seriously, the CONCEPTS are more important
  than the LABELS. Dont get overwhelmed.
• THIS IS NOT THE ONE AND ONLY RIGHT WAY TO WRITE
  PERSUASIVELY!!!!!!!!! There are many right ways
  to write!
• Sometimes it works well and is appropriate,
  sometimes its not. As a writer, you have to make
  the call.

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Argument v. Persuasion

• Definitions tend to be academic
• Some say argument is purely logical, and
  persuasion contains emotional appeals.
• ARGUMENT discover a truth or conviction
• PERSUASION seeks to change a point of view or
  ACT on a conviction

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Rogerian Argument

• Seeks to establish trust and find COMMON GROUND.
• Assume that audience /or opposition is made up
  of REASONABLE people. This is, unfortunately, not
  always true. Therefore, Rogerian argument is not
  always the best approach.
• Seeks to UNDERSTAND the point of view of those
  with whom they disagree
• To start a DIALOGUE or DISCOURSE
• BOTH/AND instead of EITHER/OR
• WIN/WIN instead of WIN/LOSE

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Courtroom Example When you would NOT use
Rogerian techniques
Prosecution and defense argue with EACH OTHER -
but the AUDIENCE is really the Judge and jury.
In this case, there is no need to be nice or
concede ANY points to the opposition. Your goal
is to WIN!!
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Same thing with DEBATES
The OPPONENT is not the AUDIENCE, so you
might not see many Rogerian techniques when you
watch debates! The goal is to WIN or Dominate!
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Aristotelian (Classical) argument

• Seeks to REFUTE the opposition because they are
  WRONG!
• Audience/opponent is WRONG, and must be
  disproved or overwhelmed by evidence.
• Again, dont worry about labels. Know concepts.

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Things that happen in a Rogerian Argument

• Speaker/writer shows (sympathetic) understanding
  to the opposition.
• Speaker/writer demonstrates that those who
  disagree with them are still reasonable,
  intelligent people of good will (not fools and
  idiots).
• Speaker/writer is non-confrontational, even
  friendly (not my way or the highway).

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Probably the most useful (but difficult) with
controversial issues

• Brainstorm some controversial issues
• Death penalty
• Gay marriage
• Abortion
• Gun control
• The difficulty is that when people become
  polarized about issues, they dont like to admit
  that the other side may have some good points.

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To Review

1. State the problem or issue.
2. Give the opposing position. Grant some validity
   to parts of it. Recognize circumstances where it
   could be acceptable.
3. State YOUR position, support it, and tell why the
   opposition will be IMPROVED by embracing your
   views. Why will the world be a better place for
   this?

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How to use Rogerian Argument

• While I am NOT a fan of rigidly structured
  essays, here is an example of what a Rogerian
  argument might look like
• Intro
• Summary of Opposing Views
• Statement of Understanding
• Statement of Your position
• Statement of Contexts
• Statement of Benefits
• Important parts/pose a solution here is where
  you concede something to the opposing side and
  acknowledge that others who think differently
  from you are also intelligent, reasonable people.