Everythings an Argument

1
Everythings an Argument

• Chapters 2 3

2
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

3
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

4
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

5
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?

6
Four Types of Appeals

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

7
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 drunken driver

8
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

9
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.

10
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.

11
Character-Based Arguments

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

12
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

13
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

14
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)

15
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

16
READERS CONTEXT

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

17
SUBJECT
PURPOSE
CONTEXT
READER
WRITER
18
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)

19
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.

20
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.

21
Establishing Credibility

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

22
Establishing Credibility

• Highlight Shared Values
• Find common values with the potential readers
• What community do you share?

23
Establishing Credibility

• Refer to Common Experiences

24
Establishing Credibility

• Build common ground
• Closely related to common experiences
• Establish a connection with readers
• Use pronouns

25
Establishing Credibility

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