argumentation PPT.pdf

1. Argumentation: A Primer
Argumentation: A Primer
“
“Happiness is when everyone
Happiness is when everyone
agrees that I’m right!”
agrees that I’m right!”

2. What is Argumentation?
– Argumentation -- clear thinking, logic to
convince reader of the soundness of a
particular opinion on a controversial issue.
– Persuasion -- emotions used to convince
reader to take a particular action.
– Persuasion and argumentation are often
combined.

3. Arguments must have the
following:
• Logos
• Ethos
• Pathos

4. Logos
• "Logos" or soundness of argument --
facts, statistics, examples, and
authoritative statements to support
viewpoint.
• Evidence must be: unified, specific,
sufficient, accurate, and representative.
This is the main strength of the
argument.

5. Pathos
• "Pathos" -- appeals to readers' needs,
values, and attitudes, encouraging them to
commit themselves to a viewpoint or course
of action.
• Pathos is derived from language (connotative
-- strong emotional overtones).

6. Ethos
• "Ethos" -- credibility and integrity.
Prove to the reader that you're
knowledgeable and trustworthy.
• Give a balanced approach,
acknowledge differing points of view;
give lots of support for your viewpoint.

7. There are two basic types
of reasoning:
• Inductive reasoning
-- draw a conclusion
from using specific
details.
• (Small to big)
• Deductive reasoning
-- apply a
generalization to a
specific case.
• (Big to small)

8. There are lots of things to
consider.
• First: There are perfectly wonderful,
reasonable, intelligent people who
disagree with you absolutely. (And
there are dunderheads who may agree
with you.) The moral: judge the
argument, not the person.

9. Know what you know.
• You need to be certain of what you
know as well as of what you are
uncertain -- that knowledge affects your
use of proofs as well as your use of
language.

10. Don’t offend.
• Goodwill -- readers are more likely to
listen to an argument if it is reasoned,
cool, calm, and relatively
dispassionate.
• Focus on the issues, not the reader or
opponent.

11. Know the history.
• Be able to identify the controversy of
your issue and why there is a
controversy in the first place.

12. Know all sides.
• You should be able to see the validity
of both (all) sides of an issue.
• Also, you should be able to determine
what the two sides may agree on.

13. What can you do with both
sides?
• Refutations -- restate opposing points of
view, acknowledge the validity of some of the
arguments given by opponents, point out
common grounds, present evidence for your
position.
• You must be able to refute the opposition in
order to have a strong argument (and get an
“A” on your essay).

14. Things to avoid:
faulty conclusions, post hoc fallacy
(cause-effect sequential but not
related); non sequitur fallacy
(conclusion has no connection to
evidence); ad hominem argument
(attach person rather than point of
view);

15. More things to avoid:
• faulty authority (when authority is in doubt);
begging the question (reader expected to
accept a controversial premise without
proof); false analogy (two things share all
characteristics if they share only a few);
either-or fallacy (viewpoint can only have one
of two solutions); red herring argument
(deflect attention).

16. Structure
• There is no one “better” way to
structure an argument. Whatever
works, whatever is actually convincing,
is the “right” way to do it.
• Do consider the “Rogerian” method,
however, because it does contain all
elements of a strong argument.

17. More stuff to think about:
• Always be thorough. Find out what you
don’t know -- do your research -- and
don’t spout nonsense.
• Avoid loaded words and prejudicial
statements -- generalizations that are
vague and often misleading and
inaccurate.

18. Language issues:
• Vary sentences structure.
• Be aware of homonyms.
• Be aware of transitions.
• Be aware of connotations and
denotations.
• Have a clearly identifiable thesis.

19. Things to remember.
• Avoid announcements. Please never
say something like, “In this paper I will
discuss…” That is fine for papers
written in science or math classes, but
it is not acceptable in an English class.

20. Possible Beginnings
• Broad statement narrowing to a limited subject (end
introduction with thesis statement)
• Brief anecdote leading up to thesis
• Comparative or opposite ideas leading up to
thesis
• Series of short questions leading to thesis
• Quotes leading to thesis
• Refutation of a common belief leading up to a
thesis
• Dramatic fact or statistic leading to thesis

21. Possible Conclusions
• Summary of information presented (useful if your
argument is long and/or complicated)
• Prediction based on information presented
• Quotation leading to concluding statement
• Statistics leading to concluding statement
• Recommendation or call for action

22. Double Check These:
• Does the paper answer the assignment given?
• Does the paper address your audience?
• Does the paper have the appropriate tone?
• Does the paper serve the purpose intended?
• Is the thesis clear and easily understood?
• Add information where it appears to lack
adequate support.

23. More to remember:
• Delete useless or confusing information.
• Do all of the supporting statements actually
support the thesis?
• Are clear transitions used between thoughts,
ideas, paragraphs?
• Are the introduction and conclusion adequate and
appropriate?
• Is your organization systematic and methodical
(consistent throughout the paper)?

24. More to consider:
• Consider sentence structure and length.
• Reconsider word choice. Never use profanity or
slang. Always identify abbreviations.
• Proofread for correct grammar, punctuation,
typing errors.
• REPEAT ALL OF THIS UNTIL YOU ARE
SATISFIED (or cannot stand to look at it
anymore).

25. Last Items
• Give your paper a title
• Make sure that your paper is on correct paper
stock, typed, and legible.
• Make sure that your paper is properly identified
with your name, course title, date, and paper title
• Make a copy of your paper and keep it as a record
for yourself
• Turn in your paper on time