The document provides instructions for conducting a rhetorical analysis of an argument by identifying the author's main claim and reasons, the evidence used to support each reason, and categorizing the evidence as appealing to emotion, logic, or credibility. It concludes by asking the reader to evaluate whether the author made a convincing case and if they are credible on the topic.
The Evaluation ArgumentChapter 14, Practical ArgumentMig.docxtodd701
The Evaluation Argument
Chapter 14, Practical Argument
Mignette Dorsey
The Evaluation Argument
• Evaluate – To make a personal, value judgment about something
or someone. Ex. A product, service, program, work of literature,
etc.
• Do we evaluate options before we make decisions? Examples?
• Evaluation Argument (options)
1. Make a positive or negative judgment
2. Assert that someone else’s positive or negative judgment is
inaccurate
3. Comparative analysis where you prove one thing is superior to
another
The Evaluation Argument
• What makes another perceive that your evaluation is fair?
• Addressing the Opposing Point of View
• Evidence of bias (p. 477) – Bias can be detected by tone as evidenced
by word choice
• Criteria for Evaluation:
1. Answer the “why” question related to your assertion: Why are
afternoon classes better than morning classes - or vice versa?
2. Establish a list of criteria you will examine: Alertness, Instructor
accessibility, traffic
The Evaluation Argument
3. Comparing criteria - discuss drawbacks of morning classes versus
advantages of afternoon classes
• See pg. 479 re. Evaluation Argument structure
• Evaluation Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives – page 484
Pop Quiz: Evaluation Essay
(Answers are on the last slide)
Write true or false for each item below:
1. Offering a solution to the problem of student plagiarism would be a
good topic for an evaluation essay.
2. Word choice is an important consideration in writing an evaluation
essay.
3. Word choice establishes the tone of an essay.
4. Of the five “Ws,” the “why” question is never the focus of an
evaluation essay.
5. When we “evaluate,” we make a value judgment about something
or someone.
Pop Quiz Answers: Evaluation Essay
• 1. False
• 2. True
• 3. True
• 4. False
• 5. True
The Evaluation Argument�Chapter 14, Practical ArgumentThe Evaluation Argument�The Evaluation ArgumentThe Evaluation ArgumentPop Quiz: Evaluation Essay�(Answers are on the last slide)Pop Quiz Answers: Evaluation Essay
Rhetoric, Persuasion,
Argumentation:
The Argumentative Essay
Mignette Dorsey
Engl 1302
What is Rhetoric?
• Rhetoric is the ancient art of
argumentation and discourse. When we
write or speak to convince others of what
we believe, we are "rhetors." When we
analyze the way rhetoric works, we are
"rhetoricians." The earliest known studies
of rhetoric come from the Golden Age,
when philosophers of ancient Greece
discussed logos, ethos, and pathos.
Carson-Newman University
https://web.cn.edu/.../resource rhet.html
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/logic.html
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/ethos.html
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/pathos.html
What is Rhetoric?
• Rhetoric / Persuasion is not only written
discourse. Marketing experts use rhetoric for the
purpose of persuading audiences to pay
attention to what they are selling. See
Google>advertisements>images
• Architects use rhetoric in building design.
Consider the message co.
The Evaluation ArgumentChapter 14, Practical ArgumentMig.docxarnoldmeredith47041
The Evaluation Argument
Chapter 14, Practical Argument
Mignette Dorsey
The Evaluation Argument
• Evaluate – To make a personal, value judgment about something
or someone. Ex. A product, service, program, work of literature,
etc.
• Do we evaluate options before we make decisions? Examples?
• Evaluation Argument (options)
1. Make a positive or negative judgment
2. Assert that someone else’s positive or negative judgment is
inaccurate
3. Comparative analysis where you prove one thing is superior to
another
The Evaluation Argument
• What makes another perceive that your evaluation is fair?
• Addressing the Opposing Point of View
• Evidence of bias (p. 477) – Bias can be detected by tone as evidenced
by word choice
• Criteria for Evaluation:
1. Answer the “why” question related to your assertion: Why are
afternoon classes better than morning classes - or vice versa?
2. Establish a list of criteria you will examine: Alertness, Instructor
accessibility, traffic
The Evaluation Argument
3. Comparing criteria - discuss drawbacks of morning classes versus
advantages of afternoon classes
• See pg. 479 re. Evaluation Argument structure
• Evaluation Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives – page 484
Pop Quiz: Evaluation Essay
(Answers are on the last slide)
Write true or false for each item below:
1. Offering a solution to the problem of student plagiarism would be a
good topic for an evaluation essay.
2. Word choice is an important consideration in writing an evaluation
essay.
3. Word choice establishes the tone of an essay.
4. Of the five “Ws,” the “why” question is never the focus of an
evaluation essay.
5. When we “evaluate,” we make a value judgment about something
or someone.
Pop Quiz Answers: Evaluation Essay
• 1. False
• 2. True
• 3. True
• 4. False
• 5. True
The Evaluation Argument�Chapter 14, Practical ArgumentThe Evaluation Argument�The Evaluation ArgumentThe Evaluation ArgumentPop Quiz: Evaluation Essay�(Answers are on the last slide)Pop Quiz Answers: Evaluation Essay
Rhetoric, Persuasion,
Argumentation:
The Argumentative Essay
Mignette Dorsey
Engl 1302
What is Rhetoric?
• Rhetoric is the ancient art of
argumentation and discourse. When we
write or speak to convince others of what
we believe, we are "rhetors." When we
analyze the way rhetoric works, we are
"rhetoricians." The earliest known studies
of rhetoric come from the Golden Age,
when philosophers of ancient Greece
discussed logos, ethos, and pathos.
Carson-Newman University
https://web.cn.edu/.../resource rhet.html
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/logic.html
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/ethos.html
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/pathos.html
What is Rhetoric?
• Rhetoric / Persuasion is not only written
discourse. Marketing experts use rhetoric for the
purpose of persuading audiences to pay
attention to what they are selling. See
Google>advertisements>images
• Architects use rhetoric in building design.
Consider the message co.
Writing the Term PaperPHIL1120 Environmental EthicsInstr.docxericbrooks84875
Writing the Term Paper
PHIL1120 Environmental Ethics
Instructor Bearden
Fall 2011
Contents:
1. How do I select a topic for a philosophy paper? (1)
2. What is a thesis statement? (2)
3. Using outside sources (4)
4. Possible paper topics (6)
How do I select a topic for a philosophy paper?
All students are expected to write one term paper on a relevant topic in the course that
considers a philosophical position or contemporary environmental issue in detail. Papers
should be 5-6 pages in length, double-spaced, in font size 12 and free from grammatical and
other errors. Papers should show creativity and imagination but should also be written with
clarity and precision. Students will first submit a thesis statement indicating their topic,
proposed argument, and support from philosophical sources. The thesis is worth 5% of the
final grade and is graded on a pass/fail basis. Students will receive comments and guidance
from the instructor regarding their thesis before the paper’s due date. Consult the Course
Schedule for all due dates. Students are warmly encouraged to discuss the paper topic with
the instructor. Please see the instructor if you have further questions or need help during any
phase of the writing process.
The first step in the writing process is picking a topic that interests you. What issues
were you hoping to tackle in this course? What ideas have most impacted the way you think?
What would you like to know more about? Narrowing the field to a few topics is a good start.
From there, consider what readings our book offers on the subject. You are free to write about
any environmental issue, as long as it is considered from a moral point of view. That said,
you might also look into public policy, environmental science, economics or any other
related field. Following your interest is one way to encourage creativity in your papers.
Starting with a question regarding your topic is a good second step. What would you
like to investigate about a particular topic? Consider the scope of your paper and whether or
not there will be conclusive and clear evidence for you to research. Solid papers will argue
for a clear point and will incorporate relevant evidence when applicable. As you settle on
your topic, consider what premises you will need to consider in order to reach a conclusion
on your topic. Think of these premises as the primary support for what your paper aims to
prove. These three premises should help frame your paper, setting the scope of your
investigation. Next, consider how each of these premises logically fit together to help you
address your topic of choice. Try to make these premises fit as precisely as possible. The
more you are able to simplify these premises into a logical argument, the more precise your
paper will be. Obviously, you’ll return to these as you pursue this topic through research. But
you are now on your way to formulating a thesis. For a more detailed discussion of the thesi.
Argument structure The Aristotelian argument The Artroutmanboris
Argument structure: The Aristotelian argument
The Aristotelian argument is the framework upon which most academic, thesis-driven
writing is based. You can use this template any time you need to take a position on a
topic.* Before getting started, make sure that your thesis is argumentative and non-
obvious. When determining how to support your thesis, try to group all of your
supporting evidence into distinct piles which have thematic similarities. Finally, develop
each claim in its own section of text, making sure that each point is proportionate to the
others. The back of this handout contains a template you can use to get started.
1. Start broad and contextualizes the argument (e.g. Why
is your topic relevant to the course content?).
2. End with a specific argumentative claim--your thesis
(e.g. “In Augustine’s Confessions, we find many personal
dilemmas still relevant to modern life.”). You may also
opt to preview the progression of your argument (e.g. “In
Augustine’s Confessions, we find many personal
dilemmas still relevant to modern culture, evidenced by
his greed, his theological experimentation, and his sense
of despair when faced with personal loss.”)
3. Start each body paragraph with a distinct topic
sentence; this tells the reader how the paragraph
functions in the context of the argument (e.g. “One way
in which Augustine’s confessions are still relevant to
modern society is his greed, shown in his willingness to
steal the pears despite being well-fed and otherwise
content”).
4. Each paragraph should have distinct content based on
some organizational principle (e.g. ethics, history,
financial, legal, biblical, thematic (as in this example),
etc.)
5. If your thesis is controversial, you may also opt to
include a concession. This acknowledges a typical
argument your opposition would present to you (e.g.
“However, some theologians have claimed that the
realities of the modern world have made Augustine less
relevant to modern theological dilemmas. One example
is Dr. NoName, who states…”).
6. Immediately following, and in about as much space,
refute the opposition using evidence which undermines
their criticism.
7. Conclude and broaden the scope of your argument,
and this time, contextualize it in terms of relevance to
your audience and society.
*The example above is for illustration only.
Placement of the thesis my vary; the number of
points (and paragraphs composing them) can change.
The Center for Writing
3 Bockman Hall
651.641.3465
www.luthersem.edu/writing
Context & Relevance:
Concession:
Refutation:
Topic Sentence 3:
Supporting claims:
Topic Sentence 2:
Supporting claims:
Topic Sentence 1:
Supporting claims:
Relevance & Context:
Thesis:
marci
Note
Note: This template lacks a Background Section. This section answers the questions: (1) Why is this a problem?; (2) What are the origins/causes of the problem?Aristoteli ...
Definition of Ethos and How to Use it1. Trustworthiness Does y.docxrandyburney60861
Definition of Ethos and How to Use it
1. Trustworthiness Does your audience believe you are a good person who can be trusted to tell the truth?
2. Similarity Does the writer try to get the reader to identify with him or her? This can be done through language
3. Authority Does the writer have formal or informal authority? Does the writer try to relate to the reader?
4. Reputation What are the expertise the writer uses? How many does he use? What are their areas of authority?
Logos: Logical reasoning, which has two bases:
Deductive reasoning, and
Inductive reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning generally start with one or more premises, and then comes to a conclusion from them. Premises can be facts, claims, evidence, or a previously proven conclusion. The key is that in a deductive argument, if the writer’s premises are true, then the conclusion must be true.
1. Education determines one’s class base.
2. One’s class base will shape one’s employment.
3. Therefore, education will determine one’s employment.
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is similar in that it consists of premises, which lead to a conclusion. The difference is that the conclusion is not guaranteed to be true — we can only state it with some degree of confidence.
For example, consider the following inductive argument:
5. All Six Minutes articles you have read in the past were insightful. (premise)
6. This is a Six Minutes article. (premise)
Therefore, this article is insightful. (conclusion)
How to Identify Logos
Make it Understandable: Does the writer make the argument understandable? What tools does he or she use to do this?
Make it Logical: Does the arguments make sense? Or does the writer require the reader to make an extreme leap of faith? How easy is it for the writer to make a connection to the argument?
Make it Real: Does the writer make the argument real? Is the argument concrete or abstract?
The language plain language: Does the writer use technical jargon or is a portion of language used for a specific reader that isn’t familiar with the reader?
Does the writer use short words and phrases over long and convoluted counterparts?
The language is explicit: Does the writer make his or her argument plain? What techniques does he or she use to establish explicit argument?
The writer uses a couple premises, to establish his or her position? Are they relatable? Do they show relationship between them? “And these five advantages — capital costs, scheduling, inventory control, marketing, and employee satisfaction — together make this a winning proposal.”
Trace sequences or processes in order.
Does the writer jump around to different places or is there an order to his or her steps that create clarity or confusion for the reader?
Use comparisons, analogies, and metaphors.
Does the writer introduce new concepts, with an appropriate analogy which helps the audience understand the new concept in terms of how they already understand the old one?.
1. Rhetorical Analysis
(aka – picking apart, examining and evaluating someone
else’s argument)
What is the author’s main claim? What is he trying to
convince us to believe or persuade us to do?
What reasons does he give?
What evidence does he give to support his reasons and
his claims?
For each reason/evidence you listed, decide which of the
three categories of “rhetorical strategy” it best fits into:
2. 1. Playing on people’s emotions (pathos). Example:
Look at these pictures of these poor suffering
animals.
2. Using logic and reason, facts and figures (logos).
Example: If we don’t fix this bridge now, we will pay
a lot more later.
3. Pointing out one’s own credibility or authority on a
topic (ethos). Example: Trust me. I’m a doctor.
Overall, do you think the author has a convincing
argument? Does he make his case?
What suggestions do you have for him on making his
case even stronger?
Do you think this author is credible on this topic? Why or
why not?