Synopses & Reviews
ARGUMENT! marries solid instruction in critical reading and analysis, argument, and research strategies with a visually engaging and dynamic design. ARGUMENT! teaches students how to read with a critical eye, how to think about and respond to the ideas of others, and ultimately how to craft their own effective, relevant, and engaging arguments. With ARGUMENT! students will learn how to acknowledge and respond to the complex arguments (both visual and textual) that exist all around them in addition to entering debates with their own strong and thoughtful voice.
Synopsis
ARGUMENT! marries solid instruction in critical reading and analysis, argument, and research strategies with a visually engaging and dynamic design.
About the Author
Dorothy U. Seyler is professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the College of William and Mary, Dr. Seyler holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and the State University of New York at Albany. She taught at Ohio State University, the University of Kentucky, and Nassau Community College before moving with her family to Northern Virginia. She has coauthored Introduction to Literature and Language Power, both in second editions, and is the author of The Writer's Stance, Patterns of Reflection, in its third edition, The Reading Context, Steps to College Reading, Understanding Argument, and Read, Reason, Write, currently in its fifth edition and Doing Research, currently in its second edition. In addition, Professor Seyler has published articles in professional journals and popular magazines. She enjoys tennis, golf, and traveling, as well as writing about all three.
Table of Contents
Argument! Table of Contents SECTION 1 CRITICAL READING AND RESPONDING TO ARGUMENTS Chapter 1 Reading Arguments with a Critical Eye What does an argument look like? Recognizing purpose in everyday arguments Why you need to learn to read and write arguments. Right now. What you can expect from your writing assignments Why read and respond to the work of others? Critical Reading and the Contexts of Argument Active Reading: Use Your Mind! Richard Morin: “Political Ads and the Voters They Attract” Understanding the Arguments of Others Examining the Context of an Argument Understanding an Authors Attitude and Tone Denotative and Connotative Word Choice Recognizing Tone Analyzing an Authors Tone Analyzing for Tone: Word Choice Analyzing for Tone: Sentence Structure Analyzing for Tone: Metaphors Analyzing for Tone: Organization and Examples Analyzing for Tone: Repetition Analyzing for Tone: Hyperbole, Understatement, and Irony Analyzing for Tone: Visuals Chapter 2 Responding Critically to the Arguments of Others Responding to Arguments Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address” Responding to Content: What does it say? The Analytic Response: How is it written? The Evaluation Response: Does it achieve its purpose? The Research Response: How does it help me understand other works, ideas, and events? Ellen Goodman, “In Praise of a Snails Pace” The Response to Content: Writing Summaries and Paraphrases Guidelines for Writing Summaries Writing Paraphrases Bertrand Russell, from “A Free Mans Worship” The Analytic Response Dave Barry, “Remote Control” Writing about Style Understanding Purpose and Audience Planning the Essay Drafting the Style Analysis A Checklist for Revision Ellen Goodman, “Choosing Families” Student Essay: “Goodmans Feast of Style” The Evaluation Response: Does it achieve its purpose? Combining Summary, Analysis, and Evaluation: The Critique or Review Knowing Your Audience Understanding Your Purpose Establishing a General Plan Drafting the Critique or Review Annotated Review: Lynda Ransdell, “More Than a Game: One Womans Fight for Gender Equity in Sport” Student Evaluation: “Winchesters Alchemy: Two Men and a Book” by Ian Habel The Research Response: How does it help me understand other works, ideas, and events? David Rieff, “Their Hearts and Minds?” Acknowledging Sources Informally Presenting Direct Quotations: A Guide to Form and Style Reasons for Using Quotation Marks A Brief Guide to Quoting Suggestions for Reading, Discussion, and Writing Andrew Vachss, “Watch Your Language” Catherine Getches, “I Have a Chip, but Its Not on My Shoulder” SECTION 2 THE WORLD OF ARGUMENT Chapter 3 The Basics Of Argument Characteristics of Argument Argument Is Conversation with a Goal Argument Takes a Stand on an Arguable Issue Argument Uses Reasons and Evidence Argument Incorporates Values Argument Recognizes the Topics Complexity The Shape of Argument The Aristotelian Model The Toulmin Model The Language of Claims and Support Facts Inferences Judgments Types of Judgments Functional Judgments Aesthetic Judgments Ethical Judgments Moral Judgments Richard Morin, “Paradise Lost” Learning More about the Toulmin Model of Argument Claims Support for Claims Warrants Backing Qualifiers Counter-Arguments and Rebuttals Using Toulmins Terms to Analyze Arguments Les Schobert, “Let the Zoos Elephants Go” Using Toulmins Terms as a Guide to Structuring Arguments For Debate Barrett Seaman, “How Bingeing Became the New College Sport” Joseph A. Califano, Jr., “Dont Make Teen Drinking Easier” Suggestions for Discussion and Writing Chapter 4 Writing Effective Arguments Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I Have A Dream” Writing Effective Arguments Know Your Audience Who Is My Audience? Josh Gerstein: “Gingrich: Free Speech Should Be Curtailed To Fight Terrorism” Understand Your Writing Purpose Move from Topic to Claim to Possible Support Selecting a Topic Drafting a Claim or Thesis Listing Possible Grounds Listing Grounds for the Other Side or Another Perspective Considering the Rogerian or Conciliatory Argument Planning Your Approach Organizing and Drafting Your Argument Guidelines for Drafting Revise Your Draft Editing Proofreading For Analysis and Debate Deborah Tannen, “We Need Higher Quality Outrage” Sidney Hook, “In Defense of Voluntary Euthanasia” Peter A. Singer and Mark Siegler, “Euthanasia: A Critique” Chapter 5 More About Argument: Induction, Deduction, Analogy, And Logical Fallacies Induction Deduction Analogy Zbigniew Brzezinski, “War and Football” Arguments That Do Not Work: Logical Fallacies Causes of Illogic Ignorance Patrick Healy: “Clinton on Obamas Speech: I Havent Heard It” Egos Prejudices A Need for Answers Fallacies That Result from Oversimplifying LiveScience Staff: “Why Teens are Lousy at Chores” Fallacies That Result from Ignoring the Issue Gregory Kane: “To Murder Victims Families, Executing Killers is Justice” SECTION 3 TYPES OF ARGUMENTS Chapter 6 Evaluating the Arguments of Others: The Refutation Essay Guidelines for Writing a Refutation Essay David Sadker: “Gender Games” The National Center For Public Policy Research “Global Warming: Why Cant the Mainstream Press Get Even Basic Facts Right?” Using Research in Refutation Arguments Colbert I. King: “You Cant Fight Terrorism with Racism” Chapter 7 The Arguing a Position Essay Chapter 8 The Speculating about Causes Essay Chapter 9 The Proposing a Solution Essay SECTION 4 THE ARGUMENTATIVE RESEARCHED ESSAY Chapter 10 Planning the Researched and Formally Documented Argument Chapter 11 Integrating and Documenting Your Research Chapter 12 Writing the Researched Essay SECTION 5 A COLLECTION OF READINGS