Part One Understanding Argument
1. Understanding the Structure of Argument
The Nature of Argument
*X-Ray Tests Both Security, Privacy, THOMAS FRANK
*Airport Screeners Could See X-Rated X-Rays, JOE SHARKEY
*Freedom to Live Trumps All!, CHRIS KAPPER
Practice
Why Study Argument?
The Terms of Argument
Practice
Practice
Writers Guide: Learning the Key Terms
The Audience
*SAMPLE ANALYSIS
*Will the Politics of Teen Sex Stop a Cancer Vaccine?, ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH
ASSIGNMENTS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE OF ARGUMENT
*Why U.S. Health Care Costs Arent Too High, CHARLES R. MORRIS
2. Reading and Listening Critically
Responding as a Critical Reader
Writers Guide: General Reading Strategies
Practice
The Declaration of Independence, THOMAS JEFFERSON
Comprehending Argument
Writers Guide: Strategies for Comprehending Arguments
*Sex and the Cinema, EDWARD J. EPSTEIN
Practice
Evaluating Arguments
Writers Guide: Strategies for Evaluating Arguments
SAMPLE ANALYSIS
The Gettysburg Address, ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Lincolns Logic, CHARLES ADAMS
Practice
Responding as a Writer
SAMPLE ANNOTATED ESSAY
No-Win Situations, ALFIE KOHN
Writers Guide: Annotating a Text
Practice
*‘Freak Dancing: If Only It Stopped There, DESDA MOSS
Responding as a Critical Listener
Writers Guide: Guidelines for Critical Listening
ASSIGNMENTS FOR READING AND LISTENING CRITICALLY
3. Reading Visual Texts Critically
Responding to a Visual Argument
Practice
Practice
Cease Fire [advertisement]
Sample Analysis of an Advertisement
We Can Not Tell a Lie
Sample Analysis of a Web Site
The Hungersite.com [Web site]
Responding Online
- Guidelines for Responding Online
ASSIGNMENTS FOR READING VISUAL TEXTS CRITICALLY
*4. Writing about Argument
*Writing the Claim
*Practice
*Lets Have No More Monkey Trials, CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER
*Planning the Structure
SAMPLE ESSAYS WITH ANALYSIS
*Is There a Torturous Road to Justice?, ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ
*Alan Dershowitzs Tortuous Torturous Argument, SETH FINKELSTEIN
*Using Sentence Forms to Construct an Argument
*Providing Support
*Summarizing
*Paraphrasing
*Quoting
*Writers Guide: Incorporating Quotations into Your Text
*Practice
*Documenting Your Sources
Writers Guide: Documenting Use of Summary, Paraphrase, and
Quotations
*Avoiding Plagiarism
READINGS FOR ANALYSIS
*Should We Fight Terror with Torture?, ALAN DERSHOWITZ
*Parents Need Help, BARBARA DAFOE WHITEHEAD
Warfare: An InventionNot a Biological Necessity, MARGARET MEAD
*DEBATE: HOW SERIOUS IS THE PROBLEM OF ONLINE
PREDATORS?
*MySpace and Sex Offenders: What's the problem?, BOB SULLIVAN
*MySpace Is Not Responsible for Predators, KEVIN ALEXANDER
*ASSIGNMENTS FOR WRITING ABOUT ARGUMENT
5. Defining Key Terms
The Purposes of Definition
Defining the Terms in Your Argument
- Defining Vague and Ambiguous Terms
Practice
Methods for Defining Terms
Practice
Stipulation
Negation Examples Extended Definition The Definition Essay
Writers Guide: Writing a Definition Essay
*SAMPLE ANALYSIS
The Definition of Terrorism, BRIAN WHITAKER
READINGS FOR ANALYSIS
Race by the Numbers, ORLANDO PATTERSON
Family a Symbol of Love and Life, but Not Politics, ERIC ZORN
Dont Torture English to Soft-Pedal Abuse, GEOFFREY NUNBERG
DEBATE: IS THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE CHANGING?
Gay Marriage Shows Why We Need to Separate Church and State, HOWARD MOODY
Will It Be Marriage or Civil Union?, JO ANN CITRON
ASSIGNMENTS FOR UNDERSTANDING DEFINITION
6. Claims
Claims of Fact
- Sufficient and Appropriate Data
- Reliable Authorities
- Facts or Inferences
Writers Guide: Defending a Claim of Fact
SAMPLE ANNOTATED ESSAY: CLAIM OF FACT
A Reassuring Scorecard for Affirmative Action, MICHAEL M. WEINSTEIN
Practice
*Picking Sides for the News, ROBERT J. SAMUELSON
Claims of Value
Writers Guide: Defending a Claim of Value
SAMPLE ANNOTATED ESSAY: CLAIM OF VALUE
Kids in the Mall: Growing Up Controlled, WILLIAM SEVERINI KOWINSKI
Practice
*Crash, ROGER EBERT
Claims of Policy
Writers Guide: Defending a Claim of Policy
SAMPLE ANNOTATED ESSAY: CLAIM OF POLICY
College Life versus My Moral Code, ELISHA DOV HACK
REA