PART ONE: OVERVIEW OF AN ARGUMENT
1 Argument: An Introduction
What Do We Mean by Argument?
Argument Is Not a Fight or a Quarrel
Argument Is Not Pro-Con Debate
Arguments Can Be Explicit or Implicit
The Defining Features of Argument
Argument Requires Justification of Its Claims
Argument Is Both a Process and a Product
Argument Combines Truth Seeking and Persuasion
Argument and the Problem of Truth
2 Argument as Inquiry: Reading and Exploring
Finding Issues to Explore
Do Some Initial Brainstorming
Be Open to the Issues All around You
Explore Ideas by Freewriting
Explore Ideas by Idea Mapping
Explore Ideas by Playing the Believing and Doubting Game
Reading Texts Rhetorically
Genres of Argument
Authorial Purpose and Audience
Determining Degree of Advocacy
Reading to Believe an Argument’s Claims
JAMES SUROWIECKI, “The Pay Is Too Damn Low”
Summary Writing as a Way of Reading to Believe
Practicing Believing: Willing Your Own Belief in the Writer’s Views
Reading to Doubt
Thinking Dialectically
MICHAEL SALTSMAN, “To Help the Poor, Move Beyond ‘Minimum’ Gestures”
Three Ways to Foster Dialectic Thinking
Writing Assignment: An Argument Summary or a Formal Exploratory Essay
TRUDIE MAKENS (STUDENT), “Should Fast-Food Workers Be Paid $15 per Hour?”
PART TWO: WRITING AN ARGUMENT
3 The Core of an Argument: A Claim with Reasons
The Classical Structure of Argument
Classical Appeals and the Rhetorical Triangle
Issue Questions as the Origins of Argument
Difference between an Issue Question and an Information Question
How to Identify an Issue Question
Difference between a Genuine Argument and a Pseudo-Argument
Pseudo-Arguments: Committed Believers and Fanatical Skeptics
A Closer Look at Pseudo-Arguments: The Lack of Shared Assumptions
Frame of an Argument: A Claim Supported by Reasons
What Is a Reason?
Expressing Reasons in Because Clauses
Writing Assignment: An Issue Question and Working Thesis Statements
4 The Logical Structure of Arguments
An Overview of Logos: What Do We Mean by the “Logical Structure” of an Argument?
Formal Logic versus Real-World Logic
The Role of Assumptions
The Core of an Argument: The Enthymeme
The Power of Audience-Based Reasons
Adopting a Language for Describing Arguments: The Toulmin System
Using Toulmin’s Schema to Plan and Test Your Argument
Hypothetical Example: Cheerleaders as Athletes
Extended Student Example: Girls and Violent Video Games
The Thesis-Governed “Self-Announcing” Structure of Classical Argument
Writing Assignment: Plan of an Argument’s Details
5 Using Evidence Effectively
Kinds of Evidence
The Persuasive Use of Evidence
Apply the STAR Criteria to Evidence
Establish a Trustworthy Ethos
Be Mindful of a Source’s Distance from Original Data
Rhetorical Understanding of Evidence
Angle of Vision and the Selection and Framing of Evidence
Examining Visual Arguments: Angle of Vision
Rhetorical Strategies for Framing Evidence
Special Strategies for Framing Statistical Evidence
Creating a Plan for Gathering Evidence
Writing Assignment: A Supporting-Reasons Argument
6 Moving Your Audience: Ethos, Pathos, and Kairos
Logos, Ethos, and Pathos as Persuasive Appeals: An Overview
How to Create an Effective Ethos: The Appeal to Credibility
How to Create Pathos: The Appeal to Beliefs and Emotions
Use Concrete Language
Use Specific Examples and Illustrations
Use Narratives
Use Words, Metaphors, and Analogies with Appropriate Connotations
Kairos: The Timeliness and Fitness of Arguments
Using Images to Appeal to Logos, Ethos, Pathos, and Kairos
Examining Visual Arguments: Logos, Ethos, Pathos, and kairos
How Audience-Based Reasons Appeal to Logos, Ethos, Pathos, and Kairos
Writing Assignment: Revising a Draft for Ethos, Pathos, and Audience-Based Reasons
7 Responding to Objections and Alternative Views
One-Sided, Multisided, and Dialogic Arguments
Determining Your Audience’s Resistance to Your Views
Appealing to a Supportive Audience: One-Sided Argument
Appealing to a Neutral or Undecided Audience: Classical Argument
Summarizing Opposing Views
Refuting Opposing Views
Strategies for Rebutting Evidence
Conceding to Opposing Views
Example of a Student Essay Using Refutation Strategy
TRUDIE MAKENS (STUDENT), “Bringing Dignity to Workers: Make the Minimum Wage a Living Wage”
Appealing to a Resistant Audience: Dialogic Argument
Creating a Dialogic Argument with a Delayed Thesis
Writing a Delayed-Thesis Argument
A More Open-Ended Approach: Rogerian Communication
Rogerian Communication as Growth for the Writer
Rogerian Communication as Collaborative Negotiation
Writing Rogerian Communication
COLLEEN FONTANA (STUDENT), “An Open Letter to Robert Levy in Response to His Article ‘They Never Learn’ ”
Conclusion
Writing Assignment: A Classical Argument or a Rogerian Letter
Readings
LAUREN SHINOZUKA (STUDENT), “The Dangers of Digital Distractedness” (A Classical Argument)
PART THREE: ANALYZING ARGUMENTS
8. Analyzing Arguments Rhetorically
Thinking Rhetorically about a Text
Questions for Rhetorical Analysis
Conducting a Rhetorical Analysis
KATHRYN JEAN LOPEZ, “Egg Heads”
Our Own Rhetorical Analysis of “Egg Heads”
Writing Assignment: A Rhetorical Analysis
Generating Ideas for Your Rhetorical Analysis
Organizing Your Rhetorical Analysis
Readings
ELLEN GOODMAN, “Womb for Rent–For a Price”
ZACHARY STUMPS (STUDENT), “A Rhetorical Analysis of Ellen Goodman’s ‘Womb for Rent–For a Price’ ”
9 Analyzing Visual Arguments
Understanding Design Elements in Visual Argument
The Components of Visual Design • An Analysis of a Visual Argument Using Type and Spatial Elements
The Compositional Features of Photographs and Drawings
An Analysis of a Visual Argument Using Images
The Genres of Visual Argument
Posters and Fliers
Public Affairs Advocacy Advertisements
Cartoons
Web Pages
Constructing Your Own Visual Argument
Using Information Graphics in Arguments
How Tables Contain a Variety of Stories
Using a Graph to Tell a Story
Incorporating Graphics into Your Argument
Writing Assignment: A Visual Argument Rhetorical Analysis, a Visual Argument, or a Microtheme Using Quantitative Data
PART FOUR: ARGUMENTS IN DEPTH: TYPES OF CLAIMS
10 An Introduction to the Types of Claims
The Types of Claims and Their Typical Patterns of Development
Using Claim Types to Focus an Argument and Generate Ideas: An Example
Writer 1: Ban E-Cigarettes
Writer 2: Promote E-Cigarettes as a Preferred Alternative to Real Cigarettes
Writer 3: Place No Restrictions on E-Cigarettes
Hybrid Arguments: How Claim Types Work Together in Arguments
Some Examples of Hybrid Arguments
An Extended Example of a Hybrid Argument
ALEX HUTCHINSON, “Pounding Pills: Your Daily Multivitamin May Be Doing More Harm Than Good”
11 Definition and Resemblance Arguments
What Is at Stake in a Categorical Argument?
Consequences Resulting from Categorical Claims
The Rule of Justice: Things in the Same Category Should Be Treated the Same Way
Types of Categorical Arguments
Simple Categorical Arguments
Definition Arguments
Resemblance Argument Using Analogy
Resemblance Arguments Using Precedent
The Criteria-Match Structure of Definition Arguments
Overview of Criteria-Match Structure
Toulmin Framework for a Definition Argument
Creating Criteria Using Aristotelian Definition
Creating Criteria Using an Operational Definition
Conducting the Match Part of a Definition Argument
Idea-Generating Strategies for Creating Your Own Criteria-Match Argument
Strategy 1: Research How Others Have Defined the Term
Strategy 2: Create Your Own Extended Definition
Writing Assignment: A Definition Argument
Exploring Ideas
Identifying Your Audience and Determining What’s at Stake
Organizing a Definition Argument
Questioning and Critiquing a Definition Argument
Writing Assignment
ALEX MULLEN (STUDENT), “A Pirate But Not a Thief: What Does ‘Stealing’ Mean in a Digital Environment?”
12 Causal Arguments
An Overview of Causal Arguments
Kinds of Causal Arguments
Toulmin Framework for a Causal Argument
Two Methods for Arguing That One Event Causes Another
First Method: Explain the Causal Mechanism Directly
Second Method: Infer Causal Links Using Inductive Reasoning
Examining Visual Arguments: A Causal Claim
Key Terms and Inductive Fallacies in Causal Arguments
A Glossary of Key Terms
Writing Assignment: A Causal Argument
Exploring Ideas
Identifying Your Audience and Determining What’s at Stake
Organizing a Causal Argument
Questioning and Critiquing a Causal Argument
JULEE CHRISTIANSON (STUDENT), “Why Lawrence Summers Was Wrong: Culture Rather Than Biology Explains the Underrepresentation of Women in Science and Mathematics” (APA-format research paper)
13 Evaluation and Ethical Arguments
An Overview of Categorical Ethical Evaluation Arguments
Constructing a Categorical Evaluation Argument
Criteria-Match Structure of Categorical Evaluations
Developing Your Criteria
Making Your Match Argument
Constructing an Ethical Evaluation Argument
Consequences as the Base of Ethics
Principles as the Base of Ethics
Example Ethical Arguments Examining Capital Punishment
Common Problems in Making Evaluation Arguments
Writing Assignment: An Evaluation or Ethical Argument
Exploring Ideas
Identifying Your Audience and Determining What’s at Stake
Organizing an Evaluation Argument
Questioning and Critiquing a Categorical Evaluation Argument
Critiquing an Ethical Argument
LORENA MENDOZA-FLORES (STUDENT), “Silenced and Invisible: Problems of Hispanic Students at Valley High School”
JUDITH DAAR AND EREZ ALONI, “Three Genetic Parents–For One Healthy Baby”
14 Proposal Arguments
The Special Features and Concerns of Proposal Arguments
Practical Proposals versus Policy Proposals
Toulmin Framework for a Proposal Argument
Special Concerns for Proposal Arguments
Examining Visual Arguments: A Proposal Claim
Developing a Proposal Argument
Convincing Your Readers that a Problem Exists
Showing the Specifics of Your Proposal
Convincing Your Readers that the Benefits of Your Proposal Outweigh the Costs
Using Heuristic Strategies to Develop Supporting Reasons for Your Proposal
The “Claim Types” Strategy
The “Stock Issues” Strategy
Proposal Arguments as Advocacy Posters or Advertisements
Writing Assignment: A Proposal Argument
Exploring Ideas
Identifying Your Audience and Determining What’s at Stake
Organizing a Proposal Argument
Designing a One-Page Advocacy Poster or Advertisement
Designing PowerPoint Slides or Other Visual Aids for a Speech
Questioning and Critiquing a Proposal Argument
IVAN SNOOK (STUDENT), “Flirting with Disaster: An Argument Against Integrating Women into the Combat Arms” (MLA-format research paper)
SANDY WAINSCOTT (STUDENT), “Why McDonald’s Should Sell Meat and Veggie Pies: A
Appendix 1: Informal Fallacies
Fallacies of Pathos
Fallacies of Ethos
Fallacies of Logos
Appendix 2: A Concise Guide to Evaluating, Using, and Documenting Sources
Evaluating Your Sources by Reading Rhetorically
Reading with Your Own Goals in Mind
Reading with Rhetorical Awareness
Taking Purposeful Notes
Evaluating Sources
Using Sources for Your Own Purposes
Using Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation
Summarizing
Paraphrasing
Quoting
Creating Attributive Tags to Indicate Use of a Source
Avoiding Plagiarism
Why Some Plagiarism May Occur Unwittingly
Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism
Citing Sources in Your Text in MLA Style
Documenting Sources in a “Works Cited” List (MLA)
Student Example of an MLA-Style Research Paper
Citing Sources in Your Text in APA Style
Documenting Sources in a “References” List (APA)
Student Example of an APA-Style Research Paper
Credits
Index