Argumentation: Crafting an Effective Argument

1. Argumentation: Crafting an Effective Argument • Journal #7 • Using logic to persuade • Addressing the opposition HW: Read “Rude Teens” and answer questions.

2. Journal #7: To Text or Not to Text? Nick Rao's Rant Do you sympathize with him? Is his argument effective? Does he cause you to reevaluate who you text? Or why you text? Any other thoughts? Who’s his audience? What’s his purpose? Is his argument logical?

3. 3 Questions to Address Question 1: Who is the intended audience? Teenagers? Phone companies? Parents? A PARTICULAR AUDIENCE MUST BE TARGETED Question 2: What is the purpose of this? Does he really want texting to stop? Does he really think texting will stop? Is he more concerned with texting or calling on the cell phone? He talks about both… A SPECIFIC, PLAUSIBLE PURPOSE MUST BE CLARIFIED OR ELSE IT’S A RANT

4. Question 3: Is the argument logical? • Thesis- Texting old people has got to go. • First point: Anyone over 60 can’t hear or read the phone. • Not true. This is a generalization • Second point: Can’t understand texts. • He should learn. It’s an Attack, not an Argument!

5. Argumentation vs. Persuasion What’s the difference? Persuasion is ALL about one side. You develop an argument and convince the audience to do that one thing. Argumentation is about analyzing multiple sides. Inevitably, you lean to one side of the argument, but you explore both sides in order to refute one of the sides.

6. Persuading With Logic • Persuading with logic: basically being able to show a wide range of support in a respectful yet convincing manner. • Pretend you’re a lawyer presenting evidence to a jury. Avoid emotion.

7. Checklist to Remember • Avoid Insults and name calling • Stay calm • Take it easy on the sarcasm • Keep a consistent tone when using irony or exaggeration • Avoid absolutes (Always , never, all) • Humor is good! • Understand opposition’s views

8. Acknowledging the Opposition Purpose: It allows your audience to see you understand the “entire picture” of the argument. Also, it lets your audience see how your points specifically defeat the opposition. When to present the opposing argument? Early in the paper. Provide only one to two sentences and then destroy that specific point with your evidence.

9. Example Thesis: Teenagers shouldn’t text people above the age of 60 because they have too difficult of a time responding. Acknowledging the opposing side: Many might think that those veteran phone users could easily adapt to new technology and even understand the “text speak” that their younger friends are using. However, most elder phone users don’t have enough time to fully learn and comprehend the text speaker most are using. On top of the difficulty to understand the language, they also have trouble learning how to actually use the phone itself.

10. Quick Quiz • What are the three items you should address when evaluating an argumentative piece? • What’s the difference between argumentation and persuasion? • Evaluate the argument below using your “Checklist” from yesterday. Identify 2 items which the author needs to revise. OMG! Totes. Cray-cray. What’s with the idiots who talk like this? Do they think they sound cool or funny? The constant return to this type of language is destroying our culture and reputation in the world. And, on top of the language, these people find it necessary to dress like hooligans. Pants on the ground. Belly buttons all over the place. “Like, totally, you look awesome. Fetch.” Seriously? People who look and talk like this will never be successful. 4. Create an opposing argument for at least one point in the argument.

11. Fallacies Fallacies are lapses in reasoning caused by poorly constructed statements.

12. Circular Argument • Stating the main point without supplying reasoning Examples: • Students need to say the pledge in the morning because the pledge needs to be said. • I should get ice cream because I want it.

13. Begging the Question • Forces the reader to make an assumption without any support. Causes you to “beg the question.” • Examples: 1. Obviously, every one needs to have a savings account. Why do I need a savings account? 2. Everyone needs a car in today’s society. Why does everyone need a car?

14. Faulty Analogy • When you make an analogy that doesn’t apply well to the subject. Examples • Not saving for college is like setting a bomb off in your house. • Going to Saturday School is like being a prisoner of war.

15. Post Hoc Fallacy • Saying that one thing cause another because it occurred prior. Suggesting A caused B because A occurred prior to B. Examples • Allowing students to wear hats in school will lead to gang problems. • Wear this cologne and women will find you irresistible.

16. Either/Or • Suggesting that only two options exist in dealing with an issue. Examples • You either support this war or you support the terrorists • Students who don’t go to college will undoubtedly fall behind their peers.

17. Red Herring • Deflecting attention from the main argument and highlighting an irrelevant point. • In other words, bringing a new idea into the argument to distract people’s attention away from any other purpose. Examples: • Grading this exam on a curve would be the most fair thing to do. After all, classes go more smoothly when the students and the professor are getting along well. • There has been an increase in teen violence in the suburbs, so we should enforce a uniform policy.

18. 7. Trick Question • Phrasing a question in such a way that no direct answer is desirable. Examples: • Are you still a heavy drinker? • Has Frank given up his bad habits? • Are you still beating your wife? • Does your mother know you cheat?

19. Name calling or labeling • Focusing on the personal rather than the broader issue. Examples: • Look, it’s a politician reading to children in class. We should vote for him!

20. Argument to the People • Appealing to the emotional biases while ignoring the issues. • Arguer tries to convince the audience to do or believe something because everyone else does. Examples: • Someone in an abusive relationship. “If you love me you will stay with me.” • If you love this country, you’ll support this bill.

21. Fallacy Quiz Provide the fallacy used in each of these commercials. Commercial 1: PETA Commercial 2: Animals Commercial 3: India Trip Commercial 4: Political Ad

22. Homework • Find a commercial or ad with a fallacy. Be ready to share it tomorrow. • Use the sheet provided.

23. Inductive Reasoning • A process in which you present particular information in a particular order to draw a general conclusion. Ex.) 16 year olds account for more than 85% of car accidents in the world. They receive more than 70% of the tickets issued. They account for more than 70% of revoked licenses. (All made up.) -16 year olds should not be trusted behind the wheel. Be careful! There is the opportunity for the conclusion to be false. Ex.) Jack and Jill went to a movie Friday night. They hugged at the end of the night. -Everyone assumes they are dating. But they aren’t!!! They’re friends.

24. Tips for using Inductive Reasoning • Don’t change the specific information on purpose. Ex.)Lindsey Lohan said “she regrets driving intoxicated.” -Lindsey Lohan said “she barely regrets driving intoxicated.”

25. Tips for using Inductive Reasoning • Make sure you word statistics correctly and make sure they aren’t deceptive Ex.) The amount of customers shopping at JCPennies has tripled within the last month. - It was Christmas season so the amount of customers was higher everywhere.

26. Tips for using Inductive Reasoning • Make sure to include information that contradicts your ideas. In other words, acknowledge the opposition. Ex.) If you are supporting the legal drinking age to be lowered to 18 and you only include the supporting facts, it comes off as you are trying to hide the information that disagrees with you even though it may enhance your paper.

27. Tips for using Inductive Reasoning • Make sure the information is accurate and comes from trusted websites and sources. Blogs are not reliable. Ex.) Information is taken off of a college (.org, .edu) type of website. Not on a blog or unreliable website (Wikipedia)

28. Tips for using Inductive Reasoning • Support your claims with actual facts and evidence rather than your own opinions and observations Ex.) The number of DUI’s has decreased because I have seen less news reports about them. -In reality, the number of DUI’s has gone up according to statistics.

29. Deductive Reasoning • Moving from the general facts to the specifics. • Begins with broad conclusions or premises, and attempt to apply those conclusions to your argument.

30. Syllogism • It is a form of deductive reasoning including 3 steps: Major premise Minor premise Conclusion • Major premise: state a broad idea • Minor premise: offer a specific case of the broad idea • Conclusion: if both premises are true, conclusion is valid Deductive Reasoning

31. DON’T DO IT WRONG • BAD EXAMPLE! #1 Major: High school seniors should apply to college early Minor: Mary applied to college early Conclusion: Mary is a senior • BAD because Mary may not be a senior! • Problems that may occur: minor premise doesn’t logically follow or conclusion is invalid

32. Example of Syllogism (fill in the blanks) • Major: No reptiles have fur • Minor: All snakes are reptiles • Conclusion: ???????????????? • Major: ????????????? • Minor: Ms. T is a medical doctor • Conclusion: Ms. T earns a high salary • Both of these syllogisms fit because they draw logical conclusions

33. How do you use these in a paper?Combine the two. Deductive Reasoning: This is like your introductory paragraph. Think of the funnel: Inductive Reasoning: You could use this as your body paragraphs and conclusion. Body: specific support Body: specific support Body: specific support Conclusion: Restate thesis You do this already… Attention Getter (broad) Background (specific) Thesis Statement (specific)

34. Reasoning Continued Deductive Reasoning: You CAN use this as the layout for your entire paper, too. Intro: Broad idea (inform) Body: Specific support (illustrate) Conclusion: Specific (finalize argument) Inductive Reasoning: You CAN use this as the layout for your entire paper, too. Very similar to the previous papers you’ve written. Intro: Present specific support right away. Body: Specific support Conclusion: Broaden idea to connect globally and fulfill thesis

35. Homework Read “No Heart for the Homeless” on page 316 and answer the questions.

36. Emotional Appeal to Presenting Evidence By Jacob and Nate

37. Appealing emotionally • Consider emotions when building an argument • Appeals between emotions and logic are sometimes hard to separate

38. Techniques • Be aware of connotation • Appeal to the senses • Use figurative language • Adopt a clear tone • Tell a story • Offer Examples

39. Leading in to your thesis • Thesis can be boldly stated or built up and implied • Appeal to reader • Narrow focus until thesis is revealed

40. Opposing arguments • Briefly address criticism • Acknowledge the opposing arguments • Present evidence to approve those arguments incorrect

41. Argumentation Power Point

42. Crafting Your Conclusion • Return, don’t repeat! (thesis) • Be sophisticated and sound intelligent. • By the end of your paper, don’t think the reader’s stupid! • Inspire the people to think about you!

43. Conclusion • Revisit the thesis (DON’T REPEAT IT!) • Formally state your previous opinions. • INSPIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

44. Choosing a Topic • It’s not the end of the world if you don’t know your topic right away! • Open your mind into the beyond! • Talk to people with different views on the world. No one thinks the same! • Name broad categories, and determine your audience.

45. Age Group Issues of Age Group • Teens • College Acceptance • Graduation requirements • Majors/Minors/ Degrees • Making a future for yourself Broad Topics • Education

46. Assertion • Narrow down your topic to a single issue and list a few assertions. • ASSERTION: An arguable opinion that can be supported with evidence. • Assertion should always be an opinion and only an opinion. • Don’t choose an opinion that can’t be argued against. • If you want a challenge, argue something you don’t believe.

47. Examples of opinionated topics • Death penalty is immoral. (In retaliation: Death penalty is justifiable.) • Facebook should be allowed in school. (In retaliation: Facebook should not be allowed in school.)

48. BAD examples of opinionated topics • Dubstep is stupid. • Why is it bad? It’s a personal opinion. No use in trying to change someone’s personal tastes. • Animal abuse is wrong. • Why is it bad? Any topic that everyone knows is wrong and can’t be argued against shouldn’t be chosen.