Assignment Weights

1. Assignment Weights • Brief Assignments = 3 • Preliminary Draftsnumbered either 1.1 or 2.1= 6 • All Final Drafts numbered either 1.2 or 2.2= 8 • All Peer Critiques = 2 • All Writing Reviews = 4

2. Argumentation & Rhetoric • ethos, pathos, logos • (non)credibility, emotion, logic • 2.1 – reworking and adding to your lit review research to construct a specific, clear, arguable,balanced, and robust argument

3. Argument should be… • Clear: should be able to express your core argument in one brief statement (thesis) • should be ARGUABLE • Should only include one verb – doesn’t have to be a call to action, can be just to change people’s minds, attitudes, beliefs, etc. • “The state of Texas should rezone congressional voting districts.” – one verb, call to action – acceptable • “The state of Texas should rezone congressional voting districts or change voting restrictions in those districts.” – two verbs, not acceptable • “Universities in the Big 12 overpay their head football coaches.” – one verb, not call to action – acceptable • “Universities in the Big 12 overpay their head football coaches and should consider lowering them to be at least lower than colleges’ presidents.” – two verbs, not acceptable

4. Argument should be balanced • Balanced (not equal) amount of appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos • Evidence should be appropriate to the topic and your specific argument • i.e. you wouldn’t make many emotional appeals (pathos) to argue that clean energy might have higher yield returns for low-mid level investors, or draw on a an academic’s credentials (ethos) to argue the academy wastes taxpayer money, etc.

5. Argument should be robust • Assumptions can’t be “papered over” • Why, why, why? • Assumptions don’t always look like assumptions: • headache pills – why do you take it? • We all make assumptions about everything, meaning we do things based on knowledge we accept as valid or reliable from others. • The strongest researched arguments are the ones in which the author recognizes his/her own assumptions and biases, and takes extra care to address them.

6. Claims – Assumptions – Evidence • Topical example: • “Obamacare is un-American because it forces people to buy something against their will.” • Claim – Obamacare is un-American • Evidence – it forces people to buy something, which is a violation of freedom, which is un-American • Assumption – all laws that require people to pay something are un-American • Question – is there an assumption here that might be invalid or not universally accepted? The best arguments addresstheir own assumptions.

7. Counter-arguments • In the previous example, the assumption is that “forcing people to buy something is un-American.” • To strengthen your argument, you must address these assumptions by addressing any counter-arguments. • Class activity: • 1) Write a thesis statement for your 2.1 argument. • Must be arguable, employ one verb, and must either be a call to (non)action or to change audience’s mind/attitudes/beliefs, etc. • 2) sketch an outline of your 2.1 • 3 body paragraphs with a topic sentence for each (each paragraph should present and argue one reason to support your thesis) • At least one assumption you must address, and how you will address it • At least one counter-argument and how you will address it

8. Polemic versus dialogue • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQFB5YpDZE