Elements of an Argument and Persuasive Techniques

1. Elements of an Argument andPersuasive Techniques Review and Quiz

2. What should you be able to do? • Identify persuasive techniques and make inferences about the effect it has on the piece. • Identify and make inferences about the author’s claim and the type of support he/she uses. • Identify and make inferences about the way an author organizes his argument. • Example: Claim followed by research to prove it. • Or: Background information first, then claim.

3. EXAMPLE STAAR QUESTIONS • Claim: The author of this persuasive selection thinks that… • The author uses the first paragraph mostly to… • The author supports each argument with… • Which idea from paragraph 1 does the author base on an assumption?

4. Quick Review: Elements of an Argument -ARGUMENT -CLAIM *SUPPORT* *SUPPORT* *SUPPORT* -CONTER ARGUMENT -CLAIM *SUPPORT* *SUPPORT* *SUPPORT*

5. claim • The writer’s position on an issue or problem • Example: I believe teenagers in Brownsville should have a curfew at 10 o’clock p.m. The writer will spend the entire essay/editorial etc. supporting the claim that teens should have a curfew. He will use evidence to back it up. To find claim, ask yourself, “What am I being asked to do or think?”

6. What is the claim of this ad? Uncle Sam wants people (everyone really) to help in the war effort. “You should help in the war effort.”

7. Support • Evidence and reasons provided by the writer in order to support his claim • Example: • Claim  Teens should have a curfew. • Reason 1: Too many teens are getting into trouble past 10 p.m. • Evidence to prove Reason 1: 53% of reported vandalism by teens occurred after the hours of 10 p.m. according to the police department.

8. Types of Support • Examples: Last week three teenagers were caught stealing. • Statistics: Numbers, Charts, Graphs • 98% of people in Brownsville wear shoes • Only 25% of people in Brownsville ages 18-25 have graduated from college. • People with unhealthy diets are more likely to become diabetics than any other group. • Quotations: words that experts or others say Dr. Shultz says, “Wearing diabetic shoes is absolutely necessary for diabetics.”

9. Types of Support • Facts: Things that can be proven • Our community center offers several after school options for our teens • Anecdotes: Small stories of instances with the product. • Little Jose went to Champion Soccer Camp last summer and came back a soccer super star! • A mother used a certain cleaning product and her house has never been cleaner!

10. Argument • Arguments express a position on a problem and support it with reason or evidence. • CLAIM + SUPPORT = ARGUMENT (author’s viewpoint) • For example: Should we wear uniforms in school? ARGUMENT (CLAIM) Yes, and this is why… (SUPPORT) A recent study showed an increase in student progress by 43% in schools with uniforms. Dr. Whizenheimer stated “Students are more focused on school work and less on fashion when everyone is dressed alike.” COUNTER ARGUMENT (CLAIM) No, and this is why… (SUPPORT) The Counselor at West High School told The Weekly News that “Students struggle to express individuality and, I feel, have a loss of identity when forced to wear uniforms at school.”

11. A R G U M E N T

12. A R G U M E N T

13. A R G U M E N T

14. Counterargument The opposing viewpoint. The opposite idea from what the writer is trying to prove. Example: “Giving teenagers a curfew will keep our kids from learning personal responsibility.” The BEST arguments anticipate (already know, or await anxiously) what the counterargument is, so they will address it and try to prove it wrong.

15. Response questions… • How does the author support Reason 1 in his argument? -The author supports Reason 1 in his argument by… • What would be the opposing viewpoint of this argument? -The opposing viewpoint of this argument is…

16. STOP

17. PERSUASION TECHNIQUES • Bandwagon • Appeal to Pity • Appeal to Fear

18. bandwagon • Tries to convince you that you will be left out if you do not participate EVERYBODY’S DOING IT!

19. Emotional Appeals • Appeal to Pity • Try to make you feel sorry for something or someone in order to motivate you to do something about their suffering. • Example: • Animal shelter commercials, “In the arms of the angel” • Orphanage commercials • Appeal to Fear • Try to scare you into doing or not doing something. • Purchasing a certain gas mask in case of a terrorist attack.

20. Appeal to fear

21. Appeal to Pity • Taps into people’s compassion for others • Please help these defenseless puppies and kittens. They need a home. Everyone deserves a second chance.

22. GET READY FOR THE QUIZ WOOOOOO!!!!!!!

23. What is the claim of this ad? • Stop pouring, start cleaning. • Tide gives you 6x the cleaning power than the other brand. • The other brand wastes too much water.

24. What type of suppport does this ad offer when it says, “Eco-Shape bottle with less plastic, 30% less plastic in fact than that average bottle.” • Statistics • Facts • Quotations

25. What type of appeal is used? • Bandwagon • Appeal to Pity • Appeal to Fear

26. The purpose of this ad is to… • Remind people that drinking and driving has negative consequences. b. Show people the improvements in synthetic limbs. c. Persuade people to purchase a BMV brand car.

27. Faulty Reasoning Faulty Reasoning is a claim based on information that could be incorrect, biased, or simple does not make sense. Factual details are sometimes used, though they do not support the conclusion. For example…

28. Faulty Reasoning My parents both like movies from the 1940’s. This proves people don’t like current entertainment. Explain why this is a fallacy.

29. Faulty reasoning A long summer break from school will cause students to fall behind in their studies. Explain why this is a fallacy.

30. Faulty reasoning My sister and her best friend are both left-handed and are both very musical. Therefore, left-handed people must be artistic. Explain why this is a fallacy.