The Argument Clinic

1. The Argument Clinic Constructing Persuasive Arguments

2. Is this an example of an Argument? • Monty Python

3. What is an Argument? At it’s basic level, an argument is a claim supported by reasons. You can represent this definition by with the following equation: = + Claim Reasons Argument

4. Some Very Basic Examples of an Argument • Americans should buy Volvos because they are safe. • Although tax increases are not popular, they are sometimes necessary to pay for basic government services. • Cats are good pets because they are clean and easy to maintain.

5. The Basics: The Claim Characteristics of a Good Claim • It is controversial or debatable (Some people will disagree with it.) • It is a statement, not a question • It is focused on a single issue Example: Women should breastfeed their infants if at all possible.

6. Basics: Reasons Reasons are supporting statements that prove (or at least try to prove) the claim’s validity. Reasons can usually be stated as a because clause. Example: If at all possible, women should breastfeed their infants because human breast milk protects infants from many health problems.

7. Basics: Reasons and Claims Arguments can be visually represented by the following picture: Claim Reasons

8. Let’s Practice Choose one of the following topics: • Ultimate Fighting • Barbie dolls • Gym memberships • Pit bulls Now write a claim about that topic. Remember, a claim is a controversial statement about that topic. For example, if I had the topic toy guns, I might write something like the following sentence: “Toy guns are not appropriate toys for children.”

9. Let’s Practice, continued. • Now, take your claim and add at least two reasons to support it. You can use a because clause to connect your reasons to your claim. • Example: “Toy guns are not appropriate toys for children because the toys promote violent behaviors and can be mistaken for real guns.”

10. Nick Naylor’s Approach to Rhetoric • Thank You for Smoking

11. Thinking about Warrants While a basic argument needs only a claim and reasons, good arguments are a little more complicated. Reasons are able to support claims because they are connected by an ethical value or assumption called a warrant. The warrant is usually not stated directly. Instead the author assumes that the reader will share the same ethical values that connect the claim and reasons. Example: If at all possible, women should breastfeed their infants because human breast milk protects infants from many health problems. Warrant: Protecting infants from health problems is good.

12. Warrants, continued Look back at the arguments you and your fellow students created. What is the warrant of each argument? Who is the intended audience for each argument? Do you believe that the audience in each case will share the same belief that composes the warrant?

13. Warrants, cont. Now let’s approach some really difficult audience/claim combinations. Work in groups to decide on a warrant and reason for each argument. The death penalty should not be legal. / Christians who support the death penalty. The death penalty should be legal. / Ardent left-wing liberals.

14. Evidence • Strong arguments also use evidence to prove or demonstrate each reason. If we look back at our graphic representation of an argument, an argument with evidence might look something like the image on the right. Claim Reasons Evidence

15. Types of Evidence Statistics -- Numerical data Facts – Provable and non-disputable information Quotes from Experts Anecdotes – Personal stories

16. Ethos, Pathos, Logos Documentation Source Quality Tone and diction Facts Statistics Expert Testimony Logic Organization Anecdotal Evidence Emotional Appeals Visuals

17. Now it’s your turn Briefly outline an argument with a claim, two or three supporting reasons, and supporting evidence, on one of the following topics. Be prepared to give your argument to the entire group. • The suitability of cats (or some other animal) as a pet. • To spank or not to spank • The legalization of prostitution