Transcript Argumentative and Persuasive Writing

Argumentative and
Persuasive Writing
The Basics of Argumentative
Writing
What is an Argument?
• When you write an argument, you are trying to
convince a reader to agree with you on a topic
open for debate.
– Arguments are supported by…
• Factual data
• Logic
• Evidence, reasons, and examples
• Persuasive writing is the broader umbrella under
which argumentative writing falls:
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Advertisements
Letters to editors
Speeches
And formal written arguments
Arguments and Critical Thinking
• Why is the ability to think critically important in
writing an argument?
– Because writing and defending a position is an intellectual
process. Because before you begin writing, you must
critically examine all sides of an issue.
– Written arguments are therefore constructive. They set up
a debatable position rationally.
Choosing a topic for discussion
• Determine your purpose
– Position arguments
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Make a claim about controversial issues
Define the issue
Take a clear position
Make a compelling argument
Give sufficient attention to opposing views
– Proposal arguments
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Propose a course of action for a clearly stated problem
Define the problem
Propose solutions
Explain the merits of the solution
Choose an arguable topic
• An arguable topic is open for debate, that is
there are at least two sides to the issue.
– In order to determine whether a topic is
arguable…
• Begin with a fact
– Students at Valencia Community College are required to
take Student Success.
• Isolate the two viewpoints on the issue
– Students at Valencia Community College should not be
required to take Student Success.
– Students at Valencia Community College should be
required to take Student Success.
Audience
• When writing an argument, it is important
that you consider the degree of agreement
you can expect from your audience.
• The more emotionally charged a topic is,
the greater the chance that the position
argued will generate strong disagreement
or agreement from your audience.
Making a Claim
• A claim is a statement that expresses a point
of view on a debatable topic.
– Claims are supported by reasons, evidence, and
examples. This support is also know as a premise.
– Claims must have two or more supporting
reasons
– Claims must be specific and contestable (there
must be another side)
Warrants and Inferences
• Valid claims contain warrants, or underlying
assumptions that are implied, not stated.
The reader infers the assumptions.
– Inference- A conclusion arrived at
from facts and by reasoning.
Example: If you arrived at a gathering of friends and
one of them was sitting in front of a decorated
cake and blowing out candles, you would make
the inference that it was a birthday celebration and
the person celebrating the birthday was the one
blowing out the candles.
An Arguable Claim…
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Claim: Even though there may be a deceiver of some sort, very powerful and very tricky,
who bends all his efforts to keep me perpetually deceived, there can be no slightest
doubt that I exist, since he deceives me; and let him deceive me as much as he will, he
can never make me be nothing as long as I think I am something. Thus, after having
thought well on this matter, and after examining all things with care, I must finally
conclude and maintain that this proposition: I am, I exist, is necessarily true every time
that I pronounce it or conceive it in my mind.
-- René Descartes, Meditations
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Claim 1, Premise 1: To be deceived, I must exist
Conclusion of Argument 1: Knowing this, being aware of this ensures that I will never
doubt my existence.
Claim 2 , Premise 1: Therefore, after examining the facts and coming to the previous
conclusion, I know I exist.
Conclusion: I think therefore I am. I exist every time I think I exist.
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* Source: Perdue Online Writing Lab
Take a look at the following claim and infer
possible warrants…
• Parking is scarce at this college.
Therefore the college should build more
parking lots.
– Warrant: Parking is an issue that affects
everyone in the college community.
– Warrant: If the college wants to keep its
students, faculty, and staff happy, it should
provide more parking.
– Warrant: The college is not doing enough to
alleviate the problem of parking on campus.
Avoiding Logical Fallacies
• Logical fallacies are flaws in reasoning
that lead to illogical statements.
Logical fallacies attempt to appeal to
emotion alone.
• The Internet Encyclopedia of
Philosophy
False Dilemma (the either-or fallacy)
Offers only two alternatives when more exist.
Examples:
i) Either you're for me or against me.
(ii) America: love it or leave it.
(iii) “Yeah, but if I don’t pass math, there goes my
chance at a good career and a happy life, like you
always say.”
--George Michael Bluth, Arrested Development
(iv) Every person is either wholly good or wholly evil.
Appeal to ignorance
Arguments of this form assume that since something has
not been proven false, it is therefore true. Conversely,
such an argument may assume that since something has
not been proven true, it is therefore false.
Examples:
(i) Because it hasn’t been proven that eating food X
does not cause cancer, we can assume it does.
(ii) Since scientists cannot prove that global warming will
occur, it probably won't.
False Cause (post hoc)
• A false cause assumes that because two events
are related in time, the first cause the second.
– Literally “after this, therefore because of this”
Examples
(i) Immigration to Alberta from Ontario increased.
Soon after, the welfare rolls increased. Therefore,
the increased immigration caused the increased
welfare rolls.
(ii) I took EZ-No-Cold, and two days later, my cold
disappeared.
Hasty Generalization
Drawing conclusions from inadequate
evidence.
Examples:
(i) Fred, the Australian, stole my wallet. Thus, all
Australians are thieves. (Of course, we
shouldn't judge all Australians on the basis of
one example.)
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(ii) I asked six of my friends what they thought
of the new spending restraints and they
agreed it is a good idea. The new restraints are
therefore generally popular.
Begging the Question
Also known as circular reasoning. Offering
proof by simply using another version of
the argument itself.
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Examples:
(i) Since I'm not lying, it follows that I'm telling
the truth.
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(ii) Wrestling is a dangerous sport because it is
hazardous.
Argument to the Person and Guilt
by Association
Argument to the person means attacking the person
making the argument rather than their position.
Example:
(i) You may argue that God doesn't exist, but you are just
following a fad.
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Guilt by association means that the person’s
arguments, ideas, or opinions lack merit because of
that person’s activities, interests, or companions.
Example:
(i) We should disregard Share B.C.'s argument because
they are being funded by the logging industry.
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Non Sequitur
An irrelevant argument reaches a
conclusion that doesn’t follow from the
premises.
• Example:
(i) Jane Jones is a forceful speaker, so she’ll
make a good mayor.
(ii) If the mill were polluting the river then we
would see an increase in fish deaths. And
fish deaths have increased. Thus, the mill is
polluting the river.
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False or irrelevant Authority
Citing the opinion of someone who
has no expertise in the subject at
hand.
• Example:
(i) Noted psychologist Dr. Frasier Crane
recommends that you buy the EZRest Hot Tub.
(ii) My friend heard on the news the
other day that Canada will declare
war on Serbia.
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