Critical Reading: Getting Deeper into Arguments
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Transcript Critical Reading: Getting Deeper into Arguments
Chapter 3
Persuasion, Argument, Dispute
Argument is one kind of persuasion
(dispute is a special kind of argument in
which two or more people have opposing
views)
Argument appeals to reason and or
emotion
It requires writers to prove their
trustworthiness by:
Avoiding vulgar language;
Showing an awareness of the complexity of the
issue
Showing attention to detail
Some Procedures in Argument
Definition
Do parts of the argument need to be defined?
Are examples still relevant?
Assumptions
one or more unexamined beliefs, may be unstated
An Example: Assumptions in the Argument
Permitting Abortion
○ Ours is a pluralistic society, in which we believe that the
religious beliefs of one group should not be imposed on
others.
○ Personal privacy is a right, and a woman’s body is hers,
not to be violated by laws that tell her she may not do
certain things to her body.
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Sound Arguments
All premises are true
The syllogism must be valid
All humans are mortal
Socrates is human
Socrates is mortal
Is each premise true?
The whale is a large fish
All large fish have scales
Therefore, whales have scales
So, if both premises are true . . .
The argument must be valid.
Except, when it isn’t
All terrorists seek publicity for their acts.
(true?)
John Doe seeks publicity for his act
John Doe is a terrorist!
Induction
Gives us new information
Allows us to generalize
The bus came at 6:00 Monday
The bus came at 6:00 Tuesday
Today is Wednesday and the bus will
come at 6:00
Evidence
Experimentation
Examples
Political candidate has an indiscretion
Therefore that candidate should not be elected
Analogies
Babies are not like bad teeth, to be jerked out
because they cause suffering. (assumptions
here also)
Testimony
Statistics
Be careful! These can be manipulated
Nonrational Appeals
Satire, Irony, Sarcasm
Emotional appeals
Are these dangerous? Good argument?
Checklist for Analyzing an
Argument
Page 103