Transcript Argument - Mrs. Shaw

“Everything’s an Argument”
Argument

 Argument in its best academic, scholarly, or
journalistic sense is not the same as an emotional
argument or conflict between people. In general, it
seeks to open a subject, not close it; to broaden a
subject, not narrow it; and primarily to earn respect
for a position, not necessarily defeat one.
What’s a Claim?

 Every argument has a claim-also called an assertion
or proposition—that states the argument’s main idea
or position.
 A claim differs from a topic or subject in that it has to
be arguable.
 It can’t just be a statement of fact; it has to state a
position that some people might disagree with and
others might agree with.
Claim or not?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
SUV owners should be required to pay an energy
surcharge.
Charter schools are an alternative to public schools.
Ronald Reagan was the most charismatic president of
the 20th century.
The terms global warming and climate change describe
different perspectives on this complex issue.
Requiring students to wear uniforms improves school
spirit.
Students graduating from college today can expect to
have more debt than any previous generation.
We argue about 3 Basic
Categories:

 Arguments of Fact
 Arguments of Values
 Arguments of Policy
 While it is helpful to separate the 3 for analysis, in
practice it is not always that simple. Indeed, it is
quite common for an argument to include more than
one type of claim.
Arguments of Fact

 (Claims of fact) assert that something is true or not true.
Arguments of fact often pivot on what exactly is
“factual.”
 Facts become arguable when they are questioned, when
they raise controversy, when they challenge people’s
beliefs.
 “The Social Security program will go bankrupt in 2025.”
 “Global Warming is a serious problem.”
 TV violence and video games do have an effect and
increase the violence of our youth.
Arguments of Values

 Claims of Value argue that something is good or
bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. Just
like any other claim, a claim of value must be
arguable. This claim may be based on personal
judgment, or they may be an objective evaluation.
Argument of Values

 To develop an argument from a claim of value, you
must establish specific criteria or standards and then
show to what extent the subject meets your criteria.
 Capital punishment is wrong.
 Giving incentives to motivate donations to charity is
not okay.
 The war in Iraq is doing more harm than good.
Argument of Policy

 Anytime your propose a change, you’re making a
claim of policy.
 An argument of policy generally begins with a
definition of the problem (claim of fact), explains
why it is a problem (claim of value), and then
explains the change that needs to happen (claim of
policy).
Keep in mind…

 While an argument of policy usually calls for some
direct action to take place, it may be a
recommendation for a change in attitude or
viewpoint.
 We should grant amnesty to hard-working, lawabiding alien workers.
 The US should not immediately withdraw from Iraq.
Why do we argue?

 We argue for 4 major reasons:




To assert
To prevail
To inquire
To negotiate differences
 “Felons and the Right to Vote” NYTimes
We use 3 Basic Appeals

 Logos- logic, rational
 Pathos- emotion, morality, ethics, values
 Ethos- credibility or sources, use of sources
*As a reader- recognize it
*As a writer- master it
***How: tone (measured, respectful “a good person
speaking well”) quality of evidence/sources.
The Premises of Argumentthat which can divide us

 Political
 Legal
 Historical
 Values: ethical/moral/religious
 Scientific
 Psychological
 Economic
 Pragmatic
 Post Modern
 Sociological
The Premises of Argument Political- “The American public supports it.”
 Legal- “It’s the law/shouldn’t be the law.”

 Historical- “It has/has not worked in the past.”
 Values: ethical/moral/religious- “It is right” (eye for an
eye, justice). “It is not right” (thou shalt not kill: two
wrongs do not make a right).
 Psychological- “Most prisoners on death row were
abused children.”
 Economic- “It’s too expensive.” “It’s cheaper than life
without parole.”
 Pragmatic- “It doesn’t work.” “It’s an ineffective
deterrent.”
 Sociological- “A disproportionate number of the poor
and people of color are on death row.”