Chapter 2 Introduction to Argument (From the book Writing Arguments, pages 23 – 56) Mrs. Franklin English 102 February 2016

Introduction Argument is an exploratory process. Position yourself as an inquirer and a persuader. Engage thoughtfully with alternative points of view. Listen to other perspectives. Examine your own values and assumptions. Don’t be afraid to change your point of view if you are convinced that doing so is the right thing to do. Use argument as a means to seek answers to questions. 2

Techniques for Exploring Ideas There are several techniques for exploring ideas. Brainstorming Freewriting Idea Mapping Playing the Believing and Doubting Game 3

Genres of Argument A genre is a recurring type or pattern of argument. There are several genres of argument. A few examples are: Personal Correspondence Letter to the editor Articles in public affairs or niche magazines Advocacy websites Documentary films Refer to pages 32 – 34 in the book for more examples. 4

Does Statements and Says Statements A “does” statement identifies a paragraph’s function. Examples of functions of a paragraph are: Summarizing Giving an opposing view Introducing a claim to support the main argument Giving an example Use statistics to support a previous claim A “says” statement summarizes a paragraph’s content. Identifies the main idea of each paragraph and translates that idea into your own words. 5

Thinking Dialectically What is “Dialectic Thinking”? Dialectic thinking is playing ideas against each other, creating a tension that forces you to keep expanding your perspective. Dialectic thinking explores all sides of an argument – not just the side you support. Questions to promote dialectic thinking: What would writer A say to writer B? To what extent do writer A and B disagree about facts and interpretations of facts? 6