Dec 4 Argumentation

Today we will: examine appeals and persuasive techniques, and rhetorical fallacies So We Can: Identify and use appeals and persuasive techniques in our own writing I will know I have it when I can: identify persuasive techniques and appeals and counterarguments in the summative.

Types of Appeals  Logos- Appeals to logic through statistics, facts, and examples. Look for facts and numbers here.

Types of Appeals  Pathos- Appeals to emotion through connotative language and imagery. (They may try to scare you with violent language or make you laugh by telling a joke)

Types of Appeals  Ethos -Appeals to ethics by making the audience believe that the writer is credible and trustworthy.

Review 3 Types of Appeals  Logos- logic, facts, numbers  Pathos-emotion words  Ethos-do the right thing

Rhetorical Fallacies  Categorical claim  Exaggeration  Stereotyping  Ad hominem  False Analogy  False Authority  Cause and Effect

Categorical Claims  Categorical Claim is based on the faulty logic of relating two things solely because they are in the same category.  She writes a lot in her journal. A person who writes a lot is certain to be a good writer. Therefore, she must be a good writer.  Chihuahuas are good inside dogs. Rottweilers are dogs; therefore, Rottweilers would be good inside dogs, too.

Exaggeration  Exaggerations occur when we overstate or overemphasize a point.  The school test scores have improved dramatically since the new principal came on board. Obviously her leadership has been a real benefit for our school.  There must have been a hundred million birds in that tree!

Stereotyping  Stereotypes are general beliefs we use to categorize people, objects, and events wrongly or in too general a way.  I got bit by a large dog when I was little, so I stay away from all dogs now; they are vicious.  Anyone who lives in that neighborhood is rich and stuck-up.

Ad Hominem Ad Hominem--Attacking the individual instead of the argument. Examples: 1. You are so stupid your argument couldn't possibly be true. 2. I figured that you couldn't possibly get it right, so I ignored your comment. 3. Why should we think a candidate who recently divorced will keep her campaign promises?

False Analogy  The assumption that because two things are alike in some respects, they are alike in others.  If we put humans on the moon, we should be able to find a cure for the common cold.  Example: "Guns are like hammers--they're both tools with metal parts that could be used to kill someone. And yet it would be ridiculous to restrict the purchase of hammers--so restrictions on purchasing guns are equally ridiculous."

Authority  False Authority: asks audiences to agree with the writer based simply on his or her character or the authority of another person or institution who may not be fully qualified to offer that assertion.  My high school teacher said it, so it must be true.

Cause and Effect  Cause and Effect--assuming that the effect is related to a cause because the events occur together. 1.Example: When the rooster crows, the sun rises. Therefore, the rooster causes the sun to rise. 2.Example: When the fuel light goes on in my car, I soon run out of gas. Therefore, the fuel light causes my car to run out of gas.

Concession  A concession is an expression of concern for the feelings of someone who may disagree with the writer/speaker’s position  It shows the writer/speaker to be:  Logical  Fair minded  You may see these terms when someone is making a concession:  AdmittedlyI concede that Yes, but  Even thoughGrantedIt goes without saying that  I can’t argue withPerhaps, yetWhile it is true that  UndoubtedlyCertainly, but

Counterargument  an argument or set of reasons that oppose an idea or theory developed in a different argument  There are 3 parts to a counterargument  Acknowledging-letting readers know you are aware of their position which is against yours (Concession)  Accommodating-anticipating their objections to your argument (setting them up)  Refuting-opposing their objections to your position (shooting them down)

Example  In this era where knowledge is key to survival, learning facts is very important. It is tempting to say that facts are the currency of the modern world, and that students must learn as many facts as possible. I disagree, and feel it’s more important for students to learn ideas and concepts, so they’ll be able to truly understand and use facts.

Next Formative  Nine questions (5 multiple choice, 5 short answer)  We Shall Overcome- from a speech given by President Lyndon Johnson in support of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Context for “We Shall Overcome  It was the most powerful song of the 20th century. It started out in church pews and picket lines, inspired one of the greatest freedom movements in U.S. history, and went on to topple governments and bring about reform all over the world. Word for word, the short, simple lyrics of "We Shall Overcome" might be some of the most influential words in the English language.  "We Shall Overcome" has it roots in African American hymns from the early 20th century, and was first used as a protest song in 1945, when striking tobacco workers in Charleston, S.C., sang it on their picket line. By the 1950s, the song had been discovered by the young activists of the African American civil rights movement, and it quickly became the movement’s unofficial anthem. Its verses were sung on protest marches and in sit-ins, through clouds of tear gas and under rows of police batons, and it brought courage and comfort to bruised, frightened activists as they waited in jail cells, wondering if they would survive the night. When the long years of struggle ended and President Lyndon Johnson vowed to fight for voting rights for all Americans, he included a final promise: "We shall overcome."  In the decades since, the song has circled the globe and has been embraced by civil rights and pro-democracy movements in dozens of nations worldwide

Context for “We Shall Overcome”   Speech:

Diffuse Text  Look up the following words  Flout  Tedious  Legislation  Prohibit  Moral  Bigotry  Civil  Yonder

Highlight  Logos, Ethos, Pathos  Words that indicate tone  Try to find the counterargument  Answer the questions in complete sentences.  Add #10: Who is the audience?

Summative  Highlight the logos, ethos, pathos  Highlight the tone words