Don’t hate on your audience. Rogerian Argument Don’t hate on your audience.

Rogerian “Argument” Ideas come from psychologist Carl Rogers

A few quotes… “Real communication occurs when we listen with understanding” – Carl Rogers “The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathizes with their just feelings.” –Samuel Taylor Coleridge (English Romantic Poet) “You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar” -??

You don’t pick fights with your audience! Acknowledges  the  audience’s  point  of  view before presenting  the  author’s opposing viewpoint .    Supports  the  central  argument without outright  attacking  the  audience’s preconceived notions.

Argument v. Persuasion Definitions tend to be “academic” Some say argument is purely logical, and persuasion contains emotional appeals. ARGUMENT = discover a truth or conviction PERSUASION = seeks to change a point of view or ACT on a conviction

Rogerian Argument Seeks to establish trust and find COMMON GROUND. Assumes that audience is comprised of REASONABLE people. The fault with this model Seeks to UNDERSTAND the point of view of those with whom they disagree To start a DIALOGUE or DISCOURSE BOTH/AND instead of EITHER/OR WIN/WIN instead of WIN/LOSE

Courtroom Example: When you would NOT use Rogerian techniques… Prosecution and defense argue with EACH OTHER - but the AUDIENCE is really the judge and jury. In this case, there is no need to be nice or concede ANY points to the opposition. Your goal is to WIN!!

Same Thing with DEBATES: The OPPONENT is not the AUDIENCE, so you might not see many Rogerian techniques when you watch debates! The goal is to WIN!

Sometimes the Loser of the Debate Is (eventually) the Winner…

How a Rogerian Argument “Looks” Intro Summary of Opposing Views Statement of Understanding Statement of Your position Statement of Contexts Statement of Benefits Important parts/pose a solution – here is where you “concede” something to the opposing side and acknowledge that others who think differently from you are also intelligent, reasonable people.

Things that Happen in a Rogerian Argument The Speaker: Shows (sympathetic) understanding to the opposition. Demonstrates that those who disagree with them are still reasonable, intelligent people of good will (not fools and idiots). Is non-confrontational, even friendly (not “my way or the highway”).

The Invitational Argument “Can’t we all just get along?”

Goal Based on three principles: Equality Intrinsic value Self-determination Aims not to win over another person To enter a space of mutual regard and exploration To promote understanding

Many narrative essays are invitational arguments. “Graduation” “Once More to the Lake” “The Movie that Changed My Life” “Shooting an Elephant”

A tool for diagramming “informal” arguments The Toulmin Model A tool for diagramming “informal” arguments

The four basic elements: Claim (assertion or proposition) Grounds (proof, grounds, support) Warrant (inferential leap) Qualifier (limitations on the claim)

Claims A claim is the point an arguer is trying to make. The claim is the conclusion, proposition, or assertion an arguer wants another to accept. The claim answers the question, "So what is your point?” example: “Rosario is an American citizen because she was born in the United States.” example: “Ellen is going to be a judge on American Idol, so the show will be more popular than ever.”

More about claims... There are four basic types of claims: fact: claims which focus on empirically verifiable phenomena judgment/value: claims involving opinions, attitudes, and subjective evaluations of things policy: claims advocating courses of action that should be undertaken definition/classification: indicates what criteria are being used to to define a term or what category something falls into

Grounds (proof or data) Grounds refers to the proof or evidence an arguer offers. Grounds can consist of statistics, quotations, reports, findings, physical evidence, or various forms of reasoning example: “I’m a vegetarian. One reason is that I feel sorry for the animals. Another reason is to improve my health.” example: “I made the dinner, so you can do the dishes.

More about grounds... Grounds are the support the arguer offers on behalf of his/her claim. The grounds answer questions such as: "What is your proof?“ "How do you know?“ "Why?” example: “It looks like rain. The barometer is falling.” example: "The other Starbucks I’ve been in had Wi-Fi, so I'll bet this one does too."

Still more about grounds... grounds can be based on: evidence: facts, statistics, reports, or physical proof source credibility: authorities, experts, celebrity endorsers, a close friend, or someone's say-so analysis and reasoning: reasons may be offered as proof premises already held by the listener

Clue words for identifying grounds The grounds for an argument often follow words such as “because,” “since,” “given that…” example: “Airports should x-ray all luggage because a bomb could be placed in a checked baggage.” example: “I expect to do well on the test, since I studied all night for it.”

Warrants The warrant is the inferential leap that connects the claim with the grounds. The warrant is typically implicit (unstated) and requires the listener to recognize the connection between the claim and grounds The implicit nature of warrants means the “meaning” of an argument is as much a part of the receiver as it is a part of the message. Some arguments are “multi-warranted,” e.g., based on more than one inferential leap

More about warrants... The warrant performs a "linking" function by establishing a mental connection between the grounds and the claim example: “Muffin is running a temperature. I’ll bet she has an infection.” example: "That dog is probably friendly. It is a Golden Retriever.” (warrant: sign reasoning; a fever is a reliable sign of an infection) (warrant: generalization; most or all Golden Retrievers are friendly)

Still more about warrants... warrants can be based on: ethos: source credibility, authority logos: reason-giving, induction, deduction pathos: emotional or motivational appeals value premises: values shared by, or presumed to be shared by, the receiver(s) Note: these categories are not mutually exclusive; there is considerable overlap among them.

the first triad sample argument 1 The Dodgers are likely to win the ballgame tonight. They are playing at home. Claim Grounds Warrant (unstated) Generalization: The home team enjoys an advantage in baseball.

the first triad sample argument 2 Slumdog Millionaire is a wonderful movie. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. Claim Grounds Warrant (unstated) Sign: A movie’s greatness can be measured in the number of Oscar nominations it receives.

the first triad sample argument 3 Biff was probably in a fight. He has a black eye. Grounds Claim Warrant (unstated) Sign: A black eye is a reliable indicator that a person has been in a fight. What is the problem with this warrant???

the first triad sample argument 4 If you surf at Huntington Beach right after it rains, you risk getting a bacterial infection. Runoff from the rain washes bacteria into the ocean. Claim Grounds Warrant (unstated) Cause-effect: Bacteria in the water causes surfers to get ill.

Limitations regarding the Toulmin model Offers a somewhat static view of an argument Focuses on the argument maker, not the target or respondent Real-life arguments not always neat or clear An analytical tool: Useful for dissecting arguments before or after they’ve been made Not as useful, practical in the “heat” of an argument Since warrants are unstated, different listeners may perceive them differently.