People effectively argue on a daily basis. Ch 10 Argumentation People effectively argue on a daily basis. Effective arguments are based on logical reasoning and solid evidence, not emotion.

Choosing a Topic Get out a piece of paper. Free write about the following topics and then pass your paper to your neighbor. #1 Health Care System #2 Welfare #3 Death Penalty #4 Gun Control

Choose a Debatable Topic Narrow your topic down “Capital Punishment” to death row appeal process. From Banning Smoking to Smoking in open-air sport stadiums. Choose a topic that you can make a pro/con list for. It must NOT be a fact.

Develop an Opinion Take a stand on an issue that you are interested in. Discover what your point of view is. Discover the reasons you have for the opinions that you hold Why do you believe that way? What are your reasons/support? Is your opinion based on emotion or sentiment?

Opinions You need factual evidence to support your opinions. Keep an open mind, you may change your position. Research your topic. In some cases, we may have held an opinions for so long that we can’t remember why we adopted it in the first place.

The Opposition An argument assumes there is more than one side to an issue. You must be aware of the opposing opinions. You want to try and prove the opposition wrong with your research and support

Audience Your audience is a diverse group of people from all walks of life, much like the people in this class. What do they know about your topic? What information or terms do they need to know or understand? What biases might they have? Do not insult your audiences intelligence

Decide which points of argument to include You will make a pro and con list of your side versus your opposition. Then review the evidence and decide which direction you will take your paper

Pro/Con **Choose the strongest points. **Since your essay is 800 words, you could probably argue 3 of your strongest points, and refute 1 from your opposition.

Organizing Your Essay Pattern A: Intro/Thesis Body P1: your 1st point and evidence Boday P2: your 2nd point and evidence Body P3: Refute your opposition’s 1st point Body P4: Refute your opposition’s 2nd point

OR Pattern B: Intro/Thesis Body P1: Refute your opposition’s 1st pt. Body P2: Refute the 2nd pt Body P3: Your 1st point and evidence Body P4: Your 2nd point and evidence Conclusion

OR Pattern C: Intro/Thesis Body P1: Your 1st pt and evidence which refutes your opposition. Body P2: Your 2nd pt and evidence which refutes your oppositions Body P3: Same Conclusion

Argue Logically Give Examples that are real or hypothetical Present a compare/contrast Show a cause and effect relationship Argue by definition

OR You may try to convince/argue through an emotional appeal. Plays on people’s fears, material desires, prejudices, or sympathies. Some appeals to emotion are unethical. People tire of being appealed to emotionally.

Offer Evidence that Supports Your Claims Testimony of others Personal Experience Facts Statistics Hypothetical Examples Charts, graphs, diagrams

Tone Find an appropriate tone Avoid insults or sarcasm for this paper Don’t preach Argue effectively to gain the respect of your audience