Intro to Argument ENGL 1302 HEILIG

-An argument is any piece of composition used to persuade an intended audience -Can be multimodal (print, visual, audio, etc.) -A discussion, not necessarily a competition So what’s an argument?

Three Possible Goals of an Argument To completely change the thinking or actions of your audience Increase or decrease belief in an already existing conviction or inclination Construct ideas and beliefs where none existed before

The Seven Features of an Argument Addressed to a specific audience at a particular time (exigency, context, and audience) Wants something from its audience (purpose) Gives its audience reasons for what it wants (logos) Not all reasons are openly stated (warrants & assumptions)

Seven Features of an Argument (CNT) Supported by calling on readers’ feelings and connection to the text (pathos) The source of an argument matters (ethos) There is always a counterargument (anti-logos)

The Rhetorical Situation In addition to the rhetorical situation, there are always constraints on the argument: time, resources, location, method and mode of delivery, format or forum What constraints might you face for writing arguments in this class?

The Three Appeals Classical rhetoric uses the appeals as a form of analysis Logos: The basic case made in an argument: claims, evidence, reasons, beliefs, and values Ethos: The impression the author gives the audience; credibility and reliability Pathos: The connection between the audience and the text, used when the author touches on feelings, values, or beliefs Of the three, ethos is the hardest to accomplish and the easiest to lose

Toulmin Logic Like The Rhetorical Situation, Toulmin Logic is a method for rhetorically analyzing texts. It is comprised of three parts: Claim: the main point, conclusion, thesis, or end point of your argument Evidence: the specific facts, beliefs, values, and explanations that support your claims Warrants: an inference, assumption, value, or belief that is often unstated in an argument but must be believed if the claim is to be accepted

Example: Warrants Claim/thesis Darth Vader is Luke’s father Evidence/grounds Anakin Skywalker is Luke’s father Warrant/assumptions Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker

Examples: Warrants Claim: The Atkins diet is healthy Evidence: People on the Atkins diet lose weight Warrant: ? Claim: Abortion is wrong Evidence: Abortion stops a beating heart

Examples: Warrants Claim: Lisa Simpson is smart Evidence: Lisa Simpson was accepted to Yale Warrant: ? Claim: Rap is poetry Evidence: Rap has stressed and unstressed syllables

Philosophic Logic: Syllogism Major Premise (warrant) All men are mortal Minor Premise (reason) Socrates is a man Conclusion (claim) Therefore, Socrates is mortal

What Does Syllogism Not Account For? Major Claim Jack has five sisters Minor Claim Five of Jack’s sisters have red hair Conclusion All of Jack’s sisters have red hair Context! Will Jack’s sisters always have red hair? Does everyone agree on shades of red? Etc.

Enthymeme: “Common Sense” We don’t argue or speak in syllogisms Readers supply the warrants themselves This is typically referred to as “common sense”, or obvious knowledge Keep in mind how your “common sense” might differ from a reader’s “common sense”

Qualifiers Also known as “hedge” argument A word or phrase that adjusts the certainty or conviction of the argument Can considerably weaken your argument Probably Usually In my opinion Sometimes Often Some/others say

Rebuttals or Conditions When the author acknowledges the complexity of life or the fluidity of context If certain conditions are present, the argument may be believed or disbelieved counter to the author’s claims If Unless

Core Argument Building Blocks Values Facts What is the difference? (sword exercise)

Connotative: What is it about? What do people associate/feel about it? Ex: Zorro, the Marines, cocktails Denotative: What can be observed? What can be “factual?” Ex: a drawing, chalk, a sword Ideology & Argument A system of ideas or ideals, belief or value systems

Ways to Argue: Definitions A is/is not B, because 1, 2, and 3 Tattoos are art, because they are designed, have cultural associations, and are meant for display Ways to Argue: Definitions

Ways to Argue: Causal X causes Y because 1, 2, and 3 X causes Y which causes Z X is a result of Y Example During the 2012 Olympics, equally-ranked competitive figure skaters Johan von Wolfenstein and Ludwig von Finklestein performed the same choreography at the same level. However, Johan added a triple- axle to the end of his routine. Because Johan von Wolfenstein added a triple axle, he won the gold medal while Ludwig was stuck with shameful silver. Ways to Argue: Causal

Ways to Argue: Evaluation X is better/worse than Y because 1, 2, 3 Star Wars is better than Star Trek because it’s made more money, it has won Oscars, and it has a better soundtrack. Ways to Argue: Evaluation

Ways to Argue: Proposal A should/should not do B, because 1, 2, and 3 Texas Tech should have free parking, because it could be included in tuition fees, less students would be late to class, and it would promote safety on campus Ways to Argue: Proposal

What type of argument do you think you’ll use? Definition Causal Evaluation Proposal What type of argument do you think you’ll use?