© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Efficient and Flexible Reading, 8/e Kathleen T. McWhorter Chapter 11: Evaluating Arguments and Persuasive Writing

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers In this chapter you will learn: 1.To evaluate source and authority. 2.To understand and evaluate arguments. 3.To identify reasoning errors.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Evaluating Source and Authority Considering the Source: 1. What reputation does the source have? 2. What is the audience for whom the source is intended? 3. Are documentation or references provided?

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Considering the Authority of the Author: Look for author’s qualifications on book jackets, back cover, or preface: – College or university affiliation – Author’s title – Summary of qualifications Evaluating Source and Authority

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Reading Arguments 1.Identify the issue and the assertion--what is being argued for. 2.Read the entire article or essay. 3.Watch for conclusions. 4.Notice the types of evidence the author provides. 5.Identify the specific action or position the writer is arguing for. 6.Reread the argument and examine its content and structure. 7.Write a brief outline of the argument and list its key points. 8.Discuss the argument with a friend or classmate.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Personal Experience Examples Statistics Comparisons and Analogies Evaluating Arguments: Types of Evidence

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Evaluating Arguments: Relevancy and Sufficiency of Evidence What type(s) of evidence are used? Is the evidence convincing? Is there sufficient evidence? What other types of evidence could have been used to strengthen the argument? (facts, statistics, expert opinion, etc.)

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Definition of Terms Cause-Effect Relationships Implied or Stated Value Systems Recognition of Counterarguments Identifying Assumptions Relevancy and Sufficiency of Evidence

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Definition of Terms Clear Definition: – Defines key terms and uses them consistently Vague Definition: – Does not clearly define, describe, or use the same definition throughout the entire argument.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Errors in Logical Reasoning Circular Reasoning/Begging the Question: Using part of the conclusion as evidence to support it. Example: Female soldiers should not be placed in battle situations because combat is a man’s job.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Example: You taste three tangerines and each is sour, so you conclude that all tangerines are sour. Errors in Logical Reasoning Hasty Generalization: The conclusion has been derived from insufficient evidence.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Non Sequitur (“It does Not Follow”): The false establishment of cause and effect. Errors in Logical Reasoning Example: Because my instructor is young, I am sure she will be a good teacher.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers False Cause: The incorrect assumption that two events that follow each other in time are causally related. Errors in Logical Reasoning Example: You walked under a ladder and then tripped on an uneven sidewalk. It would be a false cause if you said that you tripped because you walked under the ladder.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Either-Or Fallacy: An assumption that an issue has only two sides or there are only two solutions. Errors in Logical Reasoning Example: The assumption that television violence must either be allowed or banned does not recognize other alternatives.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Emotional Appeal: Appeals to the prejudices and emotions of people. Errors in Logical Reasoning Example: A suggestion that a product is American made, using fabrics manufactured in the U.S. and sewn only by American hands, appeals to the reader’s sense of patriotism.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers False Analogy: An extended comparison between two otherwise unlike things. Example: Guns are not a major problem in this country. Fatal accidents on the road, in the workplace, and at home kill many more people than do guns. (comparing accidents with murder) Errors in Logical Reasoning

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Errors in Logical Reasoning Bandwagon Appeal: A suggestion that readers should accept an idea or take a particular action because everyone else believes or does it. Example: Eighty-five percent of women say they prefer gas ovens and stovetops. Women in the know use gas--so should you.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Errors in Logical Reasoning Ad hominem: An attack on the person rather than on the issue or argument at hand. Example: A politician may attack an opponent’s personal characteristics or lifestyle rather than his or her political platform.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Errors in Logical Reasoning Abstract Concepts as Reality: Treating abstract concepts as real things that hold a single opinion. Example: Criminology shows us that prisons are seldom effective in controlling crime. (Make it seem that all authorities are in agreement.)

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Errors in Logical Reasoning Example: An author uses examples of horrific living conditions of death row prisons and the unjust treatment of prisoners to argue against the death penalty. Red Herring: Something added to an argument to divert attention from the issue at hand.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers 1. Emotionally Charged or Biased Language 2. Testimonials 3. Association 4. Appeal to “Common Folk” 5. “Join the Crowd” Appeal Critical Thinking Tip #11: Evaluating Emotional Appeals

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers 1. What is involved in evaluating arguments and persuasive writing? 2. Why should you consider the source of the material and the author’s authority when reading this type of writing? 3. How can you read arguments more effectively? 4. How should you evaluate an argument? 5. What are the common errors in logical reasoning? Summary

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Go Electronic Take a Road Trip to the American Southwest on the CD-Rom and visit the Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning module.