© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter 12: Reading Arguments Active Reading Skills, 1/e Kathleen McWhorter PowerPoints by Gretchen Starks-Martin

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman What is an Argument? An argument always presents logical reasons and evidence to support a viewpoint.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Parts of an Argument The Issue – the problem or controversy The Claim – the position on an issue The Support – reasons and evidence The Refutation (sometimes)

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Evidence Evidence consists of: Facts Personal experience Examples Statistics Comparisons or analogies that demonstrate why the claim is valid.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Questions for Evaluating Arguments Is the Evidence Relevant? Does it apply specifically to the issue at hand? Is the Evidence Sufficient? Is there enough detail? Does the Author Recognize and Refute Opposing Viewpoints? Does the Author Use Emotional Appeals and Are They Used Unfairly?

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Emotional Appeals 1.Emotionally Charged or Biased Language. Example: an ad for an automobile that used phrases such as “animal sleekness.” 2.False Authority. Example: athletes endorsing athletic shoes. 3.Association. Example: an ad for a product with a speaker standing in front of the American flag.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Emotional Appeals 4. Appeal to “Common Folk.” Example: selling a product by indicating that it is used in the average household. 5.Ad hominem. (Attacks the holder of the viewpoint, not the viewpoint itself.) Example: How could someone who does not have a college degree criticize a judicial decision? 6.“Join the Crowd” Appeal. Example: Everyone else is buying it; so should you.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Errors in Logical Reasoning 7Circular Reasoning 7Hasty Generalization 7Non Sequitur (“It Does Not Follow”) 7False Cause 7Either-Or Fallacy

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Circular Reasoning oAlso known as begging the question, this error involves using part of the conclusion as evidence to support it. oExample: Female police officers should not be sent to crime scenes because apprehending criminals is a man’s job.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Hasty Generalization 4The conclusion is derived from insufficient evidence. 4Example: By observing one performance of a musical group, you conclude the group is unfit to perform.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Non Sequitur (It Does Not Follow”) 4False establishment of cause-effect. 4Example: “Because my doctor is young, I am sure he will be a good doctor.”

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman False Cause 4The incorrect assumption that two events that follow each other in time are causally related. 4Example: You opened an umbrella and tripped on the sidewalk. If you said you tripped because of the umbrella, it would be false cause.

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Either-Or Fallacy This assumes that an issue is only two sided, or that there are only two choices or alternatives for a particular situation. Example: Violence on TV must be either allowed or banned. (Does not recognize alternatives.)

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc. Publishing as Longman Arguments in Academic Writing Textbook authors often take a position on pertinent topics within their discipline. Example: A psychology textbook author may argue that compulsive shopping should be officially declared a mental illness.

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