1. Argument

2. Persuasion vs Argument
Persuasive Writing
Argumentative Writing
Goal: To get reader to agree with you on a particular topic
Goal: to get reader to acknowledge your side is valid
General Technique: Blends facts and emotion to convince the reader that the writer is right
General technique: Offers the reader evidence to show that the writer has a valid perspective
Starting point: identify a topic and your side
Starting point: Research a topic and then align with one side
Viewpoint: based on personal conviction with only one goal. The writer only presents one side: his or her side.
Viewpoint: Acknowledge that opposing views exist and gives the opportunity to counter these views in order show that your own view is the better view to hold.
Audience: Needs intended audience in order to attempt to persuade that audience to his or her side
Audience: Doesn’t need an audience to convince. The writer is just putting it out there.
Attitude very personal, emotional, and more passionate
Attitude: The writer is sharing a conviction, regardless of if the audience agrees. Based on facts and not emotions.

3. Argument: claim, evidence, counter-claim (along with justification and rebuttal) put together
Claim: Final result/judgment made based on the Evidence (thesis)
Evidence : Statement used as proof (building blocks of the argument)
Counter – Claim: the overall idea of of the other side of the argument
Valid: An argument whose evidence genuinely support(s) its Claim. Note: You MUST check to make sure the Claim is valid (reasonable)
Logic: sound reasoning

4. Example Evidence 1: You must be 18 to vote
Evidence 2: Sarah is 17 years old
Claim: Sarah cannot vote
Check: Is this Claim valid?

5. Example Evidence 1: You spilled it
Evidence 2: Whoever makes the mess cleans it up
Claim: You should clean up the mess
Check: Is this Claim valid?

6. Example
Evidence 1: If Burger King sells Big Macs, McDonalds will go out of business
Evidence 2: Burger King sells Big Macs
Claim: McDonalds will go out of business
Check: Is this Claim valid?

7. Example Evidence 1: Jesse just turned one years old
Evidence 2: Most one year olds can walk
Claim: Jesse can walk
Check: Is this Claim valid?

8. Identify Evidence and Claim
Cats with long hair shed all over the house so you should not get a long-haired cat. I have heard that they also have lots of fleas.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Claim:
Check: Is it valid?

9. Identify Evidence and Claim
Cats with long hair shed all over the house so you should not get a long-haired cat. I have heard that they also have lots of fleas.
Evidence 1: Cats with long hair shed
Evidence 2: Cats with long hair have a lot of fleas
Claim: You should not get a long-haired cat
Check: This is valid IF shedding and fleas bothers the audience

10. Identify Evidence and Claim
Since the housing market is depressed and interest rates are low, it's a good time to buy a home. Evidence 1: Evidence 2: Claim: Check: Is it valid?

11. Identify Evidence and Claim
Since the housing market is depressed and interest rates are low, it's a good time to buy a home. Evidence 1: The housing market is depressed Evidence 2: Interest rates are low Claim: It’s a good time to buy a home Check: This is valid because it is reasonable

12. Identify Evidence and Claim
You should not eat that greasy hamburger. It is loaded with fat. *Note: Sometimes a Evidence is not explicitly said Evidence 1: Evidence 2: Claim: Check: Is it valid?

13. Identify Evidence and Claim
You should not eat that greasy hamburger. It is loaded with fat. Evidence 1: Hamburgers are loaded with fat Evidence 2: You shouldn’t eat too much greasy fat (implied) Claim: You should not eat that hamburger Check: This is valid

14. Evidence Indicators
Claim Indicators
Since
Because
For As
Follows from
As shown by
In as much as
As indicated by
The reason is that
Given that
Therefore, Hence, So, Thus
Accordingly, Consequently
In consequence
Proves that
As a result
For this reason
It follows that
I conclude that
Which means/means/shows that
We may infer