1. The Open Prompt: Timing 1-3 minutes reading and working the prompt. 3 minutes deciding on a position. 10-12 minutes planning the support of your position. 20 minutes writing the essay. 3 minutes proofreading.

2. The 5 Canons of Rhetoric: Invention Kinds of Evidence Facts/statistics Details Quotations Needed definitions Recognition of the opposition Examples Anecdotes Contrast and comparison Cause and effect Appeal to authority

3. Get out your “Pick a pair of words…” prompt Go through the prompt again, and start categorizing/adding to your evidence – What seems worthwhile/worth developing for your essay? – What can you throw out?

4. The 5 Canons of Rhetoric: Arrangement Two types that we’re going to focus on: – Toulmin Argument – Rogerian Argument

5. Today we’ll talk about Toulmin Using this method requires using a logical structure, but not just to prove a point… – You want to convince the reader of the validity of your argument, and the claims you’ve presented.

6. The Toulmin Argument: the “traditional” one Make a claim Provide grounds for your claim Explore the warrant for the claim Provide backing for the warrant Explore the rebuttal to the claim End with a concession

7. Make a claim You first must choose a topic and then form your opinion. – This info is written in one sentence (like an assertion). – Ex. “Standardized tests are biased against female and minority students – A “because clause” can be added to the claim as a reason. – There may be more than one claim!

8. Provide grounds for your claim Evidence in the form of facts, data, or any info that supports the claim. – To be credible, a claim needs specific evidence. – You’re answering the questions, “How do you know?/What is that based on?” with your grounds.

9. Explore the warrant for the claim A warrant is the unstated assumption underlying a claim, which should be a value, principle, or belief that the audience agrees with. – Enthymeme! – Warrants connect the claim and the support: come from personal experiences and observations.

10. Provide backing for the warrant Support for the warrant that answers the question, “Why do you believe that?” – Depending on your audience this backing should include: Emotional appeals Quotations from famous people or recognized experts Statements based on the author’s personal credibility.

11. Explore the rebuttal to the claim Acknowledging the limitations – Hey, this might not always be true…but! – Qualifiers: generally adverbs that modify a key noun; some common ones are typically usually, some, several… Use these sparingly, but appropriately. – Don’t simply state it! You must rebut the rebuttal!! Discredits the opposition if you acknowledge, and then shut it down.

12. End with a concession A key point to this type of argument – Brings the opposing sides together by acknowledging a part of the opposing argument that you cannot refute. – Conceding that the opposition is valid, and then building on it to further your own claim creates warm and fuzzies, but you stand strong!