1. People effectively argue on a daily basis.
Ch 10 Argumentation
People effectively argue on a daily basis.
Effective arguments are based on logical reasoning and solid evidence, not emotion.

2. Choosing a Topic Get out a piece of paper.
Free write about the following topics and then pass your paper to your neighbor.
#1 Health Care System
#2 Welfare
#3 Death Penalty
#4 Gun Control

3. Choose a Debatable Topic
Narrow your topic down
“Capital Punishment” to death row appeal process.
From Banning Smoking to Smoking in open-air sport stadiums.
Choose a topic that you can make a pro/con list for. It must NOT be a fact.

4. Develop an Opinion
Take a stand on an issue that you are interested in.
Discover what your point of view is.
Discover the reasons you have for the opinions that you hold
Why do you believe that way?
What are your reasons/support?
Is your opinion based on emotion or sentiment?

5. Opinions You need factual evidence to support your opinions.
Keep an open mind, you may change your position.
Research your topic.
In some cases, we may have held an opinions for so long that we can’t remember why we adopted it in the first place.

6. The Opposition
An argument assumes there is more than one side to an issue.
You must be aware of the opposing opinions.
You want to try and prove the opposition wrong with your research and support

7. Audience
Your audience is a diverse group of people from all walks of life, much like the people in this class.
What do they know about your topic?
What information or terms do they need to know or understand?
What biases might they have?
Do not insult your audiences intelligence

8. Decide which points of argument to include
You will make a pro and con list of your side versus your opposition.
Then review the evidence and decide which direction you will take your paper

9. Pro/Con **Choose the strongest points.
**Since your essay is 800 words, you could probably argue 3 of your strongest points, and refute 1 from your opposition.

10. Organizing Your Essay Pattern A: Intro/Thesis
Body P1: your 1st point and evidence
Boday P2: your 2nd point and evidence
Body P3: Refute your opposition’s 1st point
Body P4: Refute your opposition’s 2nd point

11. OR Pattern B: Intro/Thesis Body P1: Refute your opposition’s 1st pt.
Body P2: Refute the 2nd pt
Body P3: Your 1st point and evidence
Body P4: Your 2nd point and evidence
Conclusion

12. OR Pattern C: Intro/Thesis
Body P1: Your 1st pt and evidence which refutes your opposition.
Body P2: Your 2nd pt and evidence which refutes your oppositions
Body P3: Same
Conclusion

13. Argue Logically Give Examples that are real or hypothetical
Present a compare/contrast
Show a cause and effect relationship
Argue by definition

14. OR You may try to convince/argue through an emotional appeal.
Plays on people’s fears, material desires, prejudices, or sympathies.
Some appeals to emotion are unethical.
People tire of being appealed to emotionally.

15. Offer Evidence that Supports Your Claims
Testimony of others
Personal Experience
Facts
Statistics
Hypothetical Examples
Charts, graphs, diagrams

16. Tone Find an appropriate tone Avoid insults or sarcasm for this paper
Don’t preach
Argue effectively to gain the respect of your audience