1. Argument Essays

2. Purpose Intellectual debate about arguable topic Persuasive writing
Involve critical thinking (truth-seeking) in a multi-system construct
Requires evidence and reasoning from multiple systems
Must judge worth of competing answers

3. Arguments Need Logic Inductive reasoning Deductive reasoning
Go from specifics/small groups to general ideas/overall population
Northern, a community college, caters to a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Therefore, all community colleges cater to various backgrounds.
Deductive reasoning
Go from general/major premise to minor/specific premise
All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Socrates is mortal.

4. Arguments Need a Claim Last sentence in intro (also called “thesis”)
Should or should not statement
Something writer wants audience to accept as true
Could include limitations (exceptions—general or specific)

5. How to Build an Argument
Deductive arguments
Identify major and minor premise and how you can explain
Premises must be true
Conclusion from premises presents main idea, or “claim,” writer will make
Inductive arguments
Prewrite specific examples and facts throughout body to support the general conclusion you draw from those specifics

6. Support—Evidence (Premises)
Facts
Stats
Observations
Statement of fact (generally accepted as true)
Examples
Stories or other illustrations
Read critically
Put material in your own words to determine agenda and validity

7. Coherency—Logical Order
Prewrite ideas, choose points to focus on
Decide if your argument will go from general to specific evidence or from specific evidence to general conclusion
End on strongest evidence

8. Structure—Inductive Argument
Introduction
Attention Getter
overview topic
why the topic is important
Thesis
Identify the topic
Clearly state POV
First point for or against something (specifics)
Examples, facts, and expert opinions
Second point for or against something (specifics)
Examples, facts, and expert opinions
Third point for or against something (specifics)
Examples, facts, and expert opinion
Opposing point with refutation of point
Conclusion

9. Structure—Deductive Argument
Introduction
Attention Getter
Thesis (should/should not statement)
State the major premise(s) and explain
Review generalization, describing what you mean by that statement
i.e., define what is meant by “men” and “mortal” in “all men are mortal”
Offer minor premise (a specific) and explain it
Offer evidence to support minor premise
Focus on facts, examples, and expert opinion
Identify and refute opposition
Conclusion

10. Last Support Paragraph
Presentation & Refutation of Opposition
In last body paragraph
Briefly explain the stand of the opposition
Focus mostly on rebuttal of that point
Do not make personal attacks here (no “mean” wording, like “stupid,” “ridiculous,” etc.)

11. Refutation Paragraph
Makes paragraph stronger by acknowledging and reasonably arguing against opposition
By addressing opposition, dispose of a reason audience might have to disagree
Shows you have thought through a lot of the issues

12. Tips for Argument
If you are allowed to choose your topic, pick something that…
You become an expert on
Is a well-defined, controversial issue
Understand what the issues are and what is at stake
Take a clear position on your argument
Qualifying statements with “I believe” or “I think” weaken the strength of your argument.

13. Tips for Argument Be reasonable.
Acknowledge other points of view
Make concessions (so-and-so has a good point to the contrary) yet remain firm in your point of view
Arguments are not merely opinions—back up with solid support

14. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Slippery Slope
If government refuses people the right to live unhealthy lives and to not buy health care, the government will refuse us other rights (like right to bare arms).
Hasty Generalization
The first day of class was boring, so this class on the whole will be boring.

15. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Causal Relationship
I drank a bottle of water. Later, I became sick. The bottle of water made me sick.
Genetic Fallacy
Volkswagon Beetles were created by Nazis. That car is evil!

16. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Circular Argument
The health care bill is a bad bill because it offers bad options.
Either/or
Either we stop using cars or we destroy the earth.

17. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Ad Hominem (attack the person rather than argument)
This is a bad bill because President Obama is stupid.
This bill should be passed because Republicans are against it, and Republicans are morons.

18. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Ad populum (positive/negative emotional appeal rather than focus on argument)
Continue to buy cars, or else the terrorists win.
Red herring
This bill is proof that socialism is taking over America.

19. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Straw man (assuming opposition has worst possible motive, oversimplifying argument and attacking the hollowness of argument; misleading representation of opposition)
In response to criminal justice reform to protect wrongfully accused: “So you’re saying that you want to free all of the criminals and leave people even more threatened.”

20. Logical Fallacies—Things to Avoid
Moral equivalence (minor misdeeds are equated with atrocities)
Those who pass this bill are in cohort with the antichrist and will bring about Armageddon.
Republicans are devils for opposing this bill.

21. Soft Thinking vs. Hard Thinking
Did you see the cover of OK!? Jennifer Aniston is pregnant. I’m so happy for her!
Did you see the cover of OK!? The magazine claims Jennifer Aniston is pregnant again, but they have made this claim many times with it turning out to be false. She probably isn’t pregnant.
I’m going to try this new shake that’s out that will help me lost 10 inches in 48 hours! The ad says it works for movie stars. 
This ad claims that this shake will help me lose 40 pounds in one week. That does not sound healthy, so I’m going to do some research first.

22. Journal
Rewrite 1 or 2 sections of the fallacies in the sample essay “The Right to Other Choices” to be more balanced while still maintaining the point of view of the author.