1. Classical Argument

2. Format
Introduction
Narration
Evidence
Refutation/concession
Summation

3. Introduction Introduction has three jobs:
Capture your audience’s interest
Establish your ethos
Set out your point of view for the argument (thesis)

4. Introduction Capture audience’s attention by: Introducing a quotation
Using a shocking statistic
Restating problem or controversy in a new way
Making a bold statement of your thesis
Introduction should funnel down to a solid, clear thesis statement. You may need to use two paragraphs for your introduction.
* If you can’t find a sentence in this section that explicitly says what point you are supporting, you need to keep refining the introduction.

5. Narration In this section you will:
Establish context for your argument by explaining the situation to which your argument is responding.
Provide background information, history, statistics, or other pertinent information
Define terms
* By the end of this section, readers should know what’s at stake in this argument-the issues the community faces-so they can evaluate your claims fairly.

6. Evidence Explain why you believe in your thesis
Provide supporting claims individually
Develop each claim by bringing in evidence in the form of:
Facts
Examples
Expert testimony
Definitions
Other forms of evidence
Explain evidence for each claim

7. Refutation/Concession
Often the strongest point in an argument. When you make an attempt to see your opponent’s point of view, you defuse their ability to oppose you and persuade them to accept your point of view.

8. Refutation/Concession
Refute = To prove to be false or erroneous; overthrow by argument of proof Concede = To acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just, or proper; admit Conceding points create good will and respect without weakening your thesis.

9. Concession
In Dr. King’s Letter From Birmingham Jail, Dr. King responded to criticisms made by 12 Alabama clergymen. One criticism was that Dr. King should have negotiated with the businessmen instead of marching and protesting. Dr. King conceded (agreed with the clergymen). By conceding, Dr. King accomplished three things:
He created good will with the clergymen
He eased tensions
He increased his ethos
If you concede, you must do so without destroying your argument. See the example on the next slide.

10. Concession
Opposing View: Negotiating with business leaders will create good will. Concession: We agree that negotiating with business leaders will create good will and will minimize tension. But each time we reached an agreement, the business leaders reneged on the agreement. Therefore, direct action proved to be the best method.

11. Concession Agree with opposing viewpoint(s)
Address at the beginning of argument – after the narration or point by point. Do not concede at the end of your argument (this is the last argument your audience will most likely remember)
Point out any weakness or bias in opposition’s argument

12. Anticipating Opposition
In anticipating your opposition, consider questions like:
How strong is the opposition?
What arguments might it use against my proposition?
How can I refute these arguments?
Will I have to concede any points?

13. Anticipating Opposition
Which of my arguments might the opposition try to discredit?
How closely does my reader identify with the opposition?
Can I see any weak links in the opposition’s thinking?

14. Anticipating Opposition
Which of my arguments might the opposition try to discredit?
How closely does my reader identify with the opposition?
Can I see any weak links in the opposition’s thinking?

15. Tips for Presenting Opposing Viewpoints
Be considerate
Avoid inflammatory comments
Be fair to opponents
Present their argument(s) without distorting evidence
Avoid logical fallacies

16. Summation Remind readers what’s at stake
Give readers sense of closure – wind argument up instead of breaking it off
Resist the urge to simply restate your claim(s) and thesis

17. Use Persuasive Appeals
Ethos/Ethical
Pathos/Emotional
Logos/Logical