1. Elements of an Argument

2. The Appeals
pathos – emotional appeal; stirs strong feelings within the audience
logos – logical appeal; constructs a message of a well-reasoned argument
ethos – ethical appeal; establishes credibility and authority of speaker

3. Rhetorical Triangle
pathos
ethos
audience
speaker
message
logos

4. How do I identify pathos?
Connotative diction
Diction
Imagery
Figurative language (metaphor, personification, hyperbole, etc. )
Carefully-crafted syntax (sentence structure)
Personal anecdotes (experiences or stories)

5. How do I identify logos? Facts Statistics Research
Referring to experts
Cause & effect

6. How do I identify ethos? Stating qualifications for expertise
Using first person plural pronouns (“we”)
Citing relevant authorities
Citing relevant allusions

7. More parts to the construction of an argument…

8. Resolution – debatable controversial statement the speaker or writer intends to uphold or reject with evidence
Evidence – support for writer’s claim (examples, anecdotes, facts, statistics, research, etc.)
Thesis – a sentence that expresses the writer’s position on a certain topic
Explanation through elaboration (commentary) – connecting the evidence to the claim (How does evidence support claim?)

9. Hook – the beginning of a persuasive essay meant to capture the reader’s attention (quote, profound statement, imagery, etc.)
Concession (provided during rebuttal) – respectful acknowledgement of opposing viewpoint
Qualifier – puts limits on a claim (usually, sometimes, in most cases, etc.)
Call to action – the action the speaker or writer is persuading the audience or reader to take

10. Terms of Concessions I concede that…; however, … Yes, but…
I recognize that …, but I must point out that…
While I agree that…, we must remember that…
Although I understand that…, I still believe that…

11. Constructing an Argument

12. 1. Opening
a. Hook
b. Thesis (resolution- to be upheld or rejected)
2. Argument (either affirmative or negative)
a. Claim (reason)
b. Evidence (cited from research)
c. Explanation through elaboration (Commentary)
3. Rebuttal (provide concessions)
a. acknowledgement of opposition coupled with counterclaim
b. evidence (cited from research)
4. Closing
a. Summary of main points
b. Round off with call to action- Make it memorable