1. Critical Reading Workshop
Unit 6
Critical Reading Workshop

2. The Elements of An Argument
Key Terms
Argument: a piece of writing that expresses a position or an issue and supports it with reasons and evidence.
Claim: The writer’s main idea or position on an issue or problem.
Support: Reasons and evidence that support the claim.
The Elements of An Argument

3. Graphic Image Claim Reason Reason Reason Evidence Evidence Evidence

4. Strategies for Reading An Argument
A. Look for the claim.
Usually the claim is stated in the introduction or conclusion.
Often, the title gives clues to the claim.
B. Track the evidence.
Examples of Evidence include:
facts
statistics
examples
anecdotes
quotations
Strategies for Reading An Argument

5. Parallelism – Uses similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance.
Analogy – Makes a comparison between two subjects that are alike in some ways.
Rhetorical Devices

6. The Craft of Persuasion
Examples
Persuasive Techniques
1. Senator Jacobs knows what it is like to struggle to make ends meet fresh yellowing sparkling decaying clean stained
“Plain Folks” Appeal Implies that ordinary people are on “our side” or that a candidate is a regular person.
2. Loaded Language – Uses words with strongly positive or negative connotations.
The Craft of Persuasion

7. The Craft of Persuasion
Persuasive Techniques
Examples
3. As an Olympic athlete, I need all the energy I can get. That’s why I start my day with Grain Puffs. 4. Freedom is in your hands the minute you hit the road in a Mountainback XRV.
3. Testimonial – Relies on endorsements from well-known people or satisfied customers. 4. Transfer – Connects a product, candidate, or cause with a positive image.
The Craft of Persuasion

8. The Craft of Persuasion
Persuasive Techniques
Examples
5. You have to come to the concert. Everyone is going to be there.
6. Volunteer today – it’s the right thing to do!
5. Bandwagon Appeal-
Taps into people’s desire to belong.
6. Ethical Appeal- Taps into people’s values or moral standards.
The Craft of Persuasion

9. The Craft of Persuasion
Persuasive Techniques
Examples
7. Emotional Appeals (appeal to pity, fear, or vanity) –
Uses words that evoke strong feelings, rather than facts and evidence.
7. Appeal to Pity
For just one dollar a day, you can give a stray pet a second chance.
The Craft of Persuasion