1. ARGUMENT AND PERSUASION
ENGLISH IV
MS. CLZIANOSKI

2. LESSON OBJECTIVES
Take notes that stress the main idea and details dealing with argument and persuasion
Analyze elements of persuasion, ambiguity and rhetoric

3. Terms to Know:
Ambiguity: a statement which has two or more possible meanings.
Rhetoric: conveying to the listener/reader a meaning with the goal of persuading him or her towards considering a topic from a different perspective.

4. The Art of Persuasion
Persuasion: convincing someone/people to believe in or do something.
Persuasion is a broad term, which includes many tactics designed to move people to a position, a belief, or a course of action
We use and see persuasive tactics everyday: opinionated statements, social media, news, advertisements etc.

5. Persuasion LOGOS PATHOS ETHOS APPEALS TO LOGIC AND REASONING
Theories/scientific facts
Statistics
Historical or literal analogies
Quotations
Real-life examples
Personal anecdotes
APPEALS TO EMOTION
Emotionally-loaded language
Vivid descriptions
Personal anecdotes and narratives
Figurative language
Emotional tone
APPEALS TO CHARACTER AND ETHICS
Author’s profession/ background
Source Credibility
Morally and ethically likable
Reasonable, fair-minded
Appropriate and professional

6. Ethos, Logos or Pathos?

7. What’s an argument?
Definition: an argument involves the process of establishing a claim and then proving it with the use of logical reasoning, examples, and research.
An argument is a specific kind of persuasion based on the principles of logic and reasoning

8. What’s the point?
The point of argument and persuasion is to move or influence people/someone to a belief, position, or course of action.

9. The essential ingredients of an argument
An issue open to debate
Your position on the issue
Your reasons for that position
Evidence to support your reason
Experience, expert opinion, research and statistics
A counterargument and refutation
A Conclusion

10. Structure of a Classical Argument
Introduction
Thesis Statement
Background Information
Reasons and Evidence
The Counterargument and Refutation
Conclusions

11. Offering a Counterargument
Addressing the opposition demonstrates your credibility as a writer
It shows that you have researched multiple sides of the argument and have come to an informed decision
Remember to keep a balanced tone when attempting to debunk the opposition

12. The Importance of Argument and Persuasion
In everyday life…
Appealing a grade, asking for a raise, applying for a job, negotiating the price of a new car, arguing in traffic court
In academic life…
Defending your ideas, engaging intellectual debate
On the job…
Getting people to listen to your ideas, winning buy-in, getting your boss to notice, getting cooperation, moving people to action
In writing…
Irrefutably making your point, writing to be read
In reading and listening…
Critically evaluating other’s arguments, protecting yourself from unethical persuasive tactics, recognizing faulty reasoning when you see it