Persuasion/Argument
There HAS to be opposing sides
Key Importance
Making and supporting a claim
SUPPORTING
What is it?
Express opinions and ideas for others to take seriously
Gain knowledge, lead to consensus
Not to state right or wrong but PLAUSIBLE
Explore new topics. Open discussion
Why?
MORE THAN ONE SIDE TO A CLAIM
MUST BE DEBATABLE
Remember, just because a matter of fact can be contested, it cannot be debated
You’re not arguing the facts, you’re arguing something significant about the facts.
Composing persuasionHair
You appeal to the audience best when tailored to their needs and interests
What are your readers’ views?Textbooks
Tobias “Fire Sale!”
Purpose and Audience
Ask WHY?Why should we accept your claim?
What evidence can you use?Most effective:
Facts, statistics, examples, personal examples, expert testimony
George’s argument against Oscar
Generating Ideas
Begin with claim and evidenceIf you don’t know where you are going, then
you can’t start
ClaimDirectly at the beginningNARROW
No more than you can prove
Organizing/Drafting
Moving from the specific to the generalSherlock HolmesGas prices
Based on probability of a limited number of cases
Arguing likelihood, NOT certainty
Never 100% certainDoctors
Logical Reasoning: Induction
General Particular conclusionCar stops running
SyllogismsMajor premise (Sweeping Generalization)Minor premise (Example)Conclusion (Proof)
All scary movies are lameScream 3 is a scary movieScream 3 is lame
Logical certainty
Logical Reasoning: Deduction
Mistakes = repeating the trait in the minor premise
Major: All Scary movies are lameMinor: My brother is lameConclusion: My brother is a scary movie
Remember: just because the argument is logically valid doesn’t mean that all the information is trueOne of the premises can be false
Major: All houses are yellowMinor: I live in a houseConclusion: My house is yellow
A reader is less likely to argue you if your argument is valid, but be ready to defend your premises
Later….
Fallacies
Even when your argument is logical and can’t be refuted, still need to tap into emotionsDiction
Be careful to avoid sensationalism and alarmismWill undermine your argumentMichael MooreTabloids
Appealing to your readers’ emotions
Be apart of the movementAl Gore
Be objectiveDiscuss the other side fairly and accurately
Experience or special expertise
Tone
Moral, ethical
Establishing your own credibility
Consider other viewpoints helps build credibilityMakes you more trustworthy
State fairly and accurately, and then refute itShow poor reasoning or insufficient evidence
Anticipating other arguments
Purpose and AudienceThe ClaimEvidenceLogical reasoningEmotional appealsCredibilityAnticipating other argumentsOther methods
Reading with a critical eye
Punctuation for subordinating conjunctionsIf Therefore Thus However Nevertheless Because
Therefore, the minimum legal drinking age should not be lowered to age 18.
Because guest workers will be legally registered, stronger immigration laws will be unnecessary.
Many of the best surgeons have the highest rates of malpractice; thus, the three-strikes-and-you’re-out rule for taking away a doctor’s license may do more harm than good.
A physician who removes the wrong leg, however, clearly deserves a much harsher penalty than one who forgets to remove a sponge.
Editing for common errors
However Acknowledge other side but want to minimize
consequenceWhat he did was wrong; however, he has been working
hard to make things right.
NeverthelessAcknowledge different argument but increase
consequenceHe has been trying to earn back his respect;
nevertheless, he needs to do much more than be nice.
ImplyTo state indirectly
InferTo draw a conclusion
Start brainstorming ideas for something to change at AAHSMake a list of all the things you would like to
change (either for better or for worse)For each item, come up with as many reasons
why that change should happenCome up with evidence for each reasonChoose one and outline a draft
Your task…