Argumentation: Crafting an Effective Argument

1. Argumentation: Crafting an Effective Argument E405 Klein

2. To Text or Not to Text? Nick Rao's Rant What’s this Joe Pesci wannabe’s argument? Do you sympathize with him? Is his argument effective? Does he cause you to reevaluate who you text?

3. Audience and Purpose Who is the intended audience? Teenagers? Phone companies? Parents? What is the purpose of this? Does he really want texting to stop? Does he really think texting will stop? Is he more concerned with texting or calling on the cell phone? He talks about both… A PARTICULAR AUDIENCE MUST BE TARGETED WITH A SPECIFIC, PLAUSIBLE PURPOSE

4. Is this argument logical? • Thesis- Texting old people has got to go. • First point: Anyone over 60 can’t hear or read the phone. • What’s wrong with this point? • Second point: Can’t understand texts. • What’s wrong with this point. Attack not an Argument!

5. Auditorium Tasks Create an argument for why you, as students, should miss regular class to come watch events like these in the auditorium. You can also create an argument for why you shouldn’t miss class. It’s up to you. • Should be about two paragraphs in length • Try to have a clear thesis statement and write that at the topic of your page, then craft your argument beneath it.

6. Argumentation Power Point You, my friends, are all the teachers. Each of you, in pairs, will create power point slides on a specific concept within the Argumentation unit. In order for this to elicit a quality product, you can’t just put together some willy-nilly power point slide. There must be guidelines and expectations: • You must accurately and completely cover all of the material assigned to you. • You must provide ONE original example for each concept. • Be creative. What does that mean? Add pictures, play around with font, colors, etc. • Finally, I will give you a “quiz” on the material you’re presenting. So, be accurate, be informative, be a teacher.

7. So, what are our choices? • “Using Logic to Persuade” pages 287-289 • “Avoiding Fallacies” pages 289-291 (Fallacies 1-4) • “Avoiding Fallacies” pages 291-293 (Fallacies 5-9) • “Inductive Reasoning” pages 293-294 • “Deductive Reasoning” pages 294-296 • “Emotional Appeal to Presenting Evidence” pages 296-299 • “Crafting Your Conclusion to End of chapter” pages 299-303 EMAIL MR. KLEIN YOUR POWER POINT SLIDES BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY MORNING! REMEMBER: “Now You Take “Bambi” or “Snow White”- That’s Scary by Steven King- PAGES 312-316 - ANSWER QUESTIONS!

8. Persuading with Logic By: Jake Babcock & Zack Kolakowski

9. Breaking Down the Jargon • Persuading with logic: basically being able to show a wide range of support in a respectful yet convincing manner.

10. Example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHCRWfV1q5A “Axe gets your girls”: Example of Advertisers using logic to persuade

11. Tips to Remember • Avoid Insults • Don’t name-call • Take it easy on the sarcasm • Keep a consistent tone when using irony or exaggeration • Avoid absolutes( Always , never, all) • Humor is good! • Understand opposition’s views

12. One Last Example… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crPXRjxU8bw

13. Avoiding Fallacies By: Robert Fisk and Christian Marcol

14. Fallacies • Fallacies are lapses in reasoning caused by poorly constructed statements.

15. Circular Argument • Stating the main point without supplying reasoning • Examples: • Students need to say the pledge in the morning because the pledge needs to be said. • I need ice cream because I want ice cream. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_flag_15_stars.svg http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/IceCream/IceCreamHistory.htm

16. Begging the Question • Forces the reader to make an assumption without any support. • Examples: • Obviously, every one needs to have a savings account. • Everyone needs a car in todays society http://images.clipartof.com/small/10076-Dollar-Sign-Mascot-Cartoon-Character-Holding-A-Dollar-Bill-Poster-Art-Print.jpg http://www.funpeak.com/funnypics/cute-little-pink-car.jpg

17. Faulty Analogy • When you make an analogy that doesn’t apply well to the subject. • Not saving for college is like setting a bomb off in your house. • Going to Saturday School is like being a prisoner of war. http://www.delawarecountysheriff.org/graphic_jail.jpg

18. Post hoc Fallacy • Saying that one thing cause another because it occurred prior. • Once Toyota released their new airbag system, the amount of fatal accidents decreased. • Because Marshall Fields was changed to Macy’s, Macy’s lost millions of dollars. http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/airbag1.gif http://all-free-download.com/free-vector/vector-logo/marshall_fields_68050.html couponsprintable2011.net

19. Avoiding Fallacies(5-9) By Sara and Libby

20. 5. Either/or Definitions: suggesting that only two options exist in dealing with an issue. Unjargonized: Two options, you cant be in between. One or the other. Example: Cubs vs. Sox You can’t be both or a fair weather fan.

21. 6. Red Herring Definition: deflecting attention from the main argument and highlighting an irrelevant point. Unjargonized: Bringing a new idea into the arugment to distract people’s attention away from any other purpose. Example: Grading this exam on a curve would be the most fair thing to do. After all, classes go more smoothly when the students and the professor are getting along well.

22. 7. Trick Question Definition: Phrasing a question in such a way that no direct answer is desirable Example: Are you still a heavy drinker? Has Frank given up his bad habits? Are you still beating your wife?

23. 8. Name calling or labeling Definition: Focusing on the personal rather than the broader issue Examples: Political debates- saying that their policies are better than the other candidates

24. 9. Argument to the People Definition: Appealing to the emotional biases while ignoring the issues. Unjargonized: Arguer tries to convince the audience to do or believe something because everyone else does. Example: Someone in an abusive relationship. “If you love me you will stay with me.”

25. Deductive Reasoning By K Augs and L Samps

26. Inductive Reasoning A process in which you present particular information in a particular order to draw a general conclusion

27. Specific to general Ex.) 90% of humans are right handed -Joe is right handed • There is the opportunity for the conclusion to be false Ex.) A guy and a girl go out to a movie -Everyone assumes they are dating

28. Tips • Don’t change the information on purpose Ex.)Lindsey Lohan said she regrets driving intoxicated -Lindsey Lohan said she barely regrets driving intoxicated

29. Make sure you word statistics correctly and make sure they aren’t deceptive Ex.) The amount of customers shopping at JCPennies has tripled within the last month - It was Christmas season so the amount of customers was higher everywhere

30. Make sure to include information that contradicts your ideas Ex.) If you are supporting the legal drinking age to be lowered to 18 and you only include the supporting facts, it comes off as you are trying to hide the information that disagrees with you even though it may enhance your paper.

31. Make sure the information is accurate and comes from trusted websites. Blogs are not reliable Ex.) Information is taken off of a college (.org, .edu) type of website. Not on a blog or unreliable website (Wikipedia)

32. Support your claims with actual facts and evidence rather than your own opinions and observations Ex.) The number of DUI’s has decreased because I have seen less news reports about them -In reality, the number of DUI’s has gone up according to statistics.

33. Deductive Reasoning Definition: moving from the general facts to the specifics Begins with broad conclusions or premises, and attempt to apply those conclusions to your argument

34. Syllogism • It is a form of deductive reasoning including 3 steps: -major premise -minor premise -conclusion • Major premise: state a broad idea • Minor premise: offer a specific case of the broad idea • Conclusion: if both premises are true, conclusion is valid

35. Example of Syllogism Major: No reptiles have fur Minor: All snakes are reptiles Conclusion: No snakes can have fur Major: Medical doctors earn high salaries Minor: Ms. T is a medical doctor Conclusion: Ms. T earns a high salary Both of these syllogisms fit because they draw logical conclusions

36. DON’T DO IT WRONG • BAD EXAMPLE! #1 Major: High school seniors should apply to college early Minor: Mary applied to college early Conclusion: Mary is a senior • BAD because Mary may not be a senior! • Problems that may occur: minor premise doesn’t logically follow or conclusion is invalid

37. Extra Notes!! You don’t always have to use deductive reasoning- you have to decide for yourself when to throw it down Syllogisms encourage a precision of language, prevent false leaps in logic, and help point out false and unreasonable assumptions Make the author feel convinced you know what you’re talking about

38. Emotional Appeal to Presenting Evidence By Jacob and Nate

39. Appealing emotionally • Consider emotions when building an argument • Appeals between emotions and logic are sometimes hard to separate

40. Techniques • Be aware of connotation • Appeal to the senses • Use figurative language • Adopt a clear tone • Tell a story • Offer Examples

41. Leading in to your thesis • Thesis can be boldly stated or built up and implied • Appeal to reader • Narrow focus until thesis is revealed

42. Opposing arguments • Briefly address criticism • Acknowledge the opposing arguments • Present evidence to approve those arguments incorrect

43. Argumentation Power Point

44. Crafting Your Conclusion • Return, don’t repeat! (thesis) • Be sophisticated and sound intelligent. • By the end of your paper, don’t think the reader’s stupid! • Inspire the people to think about you!

45. Conclusion • Revisit the thesis (DON’T REPEAT IT!) • Formally state your previous opinions. • INSPIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

46. Choosing a Topic • It’s not the end of the world if you don’t know your topic right away! • Open your mind into the beyond! • Talk to people with different views on the world. No one thinks the same! • Name broad categories, and determine your audience.

47. Age Group Issues of Age Group • Teens • College Acceptance • Graduation requirements • Majors/Minors/ Degrees • Making a future for yourself Broad Topics • Education

48. Assertion • Narrow down your topic to a single issue and list a few assertions. • ASSERTION: An arguable opinion that can be supported with evidence. • Assertion should always be an opinion and only an opinion. • Don’t choose an opinion that can’t be argued against. • If you want a challenge, argue something you don’t believe.

49. Examples of opinionated topics • Death penalty is immoral. (In retaliation: Death penalty is justifiable.) • Facebook should be allowed in school. (In retaliation: Facebook should not be allowed in school.

50. BAD examples of opinionated topics • Dubstep is stupid. • Why is it bad? It’s a personal opinion. No use in trying to change someone’s personal tastes. • Animal abuse is wrong. • Why is it bad? Any topic that everyone knows is wrong and can’t be argued against shouldn’t be chosen.