Elements of Argument

PART ONE Understanding Argument

*1.  What Is Argument?

Why Study Argument?

Argument in the Twenty-First Century

DREW ALLEN AND GREGORY C. WOLNIAK, When College Tuition Goes Up, Campus Diversity Goes Down

The Purposes of Argument

The Elements of Argument

The Ethics of Argument

So, Why Write Arguments?

2.  Critical Reading of Written Arguments

Prereading

             Strategies for Prereading 

GRETA THUNBERG, How Dare You?               

Reading with an Open Mind

KATHLEEN KENNEDY TOWNSEND, JOSEPH P. KENNEDY II, AND MAEVE KENNEDY MCKEAN, RFK Jr. Is Our Brother and Uncle. He’s Tragically Wrong about Vaccines.

Reading for Content and Structure

             Strategies for Annotating a Text 

CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT, A Tale of Two Airlines

Summarizing

             Research Skill: Using Summaries in Research 

OCEAN VUONG, Reimagining Masculinity

Evaluating

             Strategies for Evaluating Arguments 

*AIMEE PICCHI, More Kids Are Working Dangerous Jobs amid Weaker Labor Laws, Child Migration          

Argument Essentials: Examining Written Arguments 

Assignments for Critical Reading of Written Arguments

3.  Critical Reading of Multimodal Arguments

Visual Rhetoric

             Photographs

ERIK MCGREGOR, Candlelight Vigil for Mass Shooting Victims

MICHAEL CAMPANELLA, Friday School Strikes, August 2018

MARCO MERLINE, Fridays for the Future, Six Months Later

*DMITRY KOSTYUKOV, A Homeless Man and His Dog

JOSEPH PREZIOSO, A Standoff over Immigration 

*COURTENEY COKO MOORE, Little Boy Holds Hand of Crying Classmate 

             Print Advertisements

            Argument Essentials: Visual Rhetoric

*WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, You Can Help. Stop Global Warming.

*AD COUNCIL, It Only Takes a Moment to Make a Moment  

Political Cartoons

*MATT WUERKER, Critical Race Theory

*PETER KUPER, Justice Weighs Truth

             Graphics

THEWORLD.ORG, Tobacco’s Shifting Burden  

GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE, Monthly Abortion Provision Study

Audio and Audiovisual Rhetoric

             Television Commercials

*JEEP, Dents

             Podcasts

Speeches and Debates

             Argument Essentials: Audiovisual Rhetoric 

ELIZABETH WARREN, Remarks at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

             Strategies for Critical Listening 

Online Environments

             Social Media

WILLIAM WHARTON, “Peaceful” Act of Compassion

             Argument Essentials: Online Environments 

             Research Skill: Evaluating Online Sources 

             Interactive Websites

*AD COUNCIL, End Family Fire

Assignments for Critical Reading of Multimodal Arguments

4.  Writing Argument Analysis

Argument Essentials: Argument Analysis 

Writing the Thesis (Main Claim)

Argument Essentials: Writing the Claim for Analysis 

Planning the Structure

Argument Essentials: Planning the Structure 

Providing Support

             Summarizing

             Paraphrasing

Argument Essentials: Providing Support 

             Quoting

             Research Skill: Incorporating Quotations into Your Text

Integrating Your Sources 

             Strategies for Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation

Reading and Practicing Argument Analysis 

JAMES W. INGRAM III, Electoral College Is Best Way to Choose U.S. President

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, The Science Facts about Autism and Vaccines (infographic)

BEN ADLER, Are Plastic-Bag Bans Good for the Climate?

LESLEY WEXLER AND JENNIFER K. ROBBENNOLT, #MeToo and Restorative Justice: Realizing Restoration for Victims and Offenders

DESTINÉE MILLER, Restorative Justice and the #MeToo Movement (student essay)

SABRA STAPLETON, How to Pick a President: Electoral College vs. National Popular Vote (student essay)

Assignments for Writing Argument Analysis

PART TWO Writing Argument

*5.  Approaches to Argument

Aristotelian Rhetoric

             Ethos

             Logos

             Pathos

             Ancient Rhetoric Today

Argument Essentials: Aristotelian Rhetoric 

CHESLEY B. “SULLY” SULLENBERGER III, We Saved 155 Lives on the Hudson. Now Let’s Vote for Leaders Who’ll Protect Us All. 

LIZA LONG, I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother

Rogerian Argument

             Argument Essentials: Rogerian Argument 

MALLORY SIMON, Gun Debate: Where Is the Middle Ground? 

SARAH SELTZER, Teaching Trigger Warnings: What Pundits Don’t Understand about the Year’s Most Controversial Higher-Ed Debate

Stasis Theory

             The Stasis Questions

             Stasis Theory Claims

             Research Skill: Narrowing Your Research 

The Toulmin Model

             The Claim

             The Support

             The Assumption

             Toulmin and the Syllogism

Argument Essentials: The Toulmin Model 

             ANGIRA PATEL, To Be a Good Doctor, Study the Humanities

STEVEN REINBERG, Embryo Selection May Help Prevent Some Inherited Disorders

Assignments for Approaches to Argument

6.  Claims

Claims of Fact

Argument Essentials: Claims of Fact 

Research Skill: Using Databases 

AMY FROIDE, Spinster, Old Maid, or Self-Partnered: Why Words for Single Women Have Changed through Time

DOMTAR PAPER, Paper Because (advertisement)

Claims of Value

             Aesthetics

             Morality

             Argument Essentials: Claims of Value 

*DEVORAH HEITNER, The Very Common, Very Harmful Thing Well-Meaning Parents Do

             *ANN HORNADAY, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” Is a Supersize Masterpiece

Claims of Policy

             Argument Essentials: Claims of Policy 

JILLIAN PETERSON AND JAMES DENSLEY, What We’ve Learned about Mass Shooters Since 1966

*SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, Executive Order To Eliminate Woke, Anti-Women Words From State Government And Respect Women

             Strategies for Reading and Writing Claims 

Assignments for Claims

7.  Support

Strategies for Reading and Writing Support 

Evidence

             Factual Evidence 

             Images

             Research Skill: Evaluating Factual Evidence 

             Expert Opinion

Research Skill: Evaluating Expert Opinion 

Argument Essentials: Evidence 

KRISTEN WEINACKER, Safer? Tastier? More Nutritious? The Dubious Merits of Organic Foods (student essay)

 *JOAN E. SOLSMAN, Movie Theaters Didn’t Die, but They’ll Never Be the Same Again

Appeals to Needs and Values

             Appeals to Needs

Argument Essentials: Appeals to Needs and Values 

             Appeals to Values

             Strategies for Evaluating Appeals to Needs and Values 

RONALD M. GREEN, Building Baby from the Genes Up

SARAH GRIFFITHS, Why Having a Crush Is Good for You

Assignments for Support

8.   Assumptions

General Principles

Widely Held Assumptions

             Argument Essentials: Assumptions 

Recognizing and Analyzing Unstated Assumptions

             “Obvious” Assumptions

             Intention to Deceive

Strategies for Recognizing Assumptions 

THOMAS R. WELLS, Let the Anti-Vaxxers Have Their Way

Research Skill: Focusing a Research Topic 

MICHAEL LEVIN, The Case for Torture

ROBERT A. SIRICO, An Unjust Sacrifice

Assignments for Assumptions

9.   Structuring the Argument

Organizing the Argument

             Defending the Thesis

             Refuting an Opposing View

Strategies for Refuting an Opposing View 

SHARON ASTYK AND AARON NEWTON, The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Go Hungry

             Finding the Middle Ground                

Strategies for Finding the Middle Ground 

JACK BEYRER, Innovative Gun Control Idea Gains Support

Presenting the Stock Issues

JOHN R. KOZA, States Can Reform Electoral College — Here’s How to Empower Popular Vote

             Argument Essentials: Organizing the Argument 

Introductions and Conclusions

             Writing the Introduction

             Writing the Conclusion

Assignments for Structuring Arguments

PART THREE  Strengthening Argument

10.  Language

The Power of Words

             Emotive Language

             STIHL, Consumer Confidence (advertisement)

CHARLES PIERCE, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL RHETORIC NOW HAS AN OFFICIAL BODY COUNT

Connotation

Slanting

Figurative Language

W. E. B. DU BOIS, Of Our Spiritual Strivings

Concrete and Abstract Language

Shortcuts

             Clichés

             Slogans

Argument Essentials: Evaluating Language

Strategies for Evaluating Word Choice and Choosing Your Words Carefully 

             *RACHEL SYME, Selfie: The Revolutionary Potential of Your Own Face

BARACK OBAMA, Remarks at Memorial Service for Fallen Dallas Police Officers

Assignments for Language

11.  Definition

The Purposes of Definition

             Argument Essentials: Purposes of Definition 

             SUNNIVIE BRYDUM, The True Meaning of the Word “Cisgender”

             *LUCAS WRIGHT, Twitter Bans Dehumanization

Defining the Terms in Your Argument

             The Limitations of Dictionary Definitions

             Stipulation and Negation: Stating What a Term Is and Is Not

             Defining Vague and Ambiguous Terms

             Research Skill: Using Encyclopedias to Find Definitions 

             Definition by Example

             Argument Essentials: Defining the Terms in Your Argument 

             Extended Definitions

             Strategies for Writing a Definition Essay 

ISHMEAL BRADLEY, Conscientious Objection in Medicine: A Moral Dilemma

             BRIAN WHITAKER, The Definition of Terrorism

Assignments for Definition

12.  Logic

             Induction

             Argument Essentials: Induction 

STEVEN DOLOFF, Greta Garbo, Meet Joan Rivers . . . (Talk Amongst Yourselves)”

Deduction

             Argument Essentials: Deduction 

             SEAMUS O’MAHONY, Are We Living Too Long?

HILLARY CLINTON, Remarks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Women and the Economy Summit

Common Fallacies

             Research Skill: Structuring Your Research with Generalizations and Specifics  

             Hasty Generalization

             Faulty Use of Authority

             Post Hoc or Doubtful Cause

             False Analogy

             Ad Hominem

             False Dilemma

             Slippery Slope

             Begging the Question

             Straw Man

             Red Herring

             Two Wrongs Make a Right

             Non Sequitur

             Ad Populum 

             Appeal to Tradition

Strategies for Uncovering Logical Fallacies

CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL, Drivers Get Rolled

WAYNE LAPIERRE, What Should America Do about Gun Violence?

Assignments for Logic

PART FOUR Incorporating Research

13.  Planning and Research

Finding an Appropriate Topic

Invention Strategies

             Evaluating Possible Topics

             Strategies for Identifying Effective Research Paper Topics 

Initiating Research

             Keeping Research on Track

Research Skill: What Is Common Knowledge?

Sketching a Preliminary Outline

Strategies for Keeping Your Research on Track 

             Types of Sources

             Research Skill: Popular vs. Scholarly Articles 

Finding Sources

             Databases

             Encyclopedias

             Statistical Resources

             Government Resources

             Other Online Sources

             Multimodal Sources

Evaluating Sources

             Relevance

             Reliability

             Research Skill: Evaluating Multimodal Sources 

             Argument Essentials: Evaluating Sources 

Taking Notes

             Note Taking and Prewriting

             Working with Your Outline

             Managing and Documenting Sources

             Argument Essentials: Taking Notes 

ALICIA OGLESBY, Safe Spaces

MEGAN YEE, Why “Safe Spaces” Are Important for Mental Health — Especially on College Campuses

14.  Drafting, Revising, and Presenting Arguments

Reviewing Your Research

             Research Skill: Reviewing Your Research 

Avoiding Plagiarism

             Argument Essentials: Avoiding Plagiarism 

Building an Effective Argument

Argument Essentials: Checklist for Effective Arguments 

Using Sentence Forms to Write Arguments

             Argument Essentials: Addressing Opposing Arguments Using Sentence Forms 

Revising

Oral Arguments and Presentations

             The Audience

             Credibility

             Organization

             Language

             Support

             Presentation Aids

JIMMY CARTER, Why I Believe the Mistreatment of Women Is the Number One Human Rights Abuse            

15.  Documenting Sources

MLA In-Text Citations

MLA Works Cited Entries

MLA-Style Annotated Bibliography

MLA-Style Paper Format

MLA-Style Sample Research Paper

ANNA HARVIN, The Place for Safe Space: Mental Health and the College Student Experience (student essay in MLA style)

APA In-Text Citations

APA List of References

APA-Style Paper Format

APA-Style Sample Research Paper

ANGELA MATHERS, The Controversy over Women in Combat (student essay) 

PART FIVE Debating the Issues

*16.  Banning Books: Is It Protection or Censorship?

*DAVE SEMINARA, The Left Twists the Meaning of “Book Ban”       

*MARGARET ATWOOD, Go Ahead, Ban My Book

17.  Confederate Monuments: Where Is Their Place in Today’s America?

GRACY OLMSTEAD, There Are Good Reasons to Consider Removing Confederate Memorials from Our Public Squares

JOHN DANIEL DAVIDSON, Why We Should Keep the Confederate Monuments Right Where They Are

*18.  The Barbie Phenomenon: How Does It Affect Gender Roles?

*ZALI YAGER, What a Body Image Expert Really Thinks of the Barbie Movie

*MARIE-CLAIRE CHAPPET, Why Is Barbie So Controversial? How Ever-Changing Standards for Women Have Affected the Famous Doll

PART SIX Multiple Viewpoints

*19.  Artificial Intelligence: How Will Generative AI Change Society?

*MILTON EZRATI, No Reason to Fear AI

*JAMES BRIDLE, The Stupidity of AI

NAOMI S. BARON, How ChatGPT Robs Students of Motivation to Write and Think for Themselves

*CHRISTOPHER GROBE, Why I’m Not Scared of ChatGPT

*20.  Affirmative Action: What Is the Future of Diversity Initiatives?

*EDDIE R. COLE , The Supreme Court’s Blow to US Affirmative Action Is No Coincidence

*IAN MILLHISER, The Monstrous Arrogance of the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision

*DACE POTAS, Supreme Court Rules to End Affirmative Action, Moving US in the Right Direction

 ANTHONY ABRAHAM JACK, I Was a Low-Income College Student. Classes Weren’t the Hard Part.

NICK HANAUER, Better Schools Won’t Fix America  

21.  Freedom of Speech on Campus: Are Limitations on Our Rights Ever Justified?  

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, Speech on Campus

JANET NAPOLITANO, It’s Time to Free Speech on Campus Again

EMMA KERR, College Students Want Free Speech — Sort Of

JOAN WALLACH SCOTT, Freedom of Speech v. Civility

22.  Mistrust of the Media: How Much Should We Rely on Our Information Sources?

JAMES CARSON, Fake News: What Exactly Is It — and How Can You Spot It?  

HANS ROSLING, The Blame Instinct

ALAN RUSBRIDGER, Journalism Has Changed in the Blink of an Eye

*MICHAEL J. SOCOLOW, Don’t Trust the News Media? That’s Good

PART SEVEN Classic Arguments

JONATHAN SWIFT, A Modest Proposal

THOMAS JEFFERSON, The Declaration of Independence 

SOJOURNER TRUTH, Ain’t I a Woman?

RACHEL CARSON, The Obligation to Endure

NELSON MANDELA, Black Man in a White Man’s Court

THURGOOD MARSHALL, Reflections on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution

Glossary

Index