The Structure of Argument with 2021 MLA Update

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Authors

Annette T. Rottenberg

Annette T. Rottenberg, formerly assistant director of the writing program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, has taught composition and literature at Chicago City College, SUNY at Buffalo, Duke University, and schools abroad. She is the author of Elements of Argument and The Structure of Argument.

Donna Haisty Winchell

Donna Haisty Winchell has directed the Freshman Composition program and codirected Digital Portfolio Institutes at Clemson University, where she was Professor of English. She has edited several freshman writing anthologies—including Elements of Argument and The Structure of Argument for Bedford/St. Martin’s.

An asterisk (*) indicates a new selection.

PART ONE Understanding Argument

*1. What Is Argument?
Why Study Argument?
Argument in the Twenty-First Century
             *MEL BONDAR, The Financial Case for Trade School over College
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
*MARK R. LEVIN, News, Propaganda, and Pseudo-Events
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
             BRUCE SCHNEIER, The Internet Is a Surveillance State
             WHITNEY CRAMER, Giving Up Our Privacy: Is It Worth It? (student essay)
             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
             *NORMA JEAN GARGASZ, The View from the Other Side
             *JOSEPH PREZIOSO, A Standoff over Immigration
             *COURTENEY COKO MOORE, Little Boy Holds Hand of Crying Classmate
            Argument Essentials: Visual Rhetoric
            Print Advertisements
             WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, Stop Climate Change before It Changes You
             AD COUNCIL, It Only Takes a Moment to Make a Moment
             *L’OREAL, My Future Is What I Make It
             Political Cartoons
             *FRAN, Citizenship Test Forum
             *PETER STEINER, Understand the Ten Commandments
             *CHIP BOK, Sorry, Sir, You’ve Been Red-Flagged
            Graphics
             THEWORLD.ORG, Tobacco’s Shifting Burden
             UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS, Where Your Gas Money Goes
Audio and Audiovisual Rhetoric
            Television Commercials
             TOYOTA, Let’s Go Places
            Podcasts
             *LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER, Recession Fears, Immigration Rules, and “Electability”
             *TOM BALDWIN and NINA SCHICK, INTELLIGENCE SQUARED, How the Information Age
             Crashed Our Democracy
            Argument Essentials: Audiovisual Rhetoric
             ELIZABETH WARREN, Remarks at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
            Strategies for Critical Listening
Online Environments
            Networking Sites
             WILLIAM WHARTON, “Peaceful” Act of Compassion
            Argument Essentials: Online Environments
            Research Skill: Evaluating Online Sources
            Interactive Websites
             AD COUNCIL, embracerefugees.org
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
Planning the Structure
             Argument Essentials: Planning the Structure
Providing Support
            Summarizing
            Paraphrasing
             Argument Essentials: Providing Support
            Quoting
            Research Skill: Incorporating Quotations into Your Text
Documenting Your Sources
            Strategies for Documenting Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation
             JAMES W. INGRAM III, Electoral College Is Best Way to Choose U.S. President
             HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, The Science Facts about Autism and Vaccines (infographic)
             *STEFAN ANDREASSON, Fossil Fuel Divestment Will Increase Carbon Emissions, Not Lower Them
             *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
             SAMUEL CHI, The NFL’s Protest Crisis
            *ODIE HENDERSON, Black Panther
Claims of Policy
            Argument Essentials: Claims of Policy
             ELISHA DOV HACK, College Life versus My Moral Code
             *JESSICA ANDREWS, How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation at Coachella
            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)
             SID KIRCHHEIMER, Are Sports Fans Happier?
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
Writing
            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)
             *DONALD J. TRUMP, Remarks on the Shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio
             PAMELA POWERS HANNLEY, Bathroom Politics: Preserving the Sanctity of the “Ladies’ Room”
Slanting
            Research Skill: Evaluating Language in Sources
Figurative Language
             W. E. B. DU BOIS, Of Our Spiritual Strivings
Concrete and Abstract Language
Shortcuts
            Clichés
            Slogans
             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
            Strategies for Uncovering Logical Fallacies
            Appeal to Tradition
             CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL, Drivers Get Rolled
             *JUSTICE HENRY BILLINGS BROWN, Plessy v. Ferguson: The Opinion of the Court
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
             Strategies for Keeping Your Research on Track
             Research Skill: What Is Common Knowledge?
            Sketching a Preliminary Outline
            Types of Sources
            Research Skill: Popular vs. Scholarly Articles
Finding Sources
            Databases
            Encyclopedias
            Statistical Resources
            Government Resources
            Online Sources
            Multimodal Sources
Evaluating Sources
            Evaluating Sources for Relevance
            Evaluating Sources for 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
             KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, Remarks to Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute

15. Documenting Sources
MLA In-Text Citations
MLA Works Cited Entries
            Directory of MLA Works Cited Entries
            Print Sources
            The Elements of Citation: Book (MLA)
            Online Sources
            The Elements of Citation: Article from a Website (MLA)
            The Elements of Citation: Article from a Database (MLA)
            Other Sources
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
            Directory of APA Reference Entries
            Print Sources
            The Elements of Citation: Book (APA)
            Online Sources
            The Elements of Citation: Article from a Website (APA)
            The Elements of Citation: Article from a Database (APA)
            Other Sources
APA-Style Paper Format
APA-Style Sample Research Paper
             *DANIEL M. WEINZAPFEL, The Economic Argument for Expanding GMO Regulation in America (student essay in APA style)

Glossary
Index

Product Updates

The ebook has been updated to give your students the latest guidance on documenting sources in MLA style and follows the guidelines set forth in the MLA Handbook, 9th edition (April 2021).

Thought-provoking selections on contemporary topics. Nearly half of the readings are new and invite students into conversations that affect the world they live in. Here are some highlights:

Activist Greta Thunberg accuses the United Nations of negligence in the face of climate change in “How Dare You?”
Poet Ocean Vuong examines the pitfalls of toxic gender norms in “Reimagining Masculinity”
Journalist Rachel Syme explores the history of women’s photographic images of themselves to argue that the selfie is empowering in “Selfie: The Revolutionary Potential of Your Own Face.”

A new Chapter 1, “What Is Argument?” An expanded introductory chapter provides a foundational vocabulary and context for argument and critical thinking in any argument course. Examples of argument in multiple genres invite students to resist one-dimensional thinking and think critically about the multiple perspectives, purposes, ethics, and needs of argument in the world around them.

Additional support for connecting argument concepts with steps in the reading and writing process. New and updated Strategies boxes prompt students with guided questions about each element of argument. Approaches to argument (Aristotelian, Rogerian, Toulmin, and stasis questions) now appear in a dedicated chapter that bridges the gap between reading and writing arguments, emphasizing the variety of choices available to writers as they analyze and compose arguments.

Updated research coverage. To reflect how students currently consume and search for information, especially through online searches, a revised Part Three provides guidance on how to critically evaluate sources to detect bias or misleading sources. Citation models include more contemporary examples such as social media posts and online videos.

Fresh multimodal arguments. New podcast transcripts, ads, photographs, and website snippets provide visual examples and opportunities for analysis.

Authors

Annette T. Rottenberg

Annette T. Rottenberg, formerly assistant director of the writing program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, has taught composition and literature at Chicago City College, SUNY at Buffalo, Duke University, and schools abroad. She is the author of Elements of Argument and The Structure of Argument.

Donna Haisty Winchell

Donna Haisty Winchell has directed the Freshman Composition program and codirected Digital Portfolio Institutes at Clemson University, where she was Professor of English. She has edited several freshman writing anthologies—including Elements of Argument and The Structure of Argument for Bedford/St. Martin’s.

An asterisk (*) indicates a new selection.

PART ONE Understanding Argument

Product Updates

The ebook has been updated to give your students the latest guidance on documenting sources in MLA style and follows the guidelines set forth in the MLA Handbook, 9th edition (April 2021).

Thought-provoking selections on contemporary topics. Nearly half of the readings are new and invite students into conversations that affect the world they live in. Here are some highlights:

Activist Greta Thunberg accuses the United Nations of negligence in the face of climate change in “How Dare You?”
Poet Ocean Vuong examines the pitfalls of toxic gender norms in “Reimagining Masculinity”
Journalist Rachel Syme explores the history of women’s photographic images of themselves to argue that the selfie is empowering in “Selfie: The Revolutionary Potential of Your Own Face.”

Fresh multimodal arguments. New podcast transcripts, ads, photographs, and website snippets provide visual examples and opportunities for analysis.

A concise guide to argument that’s accessible and affordable.

The ebook has been updated to give your students the latest guidance on documenting sources in MLA style and follows the guidelines set forth in the MLA Handbook, 9th edition (April 2021).

The Structure of Argument teaches students how to approach, develop, and present arguments. It explains the fundamentals of argumentation: claims, support, assumptions, language, and logic. Practical and accessible, this guide carefully scaffolds argument for students, first modeling analysis and critical reading, then supporting students through guided practice using a variety of approaches to argument, including Toulmin, Aristotelian, and Rogerian models as well as stasis questions and multimodal genres. Brief readings on current topics model and reinforce the elements of argument while presenting opportunities for students to discuss and write about contemporary issues that affect their lives.

The Tenth Edition strengthens the connection between argumentation and reading and writing processes through easy-to-use Strategies boxes. Robust research coverage is further updated to include more digital source types and reinforce the importance of evaluating sources (especially online) for bias, spin, and reliability. A concise but thorough text, The Structure of Argument shows how each component of argument is interwoven with a writer’s choices to craft a compelling argument.

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